NEWBIE..POLO DUNE (FUN) TDI!

[vw_imy]

Hi guys,

Ive been joined on the forum for just short of two weeks now and thought its about time i introduced myself.

i bought myself a 9n1.4tdi polo dune (some people call it 'fun') on an 05 plate. bit hesitant on what people think of the dunes but main reason i bought it was because i got it at a better price than i could find a normal 1.4di plus i think it looks better than many standard 9n's.

im not much on modding but hoping to get some HIDS fitted and a double DIN screen with sat nav

anyhow since i bawt it ive chaged all the front bushes which set me back £350 inc labour after looking around on here apparently the seat bushes are better and apparently cheaper but i guess no point in crying over spilt milk

i wanted to ask recently i have been hearing like a high pitch screeching which im sure is the wheel bearings (definitely not brakes) and thought id ask you guys if anyone has ever had to change wheel bearings at 78,000 miles and if so did you just use standard VW ones or can you use Seat one's or any other make and are they cheaper?

added a pic of the car below as ive not really taken many pics of it.
comments welcome

[fonzooorooo]

Wheel bearings tend to rumble rather than squeel... Squeeling tends to be belts or stones stuck in the brakes.

Just so you know:
There's no point trying to economise on bearings anyway. You get what you pay for. They're made in different grades with different tollerances, with the cheapest being the greatest tollerance - so paying less simply gets you an inferior bearing. (unless the supplier's overcharging!)

My experience is on older models (my daily's a '92 scirocco) but if they're drums on the back, the bearings are an easy change - cheap too! but fronts require a press, so unless you can blag a favour, the fitting cost is the biggest chunk of the bill.

[vw_imy]

thanks for the reponce fonzooorooo.

if its not the bearings then i would assume it can only be the cambelt as it is due a change and am i correct in saying the waterpump should be done at the same time...

Also i have what i would think is a much bigger problem that just started over the last two weeks, its random and happened twice so far. i tried starting my car yesterday and i just woudnt start as though the immobiliser wasnt working. but i got the glow plugs light on the dash flashing and then once it started after atleast 5 mins of trying i got engine management light on the dash aswell. Now i took it to the garage to get plugged in last week after the first time it happened and we coudnt find any faults. The only thing we identified was a very slightly weak alternator but nothing major. He turned the lights on the dash off but it happened again yesterday although the car start fine now. I was wondering if there is anyone else on here thats had any problems similiar to this and what was done to rectify?

all help appreciated!!

[fonzooorooo]

could be the cambelt tensioner making a noise... You DEFINATELY want to change that when you do the belt. Not sure if there's specific advice for these polos, but as far as I know, you shouldn't need to change the water pump. I know a lot of people do though. Listen to it through a stick (no really!) and you'll hear if it's making any funny noises. If it's not, I'd leave well alone (if they fail, it tends to be bearings - again, they got noisy - you'll hear through the stick, or if it's got a plastic impeller on a metal shaft, they can part company... common Mondeo problem, but no idea if they have on these!)

I can't say anything useful about electronics except check connections, and if the ECU is mounted in the same way as it is on the 3cyl 9n, check it's not fallen out of it's holder - it's only plastic clips, and they can fall out, leaving it hanging on the wires/plug.

checking everythings firmly plugged in, and with no damp in the connectors (WD40 is your friend here!) is a good start.

[vw_imy]

thanks for the advise mate really appreciate it just one question

what exactly do you mean when u say listen to it through a stick?

[fonzooorooo]

exactly what you'd think - you'll look silly and feel silly, but it works!

Use a long screwdriver, broom handle or whatever, put 1 end on the component you think is making the noise (whilst the engine's running, making sure to be careful and not get the stick stuck in the cambelt or anything!!) and put your ear on the other end of the stick. Old-skool diagnosis at it's best!