Few niggles to fix - advice welcome

[ihpj]

As a key worker family we’ve been using the Polo all through lockdown and moreso now as routines return to a degree of normality.

First problem that surfaced was a bulb out warning in dash. Tracked it down to a blown OSR rear bulb. I went to replace it and I think I blew a fuse (oddly) and lost all internal lights. There is also a clicking noise coming under the steering wheel area which sounds like a relay.

To top it off, I think the exhaust has a blow, as the car sounds rough/loud.

I read the codes on my car (I have VCDS) and it gave a Terminal 30 error so I’m hoping I blew a fuse/relay. But I can’t be bothered to crawl around in the car so off to my Indy it will go - incidentally my local VW Dealer cant get me in until mid-September.

But I’m more worried about the exhaust. It sounds to me like it’s blowing as there is a louder than usual exhaust rumble. I’ve taken a peek but can’t really get under it due to its ride height - let see what comes back.

Stay safe people!

[RUM4MO]

Its always a good idea to include details about your car regardless of which areas the problems are coming from.

Many people include that in their profile, ie date of manufacture + engine size and fuel type + transmission + trim level.

Edit:- and current mileage.

[ihpj]

Well it seems bad news - the exhaust is indeed leaking but from the exhaust flexi connection - which I understand makes the repair quite labour intensive and part cost is expensive too. Sadly it’s time to part with the Polo.

At least the electrics were just a blown fuse and x2 bulbs needed replacing.

[iichel]

I have the same problem on my 1.6 TDi polo, the flexible part of the exhaust is ruptured. A local garage is welding in a replacement part for less than 100 euros.

[amer6R]

Yeah subframe needs to come down, and right axle. I will be removing dpf on mine and remapping it soon. Flex pipe.is cheap ~15 Eur

[ihpj]

Thanks Guys. On recommendation of a couple of people I took it to a specialist exhaust and welding place who took a look and say they can cut out the damaged flexi and weld a new one. Its going to cost £250-odd so I've agreed the cost to repair. I'm sure it'll come back fixed, just hope the replacement flexi is decent and holds for a couple of years. Anyhoo, it is what it is.

[RUM4MO]

That price seems to be a typical UK sort of price, I had that job carried out on my wife's previous 2002 Polo 1.4 16V in 2006 and it was roughly £100 the success relies on the fixer replacing the flexi with a flexi repair section of the correct grade for its position in the exhaust, same diameter and same flexi section length.
Flexi repair sections come with the flexi part and "tails" of pipe at both ends to allow the fixer to sort out most failed exhausts.
Initially my "specialist exhaust design and fabricator" fitted all he could easily get his hands on and it was a size up in diameter and the flexi part was too short - result was sever resonances and the exhaust being too stiff and touching the crossmember under high engine load when reversing, so I had to buy in the correct part from senioraftermarket and get that specialist to swop parts over, exhaust was then as good as new and lasted until we traded the car at 13 years and 105K miles.

[ihpj]

Thanks for contributing RUM4MO. I did find your posts on Briskoda forum from way back when...it gave the confidence that it can be done.

This garage turned it around in 24HRS - they seemed to say all the right things when I questioned them. They came in on budget and the car seems fine (sound and resonance wise) so I’m cautiously optimistic.

Thank you for posting that it can done, hopefully someone else who finds themselves in a similar situation will find this useful.