UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

Afternoon,

New member and I recently purchased a pukka black 51 plate Polo GTI; full black leather, climate, 6 CD changer. Usual issues with corroded alloys and a few bits of body work missing; drivers side headlight washer jet is missing but can't seem to find the black 'cover' anywhere, another story...

100,785 miles on original gearbox but new clutch needed straight off the bat (horrendously tight and felt like the pedal box might snap/break at any minute) coupled with gearbox selector seal/gearbox oil - disc/pads all round and rear shocks need sorting shortly also.

Don't think I'm goig to bother lowering it, it's 15mm lower than a standard Polo from the factory anyway I think or mucking about with induction kits, for 5-10bhp, is it really worth it... The car runs beautifully if i'm honest and you wouldn't know it has done over 100k miles.

My questions surrounds a rather odd noise that appears when I'm about 40-45 mph - I've been looking through a huge number of posts on this board surrouding the 'known' gearbox issues but I really don't think it is the gearbox judging by the supposed 'whinning noise' that should accompany this - the nosie seems to not be coming from the gearbox (hard to tell appreciated) and changing gears is frankly silky smooth and I've got no issues getting into reverse or indeed any of the gears (1-5) and If anything changing from 4th into 5th between 80-95mph is so quick it takes me by surprise everytime, no crunching, no nothing...

It sounds like it's coming from the drivers side and if I depress the clutch the noise does seem to get louder which I guess again is to be expected - if it is the gearbox I can get this sorted, i've got a good mechanic and it appears reconditioned gearboxes are availabe, despite some posts to the contrary (there's three on ebay today...)

I've got a feeling it may be a wheel bearing, tried 'rocking' the wheels at standstill but can't seem to 'see/feel' any play as such so I guess it needs a bit of attention from my mate Dave...

Apprreciate these noise posts aren't the best but any thoughts welcome as it's starting to get on my nerves...!

Well, what kind of noise is it then? Whining, howling, grinding, rattling... Might wanna check your ribbed v belt tensioner

Good to see another GTI in Surrey i may have a black washer jet cover spare, will have a look tommorow, you can have if so .

supermico wrote:Well, what kind of noise is it then? Whining, howling, grinding, rattling... Might wanna check your ribbed v belt tensioner

Thanks for your comment, certainly not rattling, howling or whining, if I was pushed on it grinding fits the bill, just...

As I say it is coming from the drivers side so belt tensioner could well be a possiblity, I've got my mechanic doing my discs/pads shortly so I'll get him to check it out - if it was bearing related what sort of noice would this generate, grinding?

joe2612 wrote:Good to see another GTI in Surrey i may have a black washer jet cover spare, will have a look tommorow, you can have if so .

That'd be great if you have, have you fitted one of these before?

Presumably the bumper needs to come off, to be honest I don't know if the actual washer jet is in the bumper already, need to check, i.e peel black the lovely black masking tape currently covering the hole and see what's lurking beneath!

If any GTI's 'Get Together' in our neck of the woods I'd be interested & I'll try an post some pictures shortly!

no need for bumper removal, the just flick off as far as i'm aware, will look for the spare one anyhow.

If your around Guildford then no rice is a goodun, as is the general sunday evening meet which varies alot from week to week!

Just to come back on this noise, it transpired this was both the main bearings in the gearbox...

Had the gearbox recon'd at the same time and the noise has now gone completely gone; the comment from my mechanic's gearbox specialist was 'I spend my life repairing VW gearboxes, especially GTI's...'

Joe2612 - It seems my Polo GTI may have had some very light drivers side front-end 'action' as the washer jet for the drivers side is actually broken, i.e. the washer jet is tucked down inside the bumper with what looks like the mounting bracket/clip broken, nightmare...

I'm going to need to look up the parts for this and try and replace them so I'll pick up a 'cover' or whatever VW call it when I get my hands on these - out of interest anyone know how the washer jet's are actually fastened to the bumper, i.e. is it an easy fix?

Any information gratefully received...