Hi I'm a noob

[Tpuppy]

Great site guys I'm a noob to the site and allready found some great info. In pictular the thread about the little light bulb behind the fan nob. I'v been using those controls by memory for 2 years now and can't even remember what they looked like lit up.

Any way a little bit about me and my car.
It's a red 2 door 99 1/2 golf the most plane jane car they make. I bought it used in April of 2001 with 25,000 kms on it and I just hit the 190,000 mark this week. I do all the work that I can myself as I find paying some guy 80 bucks an hour to wrench on my car absurd. But I dont know how to do every thing so quite a bit of it is neglected. ie... tranny and suspension. Any way I have a lot of ?'s which I will be posting later.

A little bit about me.
I'v been a fan of Vdubs since I was a kid and finnaly when I had enough $$$ when I was 20 I bought a 1997 Cabro. It was a peice of junk the windows didnt roll up or down the locks were messed up and the list goes on. I took it in to the dealer that I bought it from and they said that it would cost me around $1200 to fix every thing. I was shocked and said that I just drove off your lot a week ago and that they shouldent sell broke cars. They said tuff so I gave them my keys and took the red one I have now. Thank God for that 30 day trade in no ?'s asked. Any way I'm 23 now. I work in the oil and gas sector. I like camping skiing water sports and driving.

Again great site and thanks in advance for all the advice I'm sure to get in here.

[Canadian Turbo]

Re: Hi I'm a noob

Welcome to the boards! Glad you were able to get a better car and it has probably been good to you with all those miles on it!!!

[R_Ethug]

Re: Hi I'm a noob

welcome.. post away we're here to help you out..

[Aleks]

Re: Hi I'm a noob

welcome!

[VAG_Tech]

Re: Hi I'm a noob

Welcome! Don't hesitate to ask any questions. Most of us are really friendly....

[Kor]

Re: Hi I'm a noob

I am not so friendly but I can be helpful!

[Cordialtea]

Re: Hi I'm a noob

Welcome,
This is a fantastic site these guys really know their stuff. I have found them to be really helpful and knowledgeable.

Kris I think you a great guy!

If you live in, or near Calgary I highly recommend getting a membership to the group. They are looking at expanding up my way as well in Edmonton.

Cordialtea (Judy)

[Tpuppy]

Re: Hi I'm a noob

Thanks for the kind welcome.
As for ?'s
#1. The car is loosing coolent but there are no sings of it ie... puddles on the floor. It's not to bad about a pop can worth every 2 to 3 months. I've just been replaceing with water but now that it's winter Im putting stright coolent in. I read the manual about it and it said that I should only be useing olny "G12 A8D". The guy at the parts store assured me that the multie purpose stuff would be fine Im not to sure but am using it any way. Any one know if there will be a problem and also possible weak spots where it might be seaping out?

#2 Also I got a letter from the dealership about their catalitic convertors.
They said that because they are such an envriomently frendly company they extended the warrenty on them to 196,000 KM. Now mine is makeing all the noises explaned in the letter. Dumb thing sounds like a pop can half filled with BB's. So I call up the Dealership and explane this to them and the guy on the phone says that it could be a 50 / 50 percent chance that it would be covered. I was not very inpressed with that seeing as how the joker hasent even looked at the car.
The thing about it is I'm not even worried about it being covered.
I know that there has to be some after market exaust systems out there that make more power but I'm concerend about the check engine light always being on due to an ineffecient O2 level sensed by the O2 sensor.

#3 When my front driverside tire hits a crack or bump it makes a kind of a THUD or a THUMP noise. Would that be those rubber bushings or what? Also if it is the rubber bushings would it be worth getting them all replaced with the poly ones? What benifets could I expect and a rough price range on getting them put in.

#4 Now for the fun part both of my side mirors are busted. Both of my bumpers have been "used" and my front pasenger side fender has a nice big dent in it. Also as I live in Calgary and work in Airdrie my hood is missing a considerable amount of paint (rock chips). I would like to find out how much cash it would cost to get OEM parts and compair it to a aftermarket body kit. I dont want my car to looked "riced out" just a little different. Keep in mind that I need ground clearence for gravel roads. I drive a lot on gravel camping and such.

Thanks

[Tpuppy]

Re: Hi I'm a noob

Bumping up this thread.
Check out the ?'s I would like to get a few opiouns Thks

[stefan]

Re: Hi I'm a noob

Hope coolant is leaking.. if it's going down cause its burning - you got issues. Probably just not leaking enough to notice on the ground. Could test it the old-school way.. taste the oil.. if its sweet, the coolant is leaking internally (serious though... it works)
should use g12... only can get it at dealer. at this point you'd be best to flush and refill with fresh G12. It will get al cloudy and I dont think it is as efficient or good for much if its been contaminated.

Bushing squeek more then thump, in my experience. Not sure about a 'thump'.

Who was it that won the mirrors at the xmas party? Chad? ask him if he is using those FK mirrors or not (klobi-one-kinobi)

Cats are pricey. If you intend to have one, i'd get it done on warrenty.