New arrival..

I can't find much info on changing just the rubber boots on A2 driveshafts. Does anybody know how difficult it is too do, or even if it's actually possible?
The Gaiters/Bellows are certainly available. Thanks
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I put the seats back in the car this morning, they are not as clean as I would like, but not bad for a 20 year old car I guess.
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I like the blue seats in this one, it's nice to have a bit of contrast, the German default interior seems to be Black on Black on Black..

I was very amused to get this parcel through from @rotifer (many thanks), I've never officially been Mr Sprocket before.
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My surname is Cook, but I've never liked it, although my dad probably did us a favour changing it from c**k. :oops:
 
I wasn't expecting to get the new/old number plate lenses from Andrew so quickly, he caught me out by sending them Rocket Post 🚀

So this afternoon I set too sorting the backing plates, the only way I could see to get the embedded rusty old screws out was to chop into the plastic and prise them out.
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I bonded them back together with JB weld, and little screws in to keep the holes clear.
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It seemed to be taking ages to dry, so I read you can put JB Weld in the oven at 100 degrees for a while, which worked a treat.
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I cleaned them up a bit and put a load more JB Weld on, and back in the oven. They won't look pretty but won't be seen anyway.
 
I've been taking stock of where I am at with this car, as I would really like to get at least one of them sold before Easter, when the village will be jammed full of happy holiday makers. I just had a look at the MOT history, which curiously I don't think I have done before now, it doesn't make for happy reading omg :eek: The Number plate lights and driveshaft gaiters have been advisories for a while, amongst many other things..

To do list:

Finish number plate lights (just pending stainless screws)
Sort battery clamp (Pending M8 inserts)
Sort tailgate lock (pending fitting replacement lock)
Sort wiper (just needs painting after my mate repaired it for me)
Rear door doesn't open from inside, probably just the cable but I haven't checked yet.
Sort Antenna amp (haven't yet found a soldering iron that will get into the tiny space)
Gear lever vibration - I was hoping the new dogbone would sort this, but it hasn't, so next up is to do the gear lever adjustment and see if that helps (should have done this first as it's so easy to do, but never mind)
Driveshaft Gaiters - if it wasn't so cold and wet I would get on and do these, as I would like the car in good shape.

I want to get the wife to have a drive in it and see if third gear is an issue when she is using it. I don't really want to be messing about with gearboxes..
 
Hello @DaveySprocket,
That's a fair list of job you have but shouldn't be too difficult to get sorted. You can imagine my list of jobs 4 weeks ago. Crikey.

It's hard to say one week to the next what the best course of action would be, sell it or keep it but you'll know when the time is right to make a move.

If time is tight simply sell it stating the known faults.

It's been good to ready about your A2 journey and the faults you found have strong relevance as all A2s in similar state of repair will reflect these traits.
Keep going your almost there!

Good luck! :)👍
 
When you say gear lever vibration is that on tickover neutral or all the time? As the lever is connected by cables it shoukd move too much?
Maybe check the assemble of the stick in the console, there are repair kits to the bushes in the shifter, think same as golf of the same period
 
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The first image, if you car looks like this then a couple of the trim panels will need removing to gain access to the shifter mech. Otherwise the sound proofing cannot be removed. 👍
 
CrispyEdd said:
When you say gear lever vibration is that on tickover neutral or all the time? As the lever is connected by cables it shoukd move too much?
Maybe check the assemble of the stick in the console, there are repair kits to the bushes in the shifter, think same as golf of the same period
Click to expand...
Hi Edd, yes I think it is all the time, neutral, clutch in or out, although there is usually a position you can move the gear lever to and it goes away. It seems to be worse when you push the gear lever down. The engine itself doesn't seem to vibrate anymore than my other one so hopefully a fettle up of the gear lever parts and cables will sort it out. I've been reading loads on the forum about these jobs. :)
 
rotifer said:
Hello @DaveySprocket,
That's a fair list of job you have but shouldn't be too difficult to get sorted. You can imagine my list of jobs 4 weeks ago. Crikey.

It's hard to say one week to the next what the best course of action would be, sell it or keep it but you'll know when the time is right to make a move.

If time is tight simply sell it stating the known faults.

It's been good to ready about your A2 journey and the faults you found have strong relevance as all A2s in similar state of repair will reflect these traits.
Keep going your almost there!

Good luck! :)👍
Click to expand...
Yes it is nothing compared to what you are doing, and you know very well what it's like working outside in this weather 🥶 We must be gluttons for punishment 🤪
 
Today I put the undertray back on and dropped it back down on the ground (Gently).

Then I had a look under the gear lever gaiter, and it was as mucky as expected I guess..
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I hoovered that out and cleaned it up best I could, then made a little L shaped tool out of 5mm round steel, and set too calibrating the gear change. All easy enough to do.

So then I went to start it, and even with my booster on, it was having none of it. The battery was super flat, so I took it out and put it on charge, so that's that for the night. I know neither battery is very good, so I'm hoping it has just gone flat because of the lock electrics not being hooked up for a couple of days 🤞
 
I got the battery back in this one today, and took it for a wee test drive, the gear lever vibration is maybe a little bit better, but not gone. You still have to be careful putting it into third as well. Moving the gear lever to either side stops the vibration (this is in neutral with clutch out).

Will monitor the battery to make sure there is not still any current drain on it.
 
CrispyEdd said:
Tidy job! Feels good to remove steel from these cars
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It does indeed. Compared to everything else on these cars that they went to the trouble to make out of aluminium, the number plate lights seem like a very clunky solution, and it's somewhat unfortunate they were unique to the A2. Whoever signed off on those crappy steel screws needs taking to one side for a quiet word. 😂
 
I've decided I will hang on to this car and change the gearbox when I have time. Will probably go for the Polo Bluemotion one with longer gears, but need to do more research into the way forward.

Will also pinch the Tandem Pump to put in the grey one.. I may live to regret doing this, but what the heck :rolleyes:
 
That's the spirit!
The only thing you may have regretted was selling it.
There's no better way to while away the hours than getting covered in muck rolling about on the floor fixing stuff under an A2.
 
rotifer said:
That's the spirit!
The only thing you may have regretted was selling it.
There's no better way to while away the hours than getting covered in muck rolling about on the floor fixing stuff under an A2.
Click to expand...
Even though it doesn't have any of the exciting options, it's a really tidy little car, and I don't like selling stuff that isn't 100%

I can certainly think of worse ways of spending time :)

For me it usually works like this..
  1. Change a gearbox, how hard can it be? I'll give that a go.
  2. Jeepers this is a pain in the bum, I wish I'd never started this job
  3. Wow, I've changed a gearbox and the car actually still works afterwards, happy days!
Thanks for your encouragement Sir :)
 
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