The Black Pearl

[VAG fool]

Conclusion: paid too much for this car! Never mind. Its all good brain exercise.
This afternoon's horrors include:

 

[VAG fool]

...and there's more!
I spotted these industrial gauge speaker cables, and as I dug my way down into the centre console I found all the signs of a "young man's audio" installation (as if the aftermarket subwoofer-damping tailgate full of foam wasnt a big enough giveaway)
But...the Concert head unit that came with the car is from a 2-door and the VAG wiring harness tail that I found in the boot doesn't 100% tally with the car's wiring

 

[VAG fool]

On the plus side, the stuck cup holder isn't broken, it's just been used to carry a car perfume bottle that has leaked and gunged up the mechanism.
A wash through with hot soapy water should fix that.

 

[VAG fool]

I have found this topic covering a Bose retrofit which may be useful in the long run.
The head unit is going to need re-coding, it's in good condition as they go but the knobs have been punched in, just like my last Audi!

Retro-fitting Bose

Another thread that I've been meaning to write for a while: retro-fitting Bose. A few months ago I got my hands on a complete Bose system, including all the bits and pieces to do an OEM job. The photo below shows the loom, the new toolkit holder, the sub, the main drivers, the tweeters and the...

www.a2oc.net

 

[Kleynie]

The standard Concert only has front speaker outputs and the rears have a small amp under each front seat. That’s why you can only see the front speaker outputs at the head unit itself.

 

[PlasticMac]

The standard Concert only has front speaker outputs and the rears have a small amp under each front seat. That’s why you can only see the front speaker outputs at the head unit itself.

@Kleynie Are you sure? I thought the Chorus and Concert both have rear speaker outputs, just that rear speakers (non Bose) are driven via line outputs and a rear amp, so rear speaker outputs are not used, and deselected via VCDS setup. This is definitely the case with my Chorus II.
(With Bose, all speakers are line out and amplifier).
Mac.

 

[Kleynie]

Standard Concert does not have ‘active’ rear outputs, only line out to the rear amps. That is what I meant.

 

[VAG fool]

I gave in and ordered a new undertray from oemvwshop.com, only the diesel version is now available 8Z0825235F.

€79/£71 all in which can't be bad.

Wish I had ordered it at the same time as the spare wheel bracket and saved the extra postage charge but then I might have run foul of the VAT limit and then it would have been caught up in customs...

 

[VAG fool]

Changed plugs and air filter after work: filter had been done recently but carelessly installed, plugs a little mucky so possibly quite old. Then I spotted something hiding in plain sight... the coolant radiator and aircon condenser both appear to have a twist
The offside top corner is standing back off the foam seal, around 10mm and the rubber mounting on that corner isnt sitting at all correctly. This will be due to the badly bent crash beam pushing them out of shape. I dont think the front frame is far out of square as the replacement beams bolted on without too much encouragement, although something obviously isnt quite right up front.
Maybe the front frame has also been pushed in a little? Is there an easy way to check by measuring on the car?
The engine cover fits easily and latches/releases with ease.
Anyway...neither the rad or condensor leak afaics so am inclined to leave both well alone for now, unless someone has a known good pair that I can swap in for a small consideration.
Used cars eh?

 

[simon martyn]

Chapeaux to your courage and tenacity on this one. I too own and drive a "rescue", known as the A2 delinquent. The back story on mine was a bit different however. Dealer demonstrator initially followed by a gp for ten years with impeccable main dealer history and for the next ten years by a "geezer" who was not doing many miles and therefore did not service it at all. From MOT to MOT fixing any advisories, but not a single service. Having been bitten badly by other A2 sagas in the past I sailed into this one eyes open ,reasoning that neglect is a lot better than a life of abuse and bodgery.

Thanks to various luminaries on here, the car is now a delight to drive, and well on the way to being "the finished article" A few biggies to deal with:
Rear suspension bushes, new clutch, new rear bumper (in stock awaiting fitting) and finally wheel refurbs.

Many thanks to all of you have helped on this car.

Meanwhile good luck on yours.

 

[dj_efk]

Chapeaux to your courage and tenacity on this one. I too own and drive a "rescue", known as the A2 delinquent. The back story on mine was a bit different however. Dealer demonstrator initially followed by a gp for ten years with impeccable main dealer history and for the next ten years by a "geezer" who was not doing many miles and therefore did not service it at all. From MOT to MOT fixing any advisories, but not a single service. Having been bitten badly by other A2 sagas in the past I sailed into this one eyes open ,reasoning that neglect is a lot better than a life of abuse and bodgery.

Thanks to various luminaries on here, the car is now a delight to drive, and well on the way to being "the finished article" A few biggies to deal with:
Rear suspension bushes, new clutch, new rear bumper (in stock awaiting fitting) and finally wheel refurbs.

Many thanks to all of you have helped on this car.

Meanwhile good luck on yours.

Would love to see a pic of the oil that came out on the first service you did, if one exists!!!

 

[simon martyn]

Sadly no pics, but was a horror story. Never mind what came out of the gearbox, and the hydraulic fluid looked like rusty water. Gradually we're getting it right with much assistance from Gary in Hounslow who has changed the oil again after roughly 2000 miles. Aircon was ok after a regas, and the car is a joy to drive. A new clutch is in the offing for some time in the nearish future. New instrument binnacle, and much soldering of door locks Thanks Timmus. Replacement throttle body. Thanks Steve. Big service and all fluids changed, throttle body fitted and new thermo housing. Thanks Adam in Culham. New electric rear windows. Thanks Steve. New rear bumper [awaiting fitment] Thanks A2 Work. New front bumper and fog lamp.Thanks Steve

That is really just a thumbnail summary of where we now are.

 

[VAG fool]

Well, we've had some wild weather, torrential downpours, sun, hail etc so when I got home I naturally checked the boot for water.
I had my suspicions about the offside (the nearside is still dry afaik) and there is slight water ingress but only after it pours down.
I traced the tiny drips clinging to the wiring harness upward (just visible as bright dots on the rear light wire binding), then found water sitting in the rear window frame, so then removed the D post trim and found telltale water tracks and a big drip hanging to the rivetted seam.
Where is this coming from?
OSS seals or blocked drain channels?
It looks like water is coming out of the rectangular hole, so it is running down from higher up inside the roof structure.

 

[VAG fool]

So...headlining came out at the weekend without too much aggro. Someone has been there before but looks like they backed off before getting too far in!
Anyway, this is the current state of play, not a good look for any car...

 

[Jellybean]

So...headlining came out at the weekend without too much aggro. Someone has been there before but looks like they backed off before getting too far in!
Anyway, this is the current state of play, not a good look for any car...View attachment 77643View attachment 77644

Just a tad ahead of you. Removed headlining and re-covered it. Now waiting to be refitted. Its not perfect as it's my first attempt, but at least not saggy as before!

Sent from my SM-N960F using Tapatalk

 

[VAG fool]

I am not good with glue or any wet trades tbh!

 

[VAG fool]

Had a rummage about and found some hi/lo horns to replace the weedy beeper.
2000 Mk4 Golf Klaxons or 1999 Sharan Mixo, identical TR99 parts and all with a nice burly Packard connector.
One set for Pearl and one set for the syncro.
Then Pearl can have her front bumper back on and start looking like a car again.

 

[2work]

Had a rummage about and found some hi/lo horns to replace the weedy beeper.
2000 Mk4 Golf Klaxons or 1999 Sharan Mixo, identical TR99 parts and all with a nice burly Packard connector.
One set for Pearl and one set for the syncro.
Then Pearl can have her front bumper back on and start looking like a car again.
View attachment 77716

Hi Ian,

Nice little upgrade this. I too am doing the same once I removed the front bumper for headlamp washer bumper fitting in the coming weeks.

I’d be interested to see how you go about this to save me having to be inventive when the time comes.

Great project by the way.

Kind regards,

Tom

 

[VAG fool]

Thanks! Its on this afternoon's list. I have a choice of brackets from both donors.

This morning's work, after losing a vanload down to the tip (always a good start) was to reinstate the rear suspension. The top mounts were in superb condition so got re-used.
Rear dampers had virtually no gas pressure and the broken coils were dropping it further than is decent, also no spring preload at all!
It was harsh AND fluttery which takes some doing.
Bump stops were ragged as can be seen, dampers are probably original fitment going by part numbers but I haven't checked them for a date stamp.
I re-used the VAG sleeves with new Meyle bump stops.
Sachs 996940 springs and 316991 twin-tube rear dampers give this result:

 

[VAG fool]

PS the replacement springs are those listed for "panoramic sunroof" and appear to have one full turn more than the broken ones. So either I have gone from Sport to standard by accident (I did check the paint code) or they really were clapped out.