Leaderboard

I’m currently in the process of gathering parts for the build and doing research, I don’t want to fit a generation 2 haldex if I can, so I’m currently researching if a generation 4 haldex will be possible, so far things are looking good but I won’t be able to know fully until I wire it into the system. Anyway, let’s start at the beginning, I bought the car originally for the misses to replace her zafira GSI, which I loved I may add, as she got a bit bored after having Zafira’s for nearly 10 years. I found a good looking car at one of the local auctions, so went down to have a look and obviously I bought it 😂 The coolant was a horrible brown colour the battery was flat, it had a scuff on the front bumper and slight impact damage on the rear bumper, so bid the right money and took a chance on it. Driving it back the next day, the airbag light was on, the temp kept dropping when cruising, and I could hear a rattle in the engine bay, more prominent on tick over when sitting inside the car. I couldn’t even drive it quickly as I knew it was desperate for a cambelt and the rattling noise meant I drove home really steady until I could have a poke around, it did drive lovely although no cruise was a pain. Scanned it for faults when home and it was quite clear, passenger side airbag was the fault light so disconnected, bit of cleaner on the contact and back together cleared that fault. Ordered a new battery plus service kit and cambelt kit in preparation of the work ahead. First things first, I can’t stand mucky engine bays, so I clean the engine bay before I start any work usually. This is how it looked when I opened the bonnet. I use neat screwfix degreaser on a warm engine, sprayed with a pump sprayer all over but watching the paintwork, leave to dwell for 10 minutes if possible and wash off with a hose, I’ll repeat if it’s really bad and sometime get in with a brush if it is thick crud. I also replaced the battery, the coolant bottle, done the service and timing belt, flushed the coolant system and replaced the thermostat. Took it out and WOW! It was so quick and punchy for a 200bhp car, i said to my mates that it had to have been mapped and they didn’t believe me, a good mate of mine told me to plug it into VCDS and check and low and behold it had logged the ecu had been flashed once before, so I’m presuming It’s running around the 250bhp mark at stage 1. bit more driving and the coolant was staying clear but the level was dropping and there was no pressure in the system, plus there was signs of coolant down the front of the block, I investigated and found the metal hard pipe wasn’t sealing in the gsf housing properly, so I found a fatter O-ring and it seemed to cure it. I also picked up a puncture for the first time in ages I then ordered a new fuel pump tappet to try and cure the rattle in the engine bay as I was still finding my feet with the TFSI engine, it was on its last legs so luckily caught that in time. I also picked up a set of 4 Michelin alpin tyres for cheap off eBay and took them to my mate who fitted them and put the car on the hunter alignment machine to check it was all nice and straight and driving true.

After seeing so many people doing it the wrong way, I decided to make my own video