Dilbert

Also have a branch in Wexford town where they have VW but can do servicing and supply spares too. Found them pretty reasonable to deal with in the past - order parts, when they come in they call you straight away, etc.

My interpretation of "stretch" would be that the belt is stiffer when its made and as it wears in it becomes more flexible, rather than stretching and increasing the pitch. There was a full kit fitted but I've a 400 mile journey ahead of me tomorrow and Sunday so if that doesn't quieten it down, then maybe it needs relaxing a shade.

Thanks for the reply Trundlenut. Anyone else got any thoughts on it?

Got my cambelt changed a couple of weeks ago. Don't normally use the car much (cycle to work) so I've less than 20 miles up on it since. However, there's a high-pitched whine from the engine that rises and falls with revs. We've whipped off the auxiliary belt and the whine stayed, so it seems its likely to be the new timing belt. The tensioning was performed exactly as per the instructions in the Haynes manual - turning the notch to line up with the dimple (may not be the exact wording). Question is whether this sounds normal and will stretch out of the belt as the engine is run or whether it sounds like it should be loosened off a shade.

Not proud at all, more surprised. Was expecting to have some degradation of the impeller (but there was none) and for the remainder to be fine (but it wasn't). Just goes to show ya....

Got my timing belt, water pump, aux belt and all tensioners changed this week (2000 1.6GLXi with 93k miles). Was very surprised to see that the impeller of the original pump had not disintegrated in the least - from what I hear around here, it sounds unusually long-lived. The pump pulley was rubbing though and had a tight spot at one point. Also the timing belt tensioner was tightening up and the aux belt tensioner was no longer running freely - I suspect only the timing belt was changed last time round, all the other bits looked like original equipment. Glad to have it done now.

Tourans are, I'd imagine, quite expensive still. FWIW my experience of the Picasso has been positive and they are very inexpensive to buy now. I'd get a diesel but other than that would be happy to get another.

OP I've a Britax booster seat and a Britax Trio in the back of mine and I sincerely doubt it would be feasible to fit another child seat in the back. We got a Citroen Xsara Picasso when our third arrived, as very few cars have enough width to allow two child seats and another person (or three child seats for that matter) in comfort and safety. Sorry if that's not what you wanted to hear.

For the uneducated, is this an operation that can/needs to be done only on VRS's or would a bog standard 1.6GLX benefit from it?

If they had the inner skin off the door (would they?) you may find that the hook has become detached from the back of the handle. IIRC, there is a little socket at the back of the handle recess and if its not securely in that, it won't work properly. Happened to me after replacing a window regulator.

Are these serviceable or are they only replaceable? Could the potentiometer be cleaned?

Thanks Eddie. I have it reassembled using the old ring but its still sticky and now the spring-return is not working properly, so I've obviously put the spring in the wrong way.

Just as I was leaving local dealer's after coolant change yesterday, I picked up the much-mentioned lock repair kit for my driver's side door lock, which was getting very sticky. Took the barrel out today and found that, out of the two bags of bits they gave me, I seem to have two of one piece and none of another (compared to the bits already fitted). Before I verbally express my displeasure at them on Monday, does anyone either have a photographic record of the re-assembly of their door lock or an exploded drawing of the assembly, just so I can verify how the parts go together. (Its a 2000 1.6GLXi with no remote CL, btw and the parts I got were supposed to have been 1U0 898 001 & 1U0 898 002)

How did you find the RightClick remote CL? They're not expensive - are they any good? Easy to install? Work well?

You might be interested in BBA reman online catalogue - haven't used them but someone else posted the link here for something else so it might be useful.