Hi All

Just got a 66k mile 1.4 mpi on Monday. Recently serviced MoT'd and a few repairs just prior to purchase so I'm hoping all generally in quite good order as it appears to be.

I've done a fair bit of reading here but a couple of slight issues apparent are

1. Slightly worryingly poor mpg (although my driving all week has been stop/start, short journeys and cold weather. BUT 15-17 mpg looks possible! Car just had new thermostat housing and appears to reach temp pretty quickly. Thinking throttle body cleaning and maybe a new MAP but have to say the car drives A1. Does throttle body need resetting in some way if taken off/refitted?

2. Seem to have some sort of slight fluid/oil leak. Slight misty looking patches on garage floor. Need to look closer...

3. Noticed some lumpiness/vibration at tickover but I gather this is not unusual and as I say car appears to be running well. I can see the top left engine mount looks soft but I've read here this too is not unusual.

4. Possible sign of NSF and NSR wheel bearing noise becoming evident

Car was pretty much bought as a workhorse so no great intention of getting too hung up on having everything A1 but I like the fact it seems quite an easy car to work on and if it proves pretty good I may try to hang onto it and look after it.

Cheers! Scott

Hi All

Just got a 66k mile 1.4 mpi on Monday. Recently serviced MoT'd and a few repairs just prior to purchase so I'm hoping all generally in quite good order as it appears to be.

I've done a fair bit of reading here but a couple of slight issues apparent are

1. Slightly worryingly poor mpg (although my driving all week has been stop/start, short journeys and cold weather. BUT 15-17 mpg looks possible! Car just had new thermostat housing and appears to reach temp pretty quickly. Thinking throttle body cleaning and maybe a new MAP but have to say the car drives A1. Does throttle body need resetting in some way if taken off/refitted?

2. Seem to have some sort of slight fluid/oil leak. Slight misty looking patches on garage floor. Need to look closer...

3. Noticed some lumpiness/vibration at tickover but I gather this is not unusual and as I say car appears to be running well. I can see the top left engine mount looks soft but I've read here this too is not unusual.

4. Possible sign of NSF and NSR wheel bearing noise becoming evident

Car was pretty much bought as a workhorse so no great intention of getting too hung up on having everything A1 but I like the fact it seems quite an easy car to work on and if it proves pretty good I may try to hang onto it and look after it.

Cheers! Scott

1) Mpg if it's getting a reasonable run should be 40+ but always average it over a couple of brimmed tanks, fill discrepancies make comparing over short runs impossible, the tank shape doesn't relate to the fuel gauge, the progression between quarters on it isn't linear. Check the oil/filters/plugs and TB, some have found them gummed up, I was lucky, it was pristine. You can run a throttle adaptation but the car will also do it by itself over time.

2) Oil weeps from the rocker cover gasket (£4 part) or if it's had a sloppy oil change etc. drive shaft seal?

3) At idle it runs OK then has a small judder etc. you learn to overlook it. Apparently a bigger air intake helps.

4) Whatever you do, don't be daft enough to try and do a front wheel bearing yourself, it's not big and it's not clever. Non ABS front cost me £26 and £50 labour (2.5 hrs). Have a look at your console bushes if you haven't already, by now they should have been replaced with the newer VAG versions.

On paper it's an old, uneconomical engine that's slightly more expensive for VED and slightly under powered. The reality is it has a certain charm, it's simple and reliable, what does go wrong is usually cheap to fix and the 120k chain interval makes it a better proposition than some of it's belt driven counterparts. Tyres/brakes/clutches last well and servicing it yourself is easy for the most part. Fuel comes in at circa 14-15p/mile, it makes up for it in other areas.

Thanks very much for detailed reply

I underestimated the current cost of fuel per gallon, so it's not just quite so bad....!

Had a closer look at oil leak today. Top of engine looks pretty dry and seems to me it's from around the sump. Wettest area appeared to be around edge where bolts are. Sump itself doesn't look old or rusty I don't think.

There was a drip on the drain nut too but it may have just gathered from above. Is the sump gasket prone to leaking? Think I'd like to try and get this fixed if possible- don't like the patches appearing on garage floor!!

What exactly are the " console bushes " Not something I've ever heard of. I saw a picture on the forum but it was close up. Are they viewable with the front wheels turned, was that right?? Are they a mounting of some kind?

Thanks for any guidance. Much appreciated

Oil will reach the lowest point, a sump gasket can fail, price up a new sump, if it's inexpensive it may make more sense to replace it and the gasket.

As for the console bushes put the car on full lock to the left, turn off the engine and get out, look under the car from the side behind the right wheel and you'll see the console, a metal circle with a black console bush holding the rear of the wishbone.

Cheers I'll take a look at the bushes. I think from the pic I saw you can tell from looking at them if they look doggy and worn

Cleaned and degreased around sump this morning. Seems likely to me it is a weep at the the sump gasket to rear of engine. I got a little bit of a tighten on the bolts so here's hoping... If it's still leaking you're right maybe a new sump too, a few bubbly rusty patches on it. Be good if tightening worked..

Thanks Scott

That was my console bush, the tears top and bottom are easily spotted using the process I mentioned above, newer ones have an extra set of supports making a X shape or a + shape. If you do need to do them use Powerflex replacements if fitting them yourself, it's a simple DIY job vs having to press them in/out.