Thanks @rubjonny! You've said a lot of things I don't yet understand but I'll read up later today and I'm sure it will all come together
@rubjonny I'm now read up (as far as able) but just a few questions: Do I simply connect the wire to the SU pin on the ignition switch or do I need to feed from there to the fuse box somewhere and then back to the radio? I can do most things but wiring and electrics is an art I'm not familiar with... Also does the key in ignition apply to pre 90 cars? Mine is an 88 and a previous post of yours seemed to suggest this was a 90 mod but I may be reading that wrong. Would be great to have a switched live! https://www.clubgti.com/forums/inde...stereo-wiring-a-few-general-questions.122127/
SU -> radio, nowhere else SU is there on pre-90 cars, but check your ignition switch before you start as sometimes the pin isnt there if its had a cheaper aftermarket part put on it. both my 89 1.6 CE1 driver and 83 MK1 cabrio had the pins on the genuine ignition switch, though strangely my MK2F polo with the original 90spec type switch it was missing. I guess somethign to do with it being built in spain... in that post it does sound like I meant only 90spec cars had the feature actually, what I was getting at there is with pre-90 theres a load of standard size ignition live spades on the back of the fusebox for you so an easy option. for the 90spec there are no spades rather you need to add or tap to pins on plug D, so you may find it easier to tap to the ignition switch instead
oem isnt fused but feel free to add one pin SU comes live as soon as the key is inserted, if you prefer ignition then look at fusebox G spades 1-5, these are all fused for you already too
Today was suspension, wiring and tyres day. In reverse order I decided to change out the Yokos that were on it as they were: Cracked all over the tread; Had major dings in the rubber sidewall where it had rubbed on the arches of the previous vehicle it was on; A few chunks taken out of the side wall; and One was losing air at an alarming rate. Those were 195 45 15 which was a lower profile tyre than the norm and therefore proved to be rare and expensive to replace. View attachment 10258 So I went for 195 50 15 instead which is more common and therefore economical: The brand is Landsail which I used previously on my Audi A4 Quattro and held up really well. On line reviews always seem positive so I didn't hesitate to go with them again. They ride much better than what was on there that's for sure. I think £145 fitted for all 4 is a good deal. Moving on, I've posted this regarding my suspension. Feel free to comment https://clubgti.com/forums/index.php?threads/anti-roll-bar-bushes.287839/#post-2471845 Finally I've set about fitting my head unit and speakers. I ordered this upgrade set for £70 delivered: View attachment 10260 I don't have door speakers but at least I have the option now. I popped off the cowling from the steering column to see what I had wiring wise. I didn't pull the plug so not sure if SU is in there and free though as it was damn tight and I feared opening up a can of worms. This is what's on the plug: View attachment 10257 I did however find this random Blue wire in amongst the rest of the loom: View attachment 10259 When I pull on it it seems to sound like it goes down to the console. Definitely behind the centre vents anyway. I'm going to see if someone has plumbed it to the cigarette lighter to give ignition live I can use on the stereo instead. Not as good as key in but gets me away quicker. More in a bit.
I also gave her a detail yesterday using some quality compounds. The bonnet really lets it down and I need to get the plastics to black which I will hopefully finish up today.
Looking better with a touch of shine I found recently with mine that wafting a hot air gun over the plastics worked a treat. Be careful around the paint though - especially the plastics that are painted such as bumpers.
I've heard of this hot air gun tip though a little nervous I may end up causing the red stripes to start peeling?
I also realised today that some asshole has nicked my immaculate red gti badge on the grill and replaced it with a crap faded broken one somehow. Not happy Edit: should the badge be chrome anyway on the front and not red?
I'm unsure about the badge tbh and that's a good point regarding the red stripe. I don't have that so can't comment. All I know is the paint on my front big bumper didn't like the heat so I had to cover with exhaust heat wrap while I was in that area
what you have in the piccy above is a mk3 one by the looks of it, the mk2 gti grille badge looks like this:
I got the multimeter onto the random blue wire and it checked out to deliver voltage at ignition on. I assume this wire has been connected to the cigarette lighter for the specific purpose of powering the headunit and someone had been lazy and cut through the yellow wire to connect the blue wire to the pin in the plug instead. Hmmm. A bodge by all accounts but to get me underway I simply followed the same route and reconnected the blue wire via the choc bloc which goes to the pin in the plug. The headunit operates with ignition on only for now. It's suboptimal but I've got to remove the dash to swap it out for an uncracked dash anyway (and prob do the matrix whilst I'm in there with a mk1 TT matrix) so will do it all properly then. No more wires hanging out of the aperture for now and the Kenwood headunit is brand new and cost me nothing! View attachment 10270
Car went into the garage today to have the suspension sorted once and for all. Basically the car came with all the stock set up so I decided the best thing to do was to go back to stock and use that as my baseline going forward. But wow isn't standard suspension high! However it drives absolutely spot on and exactly how I remember it. The feedback is just right and there are zero knocks or bangs along the way. The specialist also investigated the ticking sound too. I have a new set of lifters and the Autotec 270 camshaft together with the new cambelt and waterpump to go on anyway we will do all this little lot at once in about a weeks time. I'll keep you updated
Do you have any photos to post up with how it sits now with the standard suspension in play? Interested to see as it's been so long and mine is being swapped out in the morning.
If you fit new Mk2 top mounts the gap is then so big it looks wrong. Eibach springs work well on standard length shocks. Mk3 top mounts can then be used without trouble too.
@DN5 here you go: View attachment 10602 View attachment 10603 Couldn't get your fingers in before but now you can get your fist in
Wow it does look high but still looks nice. The kit I have is a 40mm drop i think so I can now envisage roughly how it'll sit Hoping to get mine pieced together later on today after lunch.
