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Can anyone out there in forum land tell me how to remove the filler tank cap of my December 1999 Mk2 VW Polo. The hold-it-open and closed spring has snapped out. I've got it but can't get the flap thing off the car to replace it!
When I say the CAP, I mean the outer flap and not the screw-top filler neck top
HELP...................!
Hi Peter is the bar locked? Normaly it is easy to open push the flap on the side where the hinges are and it should open as far as you can get a finger in the gap to open it. If not here are a Link for a Repair Manual to the Polo
http://bombbook.filegranted.com/1/se...hr+1999&afid=9
Regards
Gunner
Hi Gunner, thanks for that but it isn't the locking mechanism that has jammed up or fouled but the sprung/spring loaded hold open and close bit on the right hand side that's failed, allowing it to flap around.
I'll read the info
SELL it as fast as you can to another sucker. I should have known better, but didn't remember my past experiences until too late. I bought one (passat) for my son to drive to school and back on the highway. A safe, (as far as that goes), car for him to do that in. Problem is...EVERY time it needs some work, it cost 800 to 1200 $$$ for repairs. MINOR ones at that.Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Laidler
I'll tell you every problem I've had with it if you want, e-mail me.
I'll NEVER own another VW/Audi/Porsch product again.
FWIW,
Emri
Peter, I hate to do this but must agree with Emri, impossible to sell it too fast. You gotta love that German engineering?? They build a good car but far too complicated and Emri is correct, fixing anything is nuts for price. If you think you have problems with a Polo buy a Passat W8 and cry every time you take it in for service.. the technicians cry also as they are a nightmare to work on.
I hate to say this too, and almost didn't write anything, but my wife had a 'New Beetle' (expensive) and it was a nightmare, especially as far as service.
The dealers charge an arm and a leg, and maybe they need to because they are so difficult to work on. I changed her air filter one day and couldn't believe it was so difficult to access.
She had problems with Engine warning lights they never resolved, hard to start because of a fuel pickup problem, etc, etc, and we traded it in as soon as feasible. (Just my experience)
I had a 'new used' 'rabbit' when I was in college (1000 years ago) and flogged the thing commuting back and forth to school, 'rat racing', poor maintenance, etc without ever a whimper from it. (I hated that rabbit as a college age guy - REAL 'Chick Magnet') ;)
- But they were cheap back then, and got from point 'A' to point 'B' with no fuss.
I have to say in their defence, that I've had VW's after simplicity itself MGB's and one monster big V8 version. I've had Golf GTI's and 16valves, and none have been troublesome, One was stolen with 198,000 miles on the clock and this Polo is up to 116,000 now. I do the work myself but you do need a pit for access.
Any garage work is reserved for the electronics but I know a little 'cash only' bloke who has the electronic wizzardry to work his magic.... for cash of course!
I'll go to a scrap yard and find one on its side and investigate there.
Thanks for all the humour and advice chaps - , much appreciated!
id reccomend 20 cms of 10gpm detcord wrapped around it, a No.8 plain and a foot of saftey fuse.....oh, I just noticed you want to keep the car! Sorry, just halve the amount.
Glad I could help. Cheers!
Great one powdermonkey. Had us all in shrieks of laughter here. Made my day. Regards......
Peter, luckily one of your problems was solved by a common thief, maybe if you are really lucky it will happen again. Would you still be insured for theft if you "accidentally" left the keys in the ignition? :lol:Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter Laidler
Peter:
I have a 2003 Jetta, not the same as a Polo, that has a remote release at the driver's seat. If the Polo has a similar arrangement, can you (or someone else) push and hold the release and will that allow you to open the flap?
BTW, we have 116K happy miles on the Jetta & 349K happy miles on a 1986 Golf, both diesels. And, yes, we have an independent garage who does first class work.
I've had about 80,000 troouble-free miles on my '99 Golf which my wife gave me for putting up the down on her new Prius. It had 120K at the time.... I take the VW elk hunting and have kind of beaten up the floor and rocker panels. It has a roof rack!
jn
Jon,
Maybe it's the later Vee-Dub's that are having more troubles. (Don't they make the 'new beetle' in Mexico or someplace?)
Dealership gouging is not unique to VW these days either.
As I said, I 'flogged' my Rabbit all the way through college. The first GTI came out a year after I bought my Rabbit, if that gives this a time frame.
It was paid off when I got out of college, with little trade in value, so after college I bought a new BMW 320-S (sport edition), and kept my Rabbit for a 'beater' and I also took it to the woods hunting, etc for years. (It would go more places than you'd think!) Lots of room in the back, and a roof rack! ;)
I finally gave it away to a 'friend in need' who was down on his luck and needed a car so he could work.
Of course, this is all just like 'Ford vs Chevy' to begin with. ;)
We all have good and bad experiences.
I agree that I also have had some great VW's, a 62 beetle that was bullet proof, a 68 variant (the chicken war car that never made it to the US) also bullet proof, a 74 Super Beetle Convertible, fun but not as good as the previous ones and also a Rabbit (forget the year) that probably was the best one they ever built! HOWEVER the newer cars just don't have the reliability of the old ones. They have had a unbelievable amount of little things that constantly go wrong such as the clips on the side windows of 90's Golfs that always break allowing your window to fall down. They never changed the design for years and yet everyone complained. The "spark boxes" that failed, every one of them over time yet they would only replace them as they failed which always caused a disruption of regular use 'till they ordered one in. Would I buy a new one, not a chance, just too over-engineered and expensive to service/repair. My daughter wanted to buy one once, I quickly talked her out of that. Her husband wanted to buy a new diesel two weeks ago, talked him out of that and told him to buy a Nissan Versa for around town. I think all of us "old guys" remember the VW's of past that literally were the most simple, reliable cars on the road. Those days are long gone.
Peter, I am sure thousands are waiting ( I know I am) to hear if you got it fixed or opted for the det. cord???