Wednesday 29 October 2014

VW Golf MK2 GTI Seats - Difference between Early and Late Models

Over the production period of the MK2 Golf GTI there were 2 different seat adjustment levers depending on the age of the car. The early models have the height adjustment lever to the left hand side of the driver but the later models have a pull handle to the front  right hand of the seat.

Early Golf GTI seat with side adjustment lever
Early Golf GTI seat with side adjustment lever
Early Golf GTI seat with adjustment lever
Early Golf GTI seat with side adjustment lever


Early Golf GTI seat with front adjustment lever
Late Golf GTI seat with front adjustment lever

Monday 27 October 2014

VW Golf Mk2 Seat Positioning

The driver's seat in my MK2 Golf seemed to be quite a way to the left and rather close to the gearstick and handbrake. These photos show the view from the back seat.

Having done more investigation it seems that this is standard although the handbrake is rather angled and should be straight.



New Replacement Fuel Filter Gives Massive Performance Gains

I changed the fuel filter on my VW Golf at the weekend. It was a job I'd not be able to do along with the rest of the service due to difficulty accessing the fuel filter under the car. Having managed to borrow the vehicle lift at a garage I was easily able to replace the fuel filter. I wasn't expecting a massive difference but wanted to replace the fuel filter as there was no record of a recent change despite the oil being changed several times over the last few years.

When I removed the fuel filter the colour of the fuel that came out from the tank side was pretty horrific, extremely dirty and black. The outside shell of the old fuel filter was very corroded and the bolts were very tough to undo with one breaking rather than releasing, all giving more indication that the fuel filter had not been changed for a very long time. The official recommendation from VW is for 20,000 mile changes but the car has 177,000 miles on the clock and I doubt the fuel filter has been changed since 100,000 miles.


The drive to work today was the first proper opportunity I'd had to experience the car following the fuel filter being changed. To say I was shocked by the performance difference is an understatement!


VW Golf Hall Sensor Plug and Terminal Wires Part Number

I needed to replace the Hall sensor plug on my VW Golf as the wires had broken. It proved rather tricky trying to find the right part number so thought it might be useful to post in case anyone else needs to source a replacement plug and terminals.

The wires had broken off at the plug so I needed to get a new plug along with the terminals to fit inside.

Hall sender plug housing part number is 052 905327 B00 now replaced by V443 906 236
Terminal connectors for Hall sensor are part number 000 979 225A (VW Part 979225A)


Hall Sensor Plug and Terminal Wires Part Number
Hall Sensor Plug and Terminal Wires Part Number



Hall sender plug part number V 443 906 236
Hall sender plug housing part number V443 906 236

Sunday 26 October 2014

VW Golf Serious Crash - Safety in VW Golf - Mk7 vs MK2 - Driver Escapes Death in MK7 Golf

I recently saw some photos of a serious crash involving a VW Golf Mk7 where the driver escaped with only minor injuries. When you see the photo of the VW Golf crashed below you wonder how anyone could have got out alive. Fortunately there was just the driver in the car and they suffered minor injuries from the airbag but not serious ones. It really does show how the Euro NCAP car safety ratings have improved the design of cars that a crash as serious as this can allow the driver to survive.


Car Crash Safety VW Golf - Mk7 vs MK2 - Driver Escapes Death in MK7 Golf
Car Crash Safety VW Golf - Mk7 vs MK2 - Driver Escapes Death in MK7 Golf

In contrast this was a low speed collision in my old MK2 Golf GTI. I dread to think what would have happened if a MK2 was in a similar collision to the one above.



Saturday 25 October 2014

Golf GTI Fuel Filter Replacement - How to Locate and Fit New Fuel Filter

Having serviced my Golf GTI a few weeks ago one of the jobs outstanding was to replace the fuel filter. The fuel filter on the MK2 Golf GTI is tucked away underneath the body so replacement is an awkward job carried out on axle stands on the ground. I tried a couple of times but couldn't get sufficient space underneath the car to get access and have room to be able to move.

Tools need to replace fuel filter on VW Golf GTI
  • 10mm spanner
  • 17mm spanner
  • 19mm spanner
  • Mole grips
  • Wide, deep tray to catch petrol drips along with container to store afterwards
Fortunately I had access to a vehicle lift at a local garage so arrange to call in to do the work.

View of the fuel filter from side of the car using axle stand

View of the fuel filter from side of the car using axle stand

View of the fuel filter from side of the car using axle stand