New to Polos and need some advice

[timmo]

I have just bought a C reg mk 2 squareback for running about in, the wife has a merc which is no use for anything except posing in and I have a 2 seater which again is not very practical. I dont really need to have the car looking great but i need the mechanicals ok as I will be using it every day for driving about 40 motorway miles - (I am studying the knowledge full time and my bike is in Ealing )

I am collecting the car next weekend.

i would like to hear from you with advice regarding the things likely to need attention when I get it., I will service it myself but am looking for any tips and hints for a total newbie to polos.

I will try to post a picture in a bit but til then heres some info
86k miles 1986 c reg polo c


Thanks a lot

[Breadman]

Welcome timmo,
The first thing to check for on a Polo is the condition of the fuel filler neck where it goes into the fuel tank. They are a notorious rust spot, but it is quite easy to check out. You will be able to see the filler pipe tucked inside the offside rear arch, give this a good blast with a hose or better still a pressure washer to remove the mud and dirt that accumilates here and make sure it isn't very rusty, particularly where it meets the tank itself. If it's very rusty it may not be long before a new tank is required, as petrol leaks here are quite common. However a new tank can be bought new for about £50 and upwards depending on the quality of the manufacturer.
Engine wise the only real weak point is the head gasket which for some reason VW never managed to make reliable throughout the engines long manufactured life. I'm not talking about problems with high mileage engines either, it's not unusual for head gasket failure at 60-70k miles. Obvious checks here are the usual creamy sludge in the oil filler cap/cam cover and coolant loss/contamination.
Head gasket replacement is quite an easy task armed with a Haynes book of fiction (err manual!) though its often best to have the head face skimmed to make sure its completely flat before refitting.
Without trying to make them sound bad little cars (which they deffinately aren't) the front suspension top mounts, rear wheel bearings, steel brake pipes and flexible hoses are all common MOT failure points, oh and number plate lights not working due to corrosion inside the lamp housing!
"If only everything in life was as reliable as a Volkswagen!"
Good luck,
Richard.

[GroovyCarrot]

As long as it's been regularly serviced there should be no real problems. Quite often though you'll find a particularly worn engine in a polo that hasn't been serviced and has had a bit of a rough life, ragged from cold etc. Other than that sort of thing there are no major worries. The fuel tank issue is more a problem on mk3's, the mk2's were built in germany where they actually know how to weld components together properly. The headgasket is one of the more common problems, but still isn't exactly a regular thing to find, and is extremely easy to change. Looking at the photos you've posted up, I'd say your main concern is going to be trying to keep that rust at bay, and make sure it hasn't taken hold of any structural points. Other than that, keep it well serviced, regular oil changes etc and it'll be sweet as a nut

[timmo]

THANKS A LOT FOR THE INFO.

CAN YOU RECOMMEND A SUPPLIER FOR THE SERVIICE PARTS.

german and swedish?

If you have any part numbers that would be so helpful as well

thanks a mill again

[GroovyCarrot]

German and Swedish get my vote, definately. Also, www.eurocarparts.com can be good for some parts.