North-West Garage Recommendations

Can anyone recommend a decent garage near Wigan to sort out the dodgy clutch on my newly-acquired Mk1 GTI - peferably one with a bit of VW experience?  Many thanks.

S1mon said

Can anyone recommend a decent garage near Wigan to sort out the dodgy clutch on my newly-acquired Mk1 GTI - peferably one with a bit of VW experience?  Many thanks.

I'm not a garage, but if you're stuggling to find a place to change a clutch on a Mk1 GTI, and you don't mind coming to the Wirral, I can sort it out for you. What kind of clutch issue do you have?

paul u can use myplace if you need cover from this bad weather

It goes into gear fine with the engine turned off, but won't go into any gears at all with the engine running. It's been suggested to me that this could be due to the clutch not disengaging.

The bloke I bought it off claimed he'd fitted a new clutch so it may well be that he's fitted it incorrectly and it just needs adjusting, but obviously it could equally need a new one.

It is (just about) driveable as I can put it into 3rd before I switch the engine on, then leave it in 3rd while I'm driving it, but I'm bothered that might cause even more damage.

Hope that makes sense.

S1mon said

It goes into gear fine with the engine turned off, but won't go into any gears at all with the engine running. It's been suggested to me that this could be due to the clutch not disengaging.

The bloke I bought it off claimed he'd fitted a new clutch so it may well be that he's fitted it incorrectly and it just needs adjusting, but obviously it could equally need a new one.

It is (just about) driveable as I can put it into 3rd before I switch the engine on, then leave it in 3rd while I'm driving it, but I'm bothered that might cause even more damage.

Hope that makes sense.

Worth adjusting the clutch cable, on the linkage at the front of the gearbox. Wind it so there is more gap between the fitting on the cable and the bracket on the gearbox, ie the lever is pulled further upwards. This will give you more clutch pedal disengagement. I just bought another GTI with the same issue, it took around 30 seconds to fix the clutch!

Cheers Paul - I'll give that a go over the weekend.

Fingers-crossed that's all it is as I only bought the car last week and I've not had chance to get any cash together for repairs yet!!

Thanks again.

are dubsport still trading? every time i tried getting onto their website it says account suspended?!

p.s where abouts in wigan are you from mate? im always knocking around in mine!  

J

I'm in Orrell near the Sandbrook Arms pub.

The Golf was an impulse buy on Wednesday cos I've always wanted one and the gear change was perfect until last night, so I'm a bit gutted!  I figured it'd need some work doing on it, but I hoped for a few weeks to save up some cash after I blew everything I had on buying it.

I was going to try Dubsport at weekend, but like you I saw that their website was suspended so I'm a bit wary now.  I've used them before when I had a Scirocco and then a Corrado and I always found them a bit pricey.  No complaints about the quality of their work, though.

Whereabouts are you?  I'm looking to get into the local meets and stuff (when the car's mobile again) so any info you have on these would be much appreciated.

ah right nice one, i'm from standish originally but live the other side of burscough now but im always coming and going between the two, my ex lives in roby mill so i used to be over that way a fair bit.

theres a couple of meets that i know of, theres the nwvag meet on july 3rd in preston…il try find the details for you later mate, theres one blackburn way plus theres one in warrington aswell thats just gone. i think there all monthly.

i'm gonna try dubsport this weekend aswell, mine is running a bit poorly at the mo, do you know where they moved to? i know they used to be down near j.27 on mossy lea road, but i've no idea where they are now especially with their webby down!

J

I live in Tyldesley
foxy and paul_c are excellent and I use walkden VW centre on th A6 in Little Hulton for parts

paul_c - I can't be quite as good a mechanic as you cos it took me all of 45 seconds to fix it compared to your 30!

I can't thank you enough for the advice - absolutley brilliant.

chief86 - Dunno about Dubsport.  I keep meaning to go and have a look to see if they're still there but I haven't got round to it yet.  My Golf's not out and about too much yet until I've done some more work on it - it's a metallic black Campaign, reg A*** RYY.  I'll keep my eye out for yours round Burscough.

Thanks again to everyone who replied.