A3 back out as a daily

Slammedorion

Slammedorion

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Sorry guys I've tried searching...
We just sold our daily Vectra so our A3 is back out of retirement... ( Vectra's replacement arrives in May ) so will surprise the Mot tester next time round, as it's averaged 300 miles a year for a good while now!!!









There's a few bits I want to sort while it's in daily use

I've got uprated powerflex front top mounts to fit.

The drivers side outer door handle needs a couple of pulls to open? Sorry I've tried the search.
It works fine from inside the car, so is there adjustment on the outer handle/ cable?
This was changed for new a while back due to a switch issue, just seems as if its adjustment issue

Alarm siren occasionally does the 4 beeps on start up, so off Audi for a replacement tomorrow, is there a how to for this?
If not I'm sure I'll sort it

The compartment below the climate control has a door on that's never shut for years... without taking it apart what's likely to be broken. Would be nice to fix this

Other than these small gremlins we're enjoying it being out again
It's a pain putting our littlen in the baby seat being 3 door but never mind...
 
If you don't manage to fix the compartment I've got a mint scratch free one for sale. Nice looking car it scrubs up well. The alarm siren is behind the passengers side rear light if I'm not mistaken. Easy enough to get to if you don't have the bose sound system
 
Tj 0785 said:
If you don't manage to fix the compartment I've got a mint scratch free one for sale. Nice looking car it scrubs up well. The alarm siren is behind the passengers side rear light if I'm not mistaken. Easy enough to get to if you don't have the bose sound system
Click to expand...

Presume the mechanisms broke for locking the lid down...
Aslong as yours works drop us a pm cheers
 
At least you don't have to drive that terrible vectra anymore, so I guess there's a silver lining. :)
 
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ayfreetee said:
At least you don't have to drive that terrible vectra anymore, so I guess there's a silver lining. :)
Click to expand...

Will be missed... it's been a good'en

Looking forward to ticking off some jobs on the A3 now...
 
That hurt in Crewe Audi this morning
Wrong parts guy so no discount!

£191 quid for alarm siren and rear wiper fix!
 
Nowt up with the parts guy I was eventually served by
Issue was the bloke who come in after me getting served by not one, but 2 parts guys before me...
Try communicating with reception on who was first to serve
 
Slammedorion said:
Will be missed... it's been a good'en

Looking forward to ticking off some jobs on the A3 now...
Click to expand...
No I'm sorry, Vauxhall and the words good en, are words that should never be used together, they are a terrible waist of metal that could be used on something useful, like a dust bin, especially the truelly awful vectra.
 
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A mate's sent me this from his work...
Looks like the outside handle is adjusted in the same way as the inner... So that's a job to do over Christmas ( 3 weeks off )



New alarm siren



Rear wash repair kit





Also took the centre cubby hole out to see what's wrong and why the flap won't stay shut? This has been like this for 10 years so it's about time it was sorted...
Anyone see owt missing?
Or anyone got a pic of a working one that I might be able to compare it to?



 
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Interior led kit arrived today thanks to t8ups
Looks like I've plenty to get on with on Sunday now...
 
tcg said:
Have to disagree on the MK1 & MK2 Astra GTE,at the time a good hot hatch :yes:
Click to expand...
No sorry your wrong, truly hateful cars, only two half decent Vauxhalls were ever made and both of those were built by someone else, monaro and lotus Carlton. :puke2:
 
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Lovely looking A3 that, black really suits it.

Whats the specs on it, mileage, engine size etc?

What wheels are those?
 
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hendo#1 said:
Lovely looking A3 that, black really suits it.

Whats the specs on it, mileage, engine size etc?

What wheels are those?
Click to expand...


2001 A3 1.8t
Remapped ( running around 14psi now, 3rd remap )
Miltek down pipe and full exhaust system ( with Golf anniversary style tail pipe )
Air filter
Think it's lowered 40mm on the front, 45mm on the rear ( it's been a while since I lowered it )
Uprated shocks
19 inch RS007's
Spacers front and rear ( can't remember what mm )
Owned this for 11-12 years
It's got just over 80k on the clock
Over the last few years it's done less and less mileage
 
Here's a pic off mine
Image
Image
Image
 
If it's stuck open try moving the plastic tab on the side mine moves when opening and closing. It won't let me upload video if you on email or number I can send the video of the mech moving when open or closed the plastic tab that's locks it open may be stuck
 
Slammedorion said:
2001 A3 1.8t
Remapped ( running around 14psi now, 3rd remap )
Miltek down pipe and full exhaust system ( with Golf anniversary style tail pipe )
Air filter
Think it's lowered 40mm on the front, 45mm on the rear ( it's been a while since I lowered it )
Uprated shocks
19 inch RS007's
Spacers front and rear ( can't remember what mm )
Owned this for 11-12 years
It's got just over 80k on the clock
Over the last few years it's done less and less mileage
Click to expand...

Good stuff.

I really like those wheels but I cannot find anything about them online, can you shed any light?

Cheers
 
In the second pic I posted try moving the black plastic thumbnail looking piece side to side as that's the lock
 
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Led kit fitted this morning thanks again to t8ups
Haven't seen it in the flesh at night yet but the misses says it's very bright now, made a massive difference
I'll grab some pics asap
 
Did you fit the alarm siren yet? Was it a pain to get to?
 
Tj 0785 said:
Did you fit the alarm siren yet? Was it a pain to get to?
Click to expand...

Planned for Sunday
I've had the boot panel out before so don't expect it to take long
I'll take pics...
I've got uprated front top mounts to fit Sunday too
 
If you could that would help I know the location off it but never done it. got the siren change planned for my 2 weeks off at xmas hasn't worked in 2 years so it long over due ha
 
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Slammedorion said:
Click to expand...

Bit off piste, but is that the bonnet from a Sierra Saphire Cosworth in the background?.... If so, where's the rest of it!?

Back on track now - A3's looking mint by the way! . . Love seeing a decent well spec'd 8l about these days, actually becoming rare in this sort of condition!
 
Last edited:
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VAG-Slag said:
Bit off piste, but is that the bonnet from a Sierra Saphire Cosworth in the background?....

A3's looking mint by the way! . . Love seeing a decent well spec'd 8l about these days, actually becoming rare in this sort of condition!
Click to expand...


Yes is for my brother in laws Saff... it's sat here waiting for a nice day to be repaired/ painted...

A3's are getting a rare sight
There's no plan to ever let this one go...
 
It's a shame, there's plenty of well cared for S3's out there, but the good old A3 seems to be more neglected, it can only good for future values for the good ones that are left.
 
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All planned jobs for today are done... new alarm siren fitted and Powerflex front top mounts are on

A few pics are to come

Rear 1/4 panel pops out ( easier said than done as clips break etc, hot glue or power mix will sort most issues out )

4 screws on back panel to remove



3 of these in total to remove to pull the rear boot panel out

There's a screw inside near the rear light



There's another one at the top of this panel which is visible once the rear 1/4 panel is out



Once boot panel is out

You need to remove the sub
3 x 8mm nuts









Central locking pump needs moving to one side now, zip tied in place from factory so easy enough



Alarms underneath at the back
Pull it out on the bracket and undo wiring



Put old bracket on new alarm, hole needs drilling out on bracket and bigger nut needed



Refit everything should end up with something like this



Fitted a universal boot liner while working on it, helps keeping it tidy in there when the buggy goes in...never been used as a daily since our littlen come along...

New car seat protector fitted so we don't end up with dents in the seat
Also a few of the recent interior light led conversion





Rubber mats for winter fitted over nearly new genuine mats





And top mounts before and after... hopefully no noises now

Before



After



I'll grab some outside pics in the week, but won't look much different to earlier on in the year



 
Looks great bud, where were those shots taken?, lots different cars there, Clio Williams, mk2 escorts, focus RS and I believe that's a saff cossie parked next to you.
 
Gold Cup @ Oulton Park from earlier in the year...
Took my Orion Turbo
Brother in laws Saff
Mate's Mini 210 challenge
Another mate's Clio VR6 turbo
Lancia Delta
Mk2 Escort
 
After a test drive yesterday it had developed a different noise from the right hand front since doing the work on Sunday on it... a loose bobbling noise over rough roads.
Only thing it could be would be the top mount bearings although these were fairly new and have not done a lot of miles
So yesterday I ordered genuine top mount bearings along with new locking nuts.
Today after work I've fitted these quickly, so fingers crossed it's cured... will find out tomorrow when it's back out
 
Damn what a neat example you have stunning!

Lets hope that's the issue
 
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I went out in it and there's still a knock there!!!

So after working on it most of the weekend trying to cure a knocking noise ( so far it's had new drop links, bottom arms, powerflex top mounts plus lock nuts, even nipped the subframe up )
Touch wood it seems to have cured it but time will tell
Dunno why but it seems to sit slightly higher on the nsf? I've swapped ns to os and it's still sat up that side? Aslong as the knock has gone I'll see if it beds in... if not a angle grinder maybe needed

All cleaned up after it's work













 
Well there is still a very slight noise coming from the top mount area
So I've just ordered new standard top mounts ( maybe it's something you have to live with when fitting powerflex top mount bushes? ... but I can't live with it no matter how little the noise is )
Also hoping the front will level back up again as it sat level before fitting the powerflex stuff? Weird thing is I swapped the struts from side to side yesterday and the left front still sits higher?
I've ordered a inner cv joint as the loud bang at slow speed with lock on still appears randomly?
It's booked in for tracking next Wednesday so hopefully I can get it sorted before then
 
Well still not happy with noises from the front of the A3.
This morning I've collected standard front top mount bushes from Audi, and track rod ends from CES
On route to Audi I had the loudest bang from the nsf yet followed by bits banging under the car
I carried on route to Audi as everything still seemed to work fine...
Once all the parts were collected I headed straight home to avoid ending up needing a trailer
This afternoon I got in the garage to get on with changing all the bits on the osf first
For now I've just fitted top mount bushes, track rod ends will get swapped nearer to Wednesday next week when it goes in for tracking
On to the nsf
First job after loosening top mount nuts... wheel off and slacken hub nut
Then some bits fell on the floor!!!
Had a look round, fu!king hell!!! The bits on the floor were brake pads!!!





I can only presume the loud banging we've been getting was bits of pad jamming up and being shattered... the pads had plenty of meat on them but the backing plates are corroding and swelling, in turn braking the friction plate off in bits!!!
The noise this morning was unbelievable!!! Never would have guessed £30 worth of pads would cause so much noise

Oh well outer cv joint was bought, so was being fitted while apart



Sat back down on its wheels





Sat a lot nicer and level!!! So powerflex are being contacted and they can have these top mounts back!!!
Been out on test drive this evening, and bar the tracking being out, it drives soooooooo sooooooooooo nicely once again
I've spent days under this car over the last few weeks... finally getting somewhere with it...
 
Reading through your post of the knocking sounds I was thinking right away "strut bearings"
Glad you got it fixed! Very Nice rims too!!!
 
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Finally the overalls can come off



It's been out and about this morning, only issue was drop links needed adjusting as anti roll bar was catching the os driveshaft driving round a car park...
Once back home I've adjusted both drop links and fitted the new track rod ends... also managed to fetch the tracking forward to this Friday...

Sits so nicely now



















Just on the hunt for a bargain brake upgrade next...
 
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