To Cabrio or not to Cabrio...that is the question.

[H3LVTCA]

I PM'd you as well, but can we find out how much the junkyard would want for both fenders, assuming they are rust-free?

Seriously, I can't believe this is even an option. Is this real life?
I've been looking for these fenders for a very long time.
CajunSpike, you are a king among men.

[CajunSpike]

Here's my philosophy guy....the people in this forum have been nothing but kind and helpful with all the problems I've posted(and I'm sure I'll be posting many more problems). I just try to return what was given to me..knowledge and assistance in whatever way I can. Eventually that parts cabrio will be crushed...so whatever can be used from it to help somebody else, is just good common sense.

[hyperlightboards48]

Glad to see this thread going again

Whats so special about those fenders? The pics are not loading on my phone so i cannot tell.

[CajunSpike]

From talking to the guy, there is a cutout on the fender between the well and the door. Either a wolfburg emblem or a light fixture can be installed in that cutout. Not all cabrio's have that cutout in the fender, so finding original fenders that have the hole, is apparently hard to do. I would assume that the fenders on his car are rusted beyond repair, so he's looking for another set.

[gunnarpaul]

Gunner, I'll check the condition of the interior of the parts car...and post photos of it too. It does have seats, dunno bout door cards.

Whats an 02A out of? I'm not up to date on tranny codes.

The O2A is basically built for the VR6 cars and has hydraulics for the clutch rather than the cable. Little tougher trans than the O2O and the hydraulic system is more dependable than the cable set up. Mine came out of a 92 Passat.

[H3LVTCA]

From talking to the guy, there is a cutout on the fender between the well and the door. Either a wolfburg emblem or a light fixture can be installed in that cutout. Not all cabrio's have that cutout in the fender, so finding original fenders that have the hole, is apparently hard to do. I would assume that the fenders on his car are rusted beyond repair, so he's looking for another set.

You hit the proverbial nail on the head!

My fenders are rusted about the rocker panels beyond repair, and I have been searching high and low for fenders that would replace mine. Unfortunately, the ones I have found have either been on the East or West coasts. Tough for someone like myself trying to get a pair to Chicago...

[CajunSpike]

went back to jy today. Pulled hood, bumpers, and fenders. Put good hood on car. Pic to come.

[CajunSpike]

update: A tow truck showed up at my house about 8:00pm with the cabrio on it. We offloaded it
into the drive way.


The party starts now....

Already all the drivers in the house were asking if they could use the car...even with it not running...

Also, somebody has offered to buy the entire Jetta as is...so that too might be saved from the scrapper.

[CajunSpike]

This is now sitting in my driveway. Pulled the damaged hood off and put the one from the parts Cabrio on. Gotta do the paperwork and start getting parts ordered.

You can see the 91 Jetta in the background.

Anybody who knows, what bolts do you have to pull to remove the front clip? Already got the
4 10mm on the fenders off..which others have to come off?

[Agnesvw]

Not sure if you managed to get into the trunk yet but if your key doesnt work, there is a trunk pop button either in the center console cubby or sometime in the actual glove box on the left side.

But on the cabrio most likely on the center console.

Whats special about the fenders is that all cabrios built in germany have side markers in the fenders but here instead of side markers they fitted wolfsburg crest inserts into the holes.

All cabbies built until 1996 have square holes and some 1996 cabbies have oval holes. In mid 1996 production for north american cabbies moved to mexico where they just started using new fenders without the holes.

so if you have a german built cabby it will have holes in the fenders.

As far as removing the front bumper, the foglights and signals need to be removed, theres a bolt behind the foglights i think. ( cant remember for sure )

Then you have to get on the ground and look under the bumper and theres a bunch of bolts that hold the bumper cover to the rebar if i remember correctly.

there may also be a bunch of bolts that hold the bumper cover on between the top of the bumper cover and the bottom of the grille.

once you get the bumper, headlights off, the Rad Support is very easy to remove. not welded on like MK1s.

[CajunSpike]

thanks agnes. i was able to get the top rad support, from the parts car. This car's support was torn up from somebody forcing the hood open. Need to remove the bent part on this car to install the replacement. On the parts car I had to pull the plastic bumper cover off to get to the bolts that hold the bottom of the rad support in place. Not sure if there was another way to get to the bolts without having to pull the plastic cover.

Have not gotten trunk open yet. Am charging up battery to see if its any good before i go any further. I thought the key should work, but gets 1/2 way and sticks, wont go further in the hole.
ty for the trunk popper info...didn't know that. will look for it.

I was able to pull the fenders for the gentleman and will be shipping to him shortly for a fair price.
I did the vin lookup on my car and it says was built in pueblo, mexico.

all comments and info, historical or otherwise is awesomly appreciated.

[CajunSpike]

As so we begin.

Two items at this time.

1) Looking for a grille. Found one on ebay but the guy said it was for a single headlight.
Is this a single headlight or not? if not is it a custom light assembly?



2) Attached a partially charged battery to see if engine would spin over. Horn starts beeping at regular intervals, which I believe is the anti theft warning. How do I disable/bypass/override this?
Engine will not spin over. Don't know if its because engine is locked or anti theft.

update:
Found this in the Mk3 Thread..thanks to the poster, Germancarnut51.

#1 If you had the Owner's Manual for the car, and read it when you first got the car, you would have known that the alarm will sound every time you disconnect and reconnect the battery. To reset the alarm system, all you would have had to do is insert the key in the driver's door, and turn it to the unlock position after the battery is connected and the alarm sounds. You can find an Owner's Manual for your car in the Vortex For Sale Forum, OR eBay, OR Amazon.

[hyperlightboards48]

nice... thats a nice cheap fix. Did it turn over?

[CajunSpike]

The used battery didn't have enough power to spin it. Jumped it to my Etienne.

Trick to kill alarm worked.
Headlights work both hi/lo beam.
Turn signals work.
Mileage is 90255 Car is barely broken in!
Hit key, engine did spin over!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Didn't crank much, just enough to try.
Check engine is on, low gas is on.

Ordered head water outlet and both sensors that go in it from GAP.
Now I need to find an A/C compressor so I can install it and the alternator to really try to start it,
once the water outlet is installed as well.

Yippee!!!!

[mabbonizio186]

The front clip comes off with just 6 bolts, there are two on each side of the rad support up top and two behind the turn signal / dummy plates. you'll then need to remove the two bolts on the top of the rad support that hold the radiator in place ( you'll get what im talking about when you see it on the car). You can then disconnect the main headlight harness and the entire front, lights, wires and all will just slide right off. The rad will still be on the car. It can appear intimidating, but I've removed the front end of my car so many times I could do it in my sleep in less than five minutes, honestly not exaggerating. Those headlights are dual chamber lights, one chamber for the high-beam and one for the low, they are standard on high line cabrios and gtis.

[kamzcab86]

1) Looking for a grille. Found one on ebay but the guy said it was for a single headlight.
Is this a single headlight or not? if not is it a custom light assembly?

I didn't know there were two different styles; sure enough, there are single-bulb headlight assemblies and dual-bulb assemblies. If you've got single-bulbs, you use a single-piece grille; if you've got dual-bulbs, you use a two-piece grille (grille + lower trim).

I'm curious to know the answer too!

Edit: ^Ah, the answer! I need to make a note and that to Cabby Info.

[CajunSpike]

going -strictly- by looks, this is the item I asked the vendor about. I see now, it doesn't include 1999 as a valid year for the part.

This was his message for the item below
----------------------
quote
------------------------
According to the pictures and vehicle vin number you provided.

This grille will fit your vehicle but for single bulb headlamp type use only.
----------------------
unquote
----------------------

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1997-1996-19...60550816530864

If somebody can help me find the right grille, that would be great.

mabbonizio186, thanks for the tip. I was thinking I was going to have to remove the headlights from the frame. I need to remove the top radiator support to replace it.

[mabbonizio186]

That grille will fit, there is no difference between the shape and fitment of the dual chamber or single chamber head lights. Guess the seller doesn't know what he's talking about.. also not sure if that car is a 99, but if it is you'll have a much easier time ordering parts for a 98 because in 99 vw introduced the new cabrio with an updated front end.

[CajunSpike]

also not sure if that car is a 99, but if it is you'll have a much easier time ordering parts for a 98 because in 99 vw introduced the new cabrio with an updated front end.

Build date on the car is 8/98. The guy I tried getting a key from said its an early 99 model, still a Mk3.

Great tip for future use.

[kamzcab86]

That grille will fit, there is no difference between the shape and fitment of the dual chamber or single chamber head lights. Guess the seller doesn't know what he's talking about..

Are you positive about that? Because the two notable parts suppliers I visited stated the exact same thing: single-piece grille for single-bulb headlights only.

Using '98 is a grand idea.

[mabbonizio186]

Are you positive about that? Because the two notable parts suppliers I visited stated the exact same thing: single-piece grille for single-bulb headlights only.

Using '98 is a grand idea.

I've used a grille from a golf with single chamber head lights on a golf front with dual chamber head lights... I could be wrong but I'm almost positive it will fit. The headlights are the exact same size, and the rad support is the same on all mk3 cars, sounds strange that it woudlnt fit Someone in the mk3 forum will know for sure tho..

[CajunSpike]

can somebody with access to ETKA check the part numbers for a 97 grille and 99 grille?
Are they the same or different?

[Agnesvw]

The single chamber and dual chamber headlights are the exact same in size and mount exactly the same.

All golf/ GTI/ and Cabrio mk3 grilles will fit.

MK3.5 Will ofcourse not fit.

[CajunSpike]

Awesome.

Now that question is settled, I can order the part(or find one at the local pull-a-part).

Will be looking for a/c compressor...somebody pulled it off the car while at the junkyard.
Had the alternator tested, its good.

Thanks to everybody for your time and interest.

[CajunSpike]

Home at last.


The Mk1's and the Mk3 get to know each other. Its a dub love fest!
I think the cabrio is going to be the 'black sheep' of the family.



What is the correct factory size tire for this car?

[H3LVTCA]

What is the correct factory size tire for this car?

IIRC, either 185/60-14 OR 195/60-14.

[CajunSpike]

IIRC, either 185/60-14 OR 195/60-14.

I didn't think of it until after I saw your reply, but I used one of those website tire lookup pages. It came up with 195/60/14, so you nailed it. Right now, those rims have the 185's on em. I was wondering why they look so small on the car.

quote
Original Equipment Vehicle Tire Size: 195/60R14
unquote

[kamzcab86]

I think the cabrio is going to be the 'black sheep' of the family.

As it should be.

[CajunSpike]

Happened to try the power windows, while the car was switched on. No joy.

Saving that for future debugging after motor is running.

[Golf Cabrio 3.5]

I didn't think of it until after I saw your reply, but I used one of those website tire lookup pages. It came up with 195/60/14, so you nailed it. Right now, those rims have the 185's on em. I was wondering why they look so small on the car.

quote
Original Equipment Vehicle Tire Size: 195/60R14
unquote

I see a lot of mk3.5 with 195/50/15.That would be wrong if 195/60/14 is the original one,won't it? 195/55-15 would be better as far as diameter is concerned,right?

[CajunSpike]

15" might be better but for now the only rims I have available are the old jetta 14" rims. I need to know if this car will run before I spend anything on beauty items.

Tonights adventure includes removing the top radiator support using all the helpful hints ya'll gave.

Unexpectedly found that the passenger side headlight wiring was cut off where it comes out of the harness. Seems somebody clipped off the headlight connectors for both inner and outer headlights.
The entire passenger side headlight fixture was held on only by 1 screw.

We successfully removed the damaged support and test fitted the replacement support. It fit right.

Found a small kink in the front bumper metal after we removed the bumper cover. Not enough to make a difference. I'm debating if I should re-use this bumper or get the undamaged one from the junkyard cabrio.

Called it a night and left the new radiator support loose.
.
Just doesn't make sense to fully install it when the a/c compressor will have to be installed.

Was able to get the drivers side power window to work.

Security light on the door blinked when the car was locked up.

Installed brand new wal-mart battery. Looked for the rear trunk popper but couldn't find it.

Heard buzzing noise from rear of car with new battery installed...so I think the fuel pump is working.

Push button for glove box is broken and gone. Nothing there but an open hole.

There is a key slot right next to the emergency brake. Anybody know what thats for?
Ignition key doesn't fit it..goes in only 1/2 way just like the rear trunk lock.

[gunnarpaul]

Mines a 98 and doesnt have anything to pop the rear trunk that I"m aware of. And car has been in the family since new and have all the paperwork for it. and nothing it in it mentions one. If there is one I'd love to know about it.

[Golf Cabrio 3.5]

There is a key slot right next to the emergency brake. Anybody know what thats for?
Ignition key doesn't fit it..goes in only 1/2 way just like the rear trunk lock.

It's for locking the handrest.I made a key for mine since I bought that rear console used.

[CajunSpike]

I made a key for mine since I bought that rear console used.

How did this work? Brought the whole thing to a locksmith or what?

[Golf Cabrio 3.5]

How did this work? Brought the whole thing to a locksmith or what?

You can easily remove the cylinder lock and take it to the locksmith,to make a couple of keys.