After a bit of a break from the polo, and the fact my stepson can't be arsed to do his driving test, I've decided that I need to start driving it a little more now.

However our polo has issues, albeit quite small they are driving me mad.

- first off is its extremely rattle prone. There are so many taps and knocks coming from the interior and engine it makes driving it bloody annoying.

- second, a tinny noise coming from the exhaust I think when I accelerate

- third, the speakers on the drivers side do not work at all. We have bought new alpines however there is a wiring fault I guess (I know this isn't the ice section but thought I'd do it all in one hit)

- next up, the radio doesn't work, plays cd's fine but cannot get any radio at all

- lastly the clutch is extremely high, is this jut the way it is or is it on its way out? It doesn't slip at all, just very high

It's only done 83000 miles and is in pretty good condition for an R reg. I just want to get these few bits sorted so it's a lot more bearable to drive every day!!

Any help on the above would be great.

First of all, the engine rattles. This COULD be from the hydraulic tappets, an oil and filter change, using nothing 'heavier' than SAE 10W40 MAY sort it for you, as these engines do not like thick or dirty oil.

If tappets are not the source of the noise, use a 'listening stick' (a piece of wooden dowel placed in one ear, the other end touching on possible areas which could be creating the noise - alternator - water pump - belt tensioners etc.) a long screwdriver will also work in place of dowel.

As for the interior noises, it is better if you can get someone else to actually drive the car, whilst you press push, pull and tug on the various bits of the interior until you locate the offending item(s).

The exhaust may have a loose baffle in one of the silencers, or may be touching on the bodywork, but it is also worth checking the aluminium heat shields which have a tendency to pull away from their mountings on the body.

Try a temporary aerial plugged straight into the radio, it may be that the car aerial, or its down-lead have become damaged.

Check the clutch adjustment at the gearbox end, if it has about 6mm 'free play' in the lever, it is about right. To me, this is easier and more accurate than trying to judge it from the pedal end, as per book.

Regards.

Edited 28 April, 201214 yr by caretakerplus