VW polo under the hood - Round container with min and max- reddish liquid?

Question 1
VW polo under the hood - Round container with min and max- reddish liquid?...  Ok, so very stupid question (apologies in advance):

My polo 2002 has a round bottle with reddish liquid in it under the hood. There is a min and max measurement and mine is below the min level. What liquid needs to go in here to refill it? The manual doesn't say - it is NOT the water bottle nor is it the oil. Is it battery fluid? Brake fluid?

Just thought I'd rather ask than make a mistake. *very embarassed*
This is the tank - looks like coolant? So I presume I need to buy radiator coolant??
http://mikewire.com/images/VW/vw_coolant_flange/coolant_level1.jpg

Answers
1)   Sounds like the hydraulic reservoir for the power steering system - AL G

2)   sounds like a radiator overflow, thats about all i can think of thats a round container under the hood in a dub. - vr5 power!

3)   Told you once, look at your previous posting. Coolant over flow bottle. - Bardic

4)   Its the expansion tank for the engine coolant. This is where you fill up with water/antifreeze mix. - Macca

5)   As this is a sealed system you are loosing coolant somewhere. Get a coolant pressure test done to locate the leak. You need to top up with coolant & water mixed. Use the proper pink vw coolant (dont mix with a different make.) - Howthebldyhellru

6)   Could be power steering fluid (most likely). Cannot be battery fluid - there is not one for that - the fluid in a battery is acid and all of it is in the battery.
Could be brake fluid.
There should be some indication on the filler cap. A brake sign like on the dash and two wires going to it if it is the brake fluid OR a pic of a steering wheel and no wires if it is power steering. You need to know for sure as the fluid though similar is different and you need the correct one.

Answer will be the same no matter how many times you ask unless you give more information - Timbo is here

7)   Does anyone read the handbook which comes with a car these days? - inquisitor


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Question 2
Do you still have to plug in Diesel cars in the winter?...  I am looking at a car that runs on Diesel, and I live in Minnesota, am I going to have to plug the car in at night to keep the fuel from freezing or has this improved in cars over time?

Answers
1)   Diesel fuel tends to gell up like jello when temps get real cold so yes it is a good idea to plug them in in low temps to keep fuel from gelling up in the fuel lines causing a no start condition, it also helps on cold start ups since if plugged in it's not really cold. - TAG

2)   The cars have been improved greatly in recent years but you may want to plug the car in on the really cold nights to make it easier to start it in the mornings. The diesel fuel does not like to ignite in a cold engine and there is glow plugs that get hot before you start it to make the process easier. The problem is that these glow plugs draw a lot of power out of the battery and make the car battery die quick. Plugging the car in at night keeps the glow plugs from having to stay energized so long therefore not being as hard on the battery. hope I have been helpful. - king_davis13

3)   I live in Reno Nevada, where the temperatures can drop down to "Minus" 15 degrees F. during winter. I personally do not own a diesel, but know many that do. What you are referring to is a "Block Heater"...which keeps the engine warm enough to start on cold mornings. And if you don't plug it in......Good luck trying to get it started!! - Richard G

4)   I own a 2001 VW Golf TDI and mine has started at -10*F before without being plugged in, and there are people over at TDIClub.com (definitely the place to go if it's a VW you're looking at) who have had theirs start at -30*F, but it usually isn't pretty. I bought a coolant heater for mine and it starts so so so much better, plus I actually have some heat in the car when I'm ready to take off. And that's something else to consider, new diesels are EXTREMELY efficient as far as their thermal energy. My temperature guage will actually drop quite a bit sitting at a red light with the heat on in the dead of winter, and it takes forever to get warm if it isn't plugged up.

I don't know exactly what diesel you're looking at, there aren't many choices here in the US, so I'm assuming it's a VW or Mercedes, but you can get aftermarket coolant/block heaters for them relatively cheap, and they aren't all that difficult to install. - Richard R

5)   Plugging in a diesel will not do a thing for you to prevent gas line gel.
It keeps the engine up to temp and the oil fluid so that when you start it, the car can
combust the fuel easily.

Preventing Gas line Gel, is a problematic issue most diesel is winterized up in the great white north, but using the new type of additives like Monster Diesel can reduce fuel gell and aid in MPG as it causes a more cleaner burn.

http://www.monsterdiesel.com/index.html

If you have a in-tank heater that will reduce the fuel gel to 0 until you get started down one of them slushy roads at -20..... - Briano

6)   If it is a newer car usually not unless it is way under freezing. I have a diesel Mercedes GL and i don't have to. If it is a normal night you do not have to worry about it. - Golf4ever


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Question 3
Volkswagon in need of a new gas tank, Where do I find one?...  My 72 vw bus is in desperate need of a new gas tank, I have searched the internet and can not seem to find a new one. Does anyone know where I can order one from? any help would be apprechiated.

Answers
1)   dealer

or go to a speed shop and order a replacement - ladystang

2)   You can hit the message boards or local junk yard

http://www.classcampers.com/tabid/65/Default.aspx - Robby

3)   Any used auto parts place. I don't know about the internet, but definitely in the phone book. And they're all tied into each other via computer. Go to any one, tell them exactly what you want. If they don't have it, they'll find out who does and have it for you in a day or two. All vwBus gas tanks are the same size. Should not be too much of a problem. Good Luck. - Joseph

4)   wrecking yard!!... - Richard G

5)   You could try emailing
http://www.airheadparts.com
or Jbugs.com

And see if they know of a supplier as all I found were for a 80 vanagon and newer.

Also the web site
www.thesamba.com has one for a bay window.

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=842422 - Briano


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Question 4
2000 jetta VR6 dead battery problem!!!!!!!!!!!!?...  i have a 2000 jetta VR6 GLX and my heated seats stoped working so i checked the fuse and it was blow. so i replaced it but the second i turned them on it blew again! i did this 3 times then i got sick of buying fuses and left it go. i just let the fuse out for about 2 weeks and just today i put i new one in to see if it would work and it did! but...... now ever Sense i put the new fuse in and they work..... when i let my car sit for a couple hours my battery dies i have to keep jumping it. this did it 3 times today!! also my button to change the heat settings for the seats.... the button gets very very hot!! alot hotter than normal!! i took out the fuse tonight and i will see if my car will start without the fuse. i think its a short somewhere but idk! does anyone else know!? please help!

Answers
1)   Sounds like something is shorting or a loose wire. Check the fusebox and relays to make sure everything is tight and not melted. - InsaneVr6

2)   buy a multimeter and a book, start checking for the shorted wire. - krap

3)   Well you pull the fuse, and you will be able to start your car... If you leave it in then you can't.

The switch getting hot is because it isn't just a switch it is controlling the amount of current that your seats are using to make them hot. The switch is a Rheostat.

It could be that the switch is shorting out, but you should buy a book, and start debugging the circuitry with a multimeter to see where the drain is.

So

Pull the fuse and you can start your car every time?
or have heated seats but can't start your car? mmmmm tough choice.

Last question, are your seats warm to the touch when the car won't start or like 30 minutes after you turn off the ignition? then you probably have a bad relay. - Briano

4)   also could be the switch itself is bad can always change it out - vr5 power!


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Question 5
I cant find a replacment gas tank for my 72 vw bus.?...  Does anyone know where to find one, or if one of those spun aluminum or plastic cylinder tanks will fit where the old one goes, or has anyone ever put a diffrent tank there?

Answers
1)   Try junkyards. If that doesn't work, ask about putting a tank in from an old VW bug. The junkyards have a computer system now, they can find parts all over the country. That is your best bet, and will give you an idea of scarcity of tanks and cost. - JcL

2)   try thesamba.com --- you can look in the classifieds for parts - Dan

3)   get it repaired. - tim g

4)   Here see if this place can help......If not maybe they can tell you a source to try........................md

http://www.mamotorworks.com/ - Uncle Jed


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