Has my car been fiddled with by the last owner?

[CJG1]

Hi There, hope this is the right place to be posting this.

My car (2011 Polo 1.6TDI) has always acted a bit strangely. Whether it’s clicks from relays under the dashboard, headlights coming on and off by themselves and the courtesy lights work when they feel like it.

I decided to investigate these noises and look in the fuse box. First I noticed these 2 white pen marks on the fuse box screws...


Thought that was a bit suspicious but shrugged it off. I then stuck my head under the dashboard where the pedals are and found yellow pen marks on lots of components. And some writing on a piece (can anyone tell me what the thing the writing is written on).

Do you reckon there’s further underlying issues here, just started looking as the courtesy lights weren’t working but beginning to look like a bit of a mess.

The car has never been in an accident and never written off. Previous owner is local and seemed genuine. I’ve had the car for 2 years and had no major issues.

[CJG1]

[steveo3002]

pen marks are used by the car makers to mark that someone has tightened a screw or fastener etc ...nothing to worry about

[CJG1]

steveo3002 said:

pen marks are used by the car makers to mark that someone has tightened a screw or fastener etc ...nothing to worry about

Thanks for that, never knew that.

Thanks Cam

[SHutchinson]

The picture is a bit ropey but is that a frayed cable in the wiring harness in the last picture.

[CJG1]

SHutchinson said:

The picture is a bit ropey but is that a frayed cable in the wiring harness in the last picture.

Yes it is, that’s the one thing I was particularly worried about

[stevieturbo]

So that is actually bare copper cable we can see ?

That most certainly is not normal.

[Jakg]

steveo3002 said:

pen marks are used by the car makers to mark that someone has tightened a screw or fastener etc ...nothing to worry about

Non-descript pen marks are ok, but breakers often write makes and models on spare parts in one of those paint pens.

E.G.:


This kind of thing is normal:


Or if your on detailingworld, "Absolute vandalism of my car when building"

[steveo3002]

yeah take a closer look at the frayed wire,maybe cut the tape off carefully and see whats going on

[CJG1]

Thanks Guys.

Will need to get an expert to look into it as I’m a bit rubbish with this stuff.

Does anyone know what the big cylinder thing is with the dodgy writing on it?

[Mignon]

CJG1 said:

Thanks Guys.

Will need to get an expert to look into it as I’m a bit rubbish with this stuff.

Does anyone know what the big cylinder thing is with the dodgy writing on it?

Looks like a brake servo.

[Penelope Stopit]

Cut the tape back and see what has happened to the wire, there is a good chance that the wire has been connected into in the past, there is a good possibility that there is only one damaged wire that needs rejoining correctly and taping back up

[227bhp]

That weld looks interesting.
If anyone wants a real laugh at what manufacturers write on car parts as they are making them search out the TVR thread on here

[Gary C]

227bhp said:

That weld looks interesting.
I:t

Yep, that car has had some welding done.

[CJG1]

Gary C said:

Yep, that car has had some welding done.

as far as I am aware the car has never been in an accident. All the panels around the front of the car are the originals. So is the wiring loom so doubt it was ever flooded.... maybe Volkswagen can’t weld

Think I might just webuyanycar it and buy something more simple with less wires!. It’s a bloody Polo not a Tesla

[Gary C]

CJG1 said:

Gary C said:

Yep, that car has had some welding done.

as far as I am aware the car has never been in an accident. All the panels around the front of the car are the originals. So is the wiring loom so doubt it was ever flooded.... maybe Volkswagen can’t weld

Think I might just webuyanycar it and buy something more simple with less wires!. It’s a bloody Polo not a Tesla

Actually, looking again it's odd.

Is that a wing joint and are their other welds ? Might have had a new wing ? But if it's the only one, it's odd. No plate, seams perfectly paralle. Almost as if a cable has shorted here and melted a bit.

[GreenV8S]

That component showing the heat discoloration - is that painted metal, or bare metal?

[CJG1]

Gary C said:

Actually, looking again it's odd.

Is that a wing joint and are their other welds ? Might have had a new wing ? But if it's the only one, it's odd. No plate, seams perfectly paralle. Almost as if a cable has shorted here and melted a bit.

The piece of metal is actually part of the Dashboards structure, as shown here with a pic from google.

[Gary C]

CJG1 said:

Gary C said:

Actually, looking again it's odd.

Is that a wing joint and are their other welds ? Might have had a new wing ? But if it's the only one, it's odd. No plate, seams perfectly paralle. Almost as if a cable has shorted here and melted a bit.

The piece of metal is actually part of the Dashboards structure, as shown here with a pic from google.

Ah, that makes more sense, sorry jumped the gu. (How very un ph)

As you were, not an issue.

[SuperchargedVR6]

Mignon said:

CJG1 said:

Thanks Guys.

Will need to get an expert to look into it as I’m a bit rubbish with this stuff.

Does anyone know what the big cylinder thing is with the dodgy writing on it?

Looks like a brake servo.

That is in the engine compartment.

The picture isn't very good as we can't see what components in the surrounding area connect to it. Could be part of the HVAC system seeing as it's a plastic part.