GTI Engine Rattle Doing My head in

[Tom87]

Is it still there when you turn the aircon on and off? Does your aircon work properly at the moment?

Plenty of bearings on the idler pulleys and inside the aircon and alternator pulley clutch packs which can cause wonderful noises.

[thezoneR32]

If it masks the problem, you can rule into account piston slap, conrod bearings and lack of lubrication to the cylinder head...

If it does nothing, then you can eliminate the above mentioned.

Ok cheers.

Is it still there when you turn the aircon on and off? Does your aircon work properly at the moment?

Plenty of bearings on the idler pulleys and inside the aircon and alternator pulley clutch packs which can cause wonderful noises.

No the AC has no effect on the rattle noise and it works quite well. Cheers.

[Jmac]

Does sound bad, yes they are a noisy engine but thats not normal. It does sound like the noise when the cam follower has rubbed through but like you say it goes away, bad follower it stays bad. With the variator and the valve controlling it normally throws a code when its out of whack only in the slightest. Its def not the alt pulley, its a way different noise, def not piston slap either, or conrods, that noise is high up for sure. Have you changed the oil again since? it sounds like when you do a change on these and its rattles a bit till pressure is up, might be worth seeing what the oil pressure is like from cold, cant hurt. Have you had an extension at your ear to verify it is coming from there exactly, noise travels very easy especially when there is lots of harmonics with this engine
Good luck, that would do my head in too

Jmac

[thezoneR32]

Does sound bad, yes they are a noisy engine but thats not normal. It does sound like the noise when the cam follower has rubbed through but like you say it goes away, bad follower it stays bad. With the variator and the valve controlling it normally throws a code when its out of whack only in the slightest. Its def not the alt pulley, its a way different noise, def not piston slap either, or conrods, that noise is high up for sure. Have you changed the oil again since? it sounds like when you do a change on these and its rattles a bit till pressure is up, might be worth seeing what the oil pressure is like from cold, cant hurt. Have you had an extension at your ear to verify it is coming from there exactly, noise travels very easy especially when there is lots of harmonics with this engine
Good luck, that would do my head in too

Jmac

Thanks Jmac, have had an oil change recently made no diff. The guys at VW recently put there extension stick thingo all over it and said they could not work out where it was coming from. But it def sounds like its just inside the top left where the timing belt is. They told me that its because of my mods which is such a f*&king cop out.

A previous mechanic (from the UK) who worked at VW last year was convinced that it was the engine cover on that side rubbing on the belts or pulleys. He opened the cover inspection point, put in a big spanner and levered the engine cover away inside and the noise got quieter so we thought this might be it. But next time I booked it in he had gone (went to work at Porsche) and no-one else could replicate what he did and didn't agree with his diagnosis.

[thezoneR32]

Thanks guys,

I'm bumping this in case poeple havent heard the sound clips.

Here's a list of the potential issues gathered so-far:

1)Tensioner lever and pulley with bearing
2)Left side engine cover rubbing on the belt or pulleys
3)Water Pump

Does anyone have any other ideas?

[tigger73]

maybe take it to the guy at Porsche...

if it's the same guy he used to live 2 doors up.

[thezoneR32]

maybe take it to the guy at Porsche...

if it's the same guy he used to live 2 doors up.

Jason?

[bennjamin]

OP

consider your DMF ? these have been known to fail and make a load of crackly noise

[thezoneR32]

OP

consider your DMF ? these have been known to fail and make a load of crackly noise

This could be an issue as there is a wobbling noise when you first let the clutch out and take off but not sure its the issue at hand. At idle, pushing the clutch in and out does not change the rattle sound.

I have consider replacing the DMF and clutch just as a precaution. Does this look like a good deal?
VW Golf MKV 2 0 GTI Sachs Clutch Sachs Dual Mass Flywheel | eBay

[Jmac]

Would be there all of the time, this one isnt correct me if im wrong, could also be a sticking cam follower and comes good when the oil gets hot??? just another consideration

Cheers
Jmac

[tigger73]

Jason?

I think his name was Andrew, we loaned him a tin of tomatoes and a can opener once!

[thezoneR32]

Would be there all of the time, this one isnt correct me if im wrong, could also be a sticking cam follower and comes good when the oil gets hot??? just another consideration

Cheers
Jmac

Yes Im not convinced its the dmf (for this issue) I had an R32 DSG which had this issue and its a completely different sound, this one sounds more......clicky almost tapetty.

What about injectors?

[BMZ08]

I've had a worn out idler bearing on a previous car sound just like this.
Doesn't sound good!

First thing I would do is remove the shroud and go to town with a torch.

[thezoneR32]

Heres another possible cause - Cam Adjustment Valve

P000A Intake camshaft position A bank 1 slow response

This exact error was uncovered during a recent Vagcom test by VW. P000A Intake camshaft position A, bank 1 slow response.

[Jmac]

Heres another possible cause - Cam Adjustment Valve

P000A Intake camshaft position A bank 1 slow response

This exact error was uncovered during a recent Vagcom test by VW. P000A Intake camshaft position A, bank 1 slow response.

Yeah that could mate, ive seen that with a 2.0FSI NA motor, but it had MIl lamp on, yours on?? Again that noise would be over at the gearbox end of the engine though.
Jmac