GTI Engine Rattle Doing My head in

[thezoneR32]

Ok Peeps, my engine is making a constant pulsating rattle at idle coming from the left hand side(belt side) and it’s really bad. I’ve had the VW mechanics listen to it and say "it sounds normal" but that’s BS. It’s really frekin bad and it wasn't like this a year ago. They just don’t want to touch it as they are worried they'll pull it apart and won’t be able to find the issue and have to charge me for nothing.

The engine has done 180k and is reasonably modified with 3" tbe, ccode tune, HPFP, and 145bar rail valve, but it only developed this issue a few months back and AFTER I had the following oem parts replaced:

Rev b Intake cam
Exhaust Camshaft actuator
Exhaust Camshaft variator
Timing belt (left side of engine)
Timing chain (right side)
Timing Chain tensioner
Cam follower

From the list below basically items no. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7 plus the belt around no.8.

Please don’t tell me it’s because of the km's and because of the mods, I don’t believe this, I think there is something else at play. Eg when I start it up it sounds like the timing chain is trying to escape from the engine bay, then it settles down, and then at idle a constant pulsating rattle, real bad.

What other parts in the engine/head could cause this? Engine cover rubbing on the chain? Some sort of chain positioning device? Could the VW idiots have stuffed something up when they replaced the oem parts above?


Can anyone suggest possible causes to this dilemma? Any help would be greatly appreciated.




Here is the car being started cold

Here it is running when warm

This is during driving, no rattle at all, drives perfect.

[Club75]

I remember hearing about a similar situation with another GTI. Apparently it had something to do with the high pressure pump actuator rod that was worn out ?? Sorry for the lack of info...

[Umai Naa!!]

There's a cam follower for the high-pressure fuel pump that wears, and gets noisey on these.

Although, you think it would've been picked up on, when the cam and everything were replaced.

[thezoneR32]

I remember hearing about a similar situation with another GTI. Apparently it had something to do with the high pressure pump actuator rod that was worn out ?? Sorry for the lack of info...

There's a cam follower for the high-pressure fuel pump that wears, and gets noisey on these.

Although, you think it would've been picked up on, when the cam and everything were replaced.

Cheers thanks for your input guys. Thing is, its' coming from the left hand side (belt side) of the engine, which is no where near the hpfp.

[Umai Naa!!]

When they replaced the timing belt, did they replace the idler and tensioner pulleys?

[thezoneR32]

When they replaced the timing belt, did they replace the idler and tensioner pulleys?

Did the timing chain tensioner but not the idler pulley. Is this it? Tensioner lever and pulley with bearing. I don't think this was replaced.

Thanks will add this to the list of possibilities!

[Lucas_R]

GTI Engine Rattle Doing My head in

The water pump makes a similar noise to what you are describing when its on its way out. Have you had this changed previously?

[thezoneR32]

The water pump makes a similar noise to what you are describing when its on its way out. Have you had this changed previously?

Hey Lucas_R, sorry I was just replying to your same post on golfnet. The water pump is original but I listened to your clip and mine sounds nothing like that at all. In fact during driving mine sounds fine. Its only at startup and idle when I get the dreaded rattle.

But thanks I will add it to the list of possibilities.

[colin]

I had a very loud rattle at idle in the left front of my Mk 5 TDI. It turned out to be the intake U bend vibrating inside the upper air intake housing. It took a week to find and five mins with a silicone gun to fix.

[thezoneR32]

I had a very loud rattle at idle in the left front of my Mk 5 TDI. It turned out to be the intake U bend vibrating inside the upper air intake housing. It took a week to find and five mins with a silicone gun to fix.

Interesting. I'm not sure if this would be an issue for the fsi but will keep a note of this one too thanks!..


Updated original post to include sound clips of rattle!

[The One]

I dont understand why they would 'have to charge you nothing' if they pulled it apart.

All work is by law chargeable, and if for some reason your car is still under warranty, your mods you listed can easily void your warranty.

To try and help you, did this noise occur after the mods were done and not those parts? Also that's not actually a 'timing chain' as such, more so just a chain to keep the cams in sync, timing chain is a totally different ball game..

[thezoneR32]

I dont understand why they would 'have to charge you nothing' if they pulled it apart.

All work is by law chargeable, and if for some reason your car is still under warranty, your mods you listed can easily void your warranty.

To try and help you, did this noise occur after the mods were done and not those parts? Also that's not actually a 'timing chain' as such, more so just a chain to keep the cams in sync, timing chain is a totally different ball game..

Car has is an 05 with 180k on the clock so no warranty.

Yes these noises did start after the mods but before the oem replaced parts.

[The One]

Personally I'd try using thicker oil for a moment, check it that helps abit, then you can continue your diagnosis even further, but in no way shape or form does that sound normal at all.

In your first video on start up and about 3 seconds after that sounds like conrod bearing, but then it changes totally, trying a thicker oil can help eliminate that possibility.

[thezoneR32]

Personally I'd try using thicker oil for a moment, check it that helps abit, then you can continue your diagnosis even further, but in no way shape or form does that sound normal at all.

In your first video on start up and about 3 seconds after that sounds like conrod bearing, but then it changes totally, trying a thicker oil can help eliminate that possibility.

Can you please advise how using thicker oil will help diagnose a mechanical problem? Sorry im not sure about this. Wont that just mask the problem?

[The One]

Can you please advise how using thicker oil will help diagnose a mechanical problem? Sorry im not sure about this. Wont that just mask the problem?

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.