Golf 118 TSI Engine Failures and Service Campaign 24S4

[bugsalanko]

So after a year and a half of not a hint of issue with the engine. Misfire developed and now 300 lighter in the pocket for new spark plugs. Checked and they are the new part number that the 118's are coming out of the factory with now, but given my car has only covered 22 XXXkms Just curious if everyone else who experienced the misfires plugs were covered under warranty?

With a 600000km life expectancy i was a little annoyed that I had to foot the bill and b the excuse I was given was that I had put in a poor grade of fuel (91 or E10) when its only ever recieved 98 octane and had fuel receipts from the last 2 months as well on hand.

[SLAF]

Swapped car for a TDI

After having had my engine replace after 30,000 kms and after using only 98 RON petrol, I have become very worried about the longevity (and resale value) of my beloved Golf. My engine was shipped to Germany and the serviceman does not even get a report as to the real cause of the failure. The serviceman at my local VW dealer was honest enough to tell me that he has had occurrences of the second engine being replaced also. I took out an extended 3 year warranty to appease my concerns. However, when I heard that the Mk7 was coming out next year, without the “troublesome” 1.4 twin charged engine, I thought the value would plummet even further. So I bit the bullet yesterday and traded in my hatch for a demo 103 TDI wagon. This was a bitter pill to take but seems to be the only long term option. I am really surprised that the failure of these engines has not been more publicised as it presents a PR nightmare for VW Australia.

[Ryan_R]

I've only heard of 3 or 4 engine replacement issues on these forums. Not good of course but also not enough to worry me into selling early.

[Bel]

Old issue that has me a little concerned since I noticed the grey/black smoke from the exhaust when it does happen...
can be anywhere at anytime and at any speed (which seems new as before it was only when I was giving it a bit when over taking on the freeway) - a few loud clicks, what feels like loss of power and then a great big plume of grey bluish black smoke from the exhaust.

I'd say it has happened 2 times in the last month or so, therefore it's not frequent and I have no idea how to replicate it.

Any idea or what the cause is or how to get the dealership to look for the cause?

[regu]

The black smoke happend to me once -going uphill and stepping on the gas- I went to the deaer the next day and they hooked the car up to run diagnostics and replaced the mechatronic on the spot.

[Ryan_R]

I only hear a ticking sound if it doesn't shift down enough. Black smoke under WOT is more diesel territory. Maybe phone the dealer closest to where you bought it from and ask them for the car's history (service notes)

[Bel]

I only hear a ticking sound if it doesn't shift down enough. Black smoke under WOT is more diesel territory. Maybe phone the dealer closest to where you bought it from and ask them for the car's history (service notes)

Thanks guys

I have had it since new Ryan. So I know the service history. The ticking has happened since it was a few months old but had never noticed the massive cloud of smoke before....

I will give the dealer a call and see if it is possibly the mechatronics - that would be the only thing other thing that I haven't yet had replaced (common issue wise).

[Ryan_R]

Ah sorry, thought this was the thread with the guy who just bought a 2nd hand 118TSI that's just over 3 years old


Replacing mechatronics and quickly buying the DSG tune (Harding Performance) has made a world of difference to my car, it's fantastic to drive now. On any given trip to work (45min to 1 hour in freeway traffic) I would get annoyed with the DSG about 20 times and switch to manual (and on most trips I would end up spending most of my time in manual mode), but since getting the DSG software update I've rarely used it since D and S mode are so much better and very similar to how I drove in M mode.

[Bel]

No worries
My DSG is pretty good since the clutch pack was done and also a software update - shifts at much higher speeds than before and changes down for hills etc.... the ticking and plume of smoke is a whole different story.
If I hadn't noticed the exhaust then I wouldn't even be worrying.
Have had the car chew through a fair amount of oil before too - under a year left on the warranty and would like to get any additional issues sorted before that ends but I did also by an extended warranty as I intend to keep the car for a bit longer.

[cktsi]

No worries
My DSG is pretty good since the clutch pack was done and also a software update - shifts at much higher speeds than before and changes down for hills etc.... the ticking and plume of smoke is a whole different story.
If I hadn't noticed the exhaust then I wouldn't even be worrying.
Have had the car chew through a fair amount of oil before too - under a year left on the warranty and would like to get any additional issues sorted before that ends but I did also by an extended warranty as I intend to keep the car for a bit longer.

I read in either this thread or another forum a while ago that the mechatronics solved the problem. i cant see the connection, but annecdotally i have not experienced it since my mechatronics as replaced as well.

I would expect the smoke to b the result of a combustion issue, not a gear shifting transmission issue.

[Bel]

I would expect the smoke to b the result of a combustion issue, not a gear shifting transmission issue.

Agreed.. seems weird that the transmission would have anything to do with the car blowing smoke.. but hey if thats a fix for it then I want it done!

[regu]

I was told that the mechatronic (if faulty) is selecting the wrong gear and therefore the wrong amount of fuel is injected causing the sound (trying to up/down shift) and the fuel not burned properly causing the plume of black smoke. This is what the tech explained to me (if I remember correctly)

[Sentinel]

Alternatively, shortening the spark plug gap to 0.70mm - 0.75mm overcomes the problem entirely. Doing this also leads to a much smoother and calmer running engine. The nearest the dealer can do is fit the new 1.4TSI 118Kw revised NGK plug 03C 905 601A VW have introduced. (NGK - PZFR6R8EG) which has a plug gap of 0.80mm. This is because dealers do not gap plugs on fitting.

I have a very similar problem, so I may end up needing these plugs. Can I (or my non-VW mechanic) buy them directly from an NGK dealer?

I haven't been able to find the NGK part number for this plug. The closest I can get so far is the plug for the 90TSI engine - which of course is not the same. That's a PZFR6R. A set of those costs about $100, so I expect the new ones would be about the same if I buy them from NGK and not Volkswagen.

Can anyone help?

[cktsi]

I have a very similar problem, so I may end up needing these plugs. Can I (or my non-VW mechanic) buy them directly from an NGK dealer?

I haven't been able to find the NGK part number for this plug. The closest I can get so far is the plug for the 90TSI engine - which of course is not the same. That's a PZFR6R. A set of those costs about $100, so I expect the new ones would be about the same if I buy them from NGK and not Volkswagen.

Can anyone help?

Just purchase them from a vw service centre. Phone around a few for the best price though. Its surprising that prices vary between dealers

[Lucas_R]

I have a very similar problem, so I may end up needing these plugs. Can I (or my non-VW mechanic) buy them directly from an NGK dealer?

I haven't been able to find the NGK part number for this plug. The closest I can get so far is the plug for the 90TSI engine - which of course is not the same. That's a PZFR6R. A set of those costs about $100, so I expect the new ones would be about the same if I buy them from NGK and not Volkswagen.

Can anyone help?

Its the same spark plug as used in the 90TSI. Its just that it has "8EG" added to the end of the part number which means they are gapped to 0.8mm. Just get the normal ones and re-gap them to 0.8mm. VW will charge you a leg and 2 children if you buy them through the dealer.

1x NGK Platinum Spark Plug PZFR6R (575 | eBay