Golf 118 TSI Engine Failures and Service Campaign 24S4

[cktsi]

I don't know... what goes up, must come down
Sure you use more fuel going UP the hills, but if you drive correctly, you don't use ANY fuel going down the hills. If you're above a certain RPM, in gear, no accelerator, the car's fuel supply is disabled.

I know what you mean and i was hoping for that too! But i suppose the fuel shut off is not enough of a saving to offset the extra fuel used going up hill. Thats what i find in real world driving.

For instance if i do one way downhill i get a certain figure. if i go the opposite uphill one way i get another figure which will be higher. Then if i do a return i find the combined is not the same as the two separate trips.

I might do an experiment to scientifically prove this as what i have described is based on observations over many drives. Of course i will have to control the experiment as much as possible to remove outside factors such as traffic lights

[triode12]

I looked to see if there were problems with the twincharger engines in the GT before I put my money down, and there just weren't any reports. Mines fine, but I would like to see the resolution of this problem.

me too - a bad report on reliability for VW will affect resale values of all models not just the 118TSI.

[gregozedobe]

me too - a bad report on reliability for VW will affect resale values of all models not just the 118TSI.

There is obviously a significant difference between the old Golf GT 1.4l and the new 118TSI engines. There don't seem to be many reports at all of piston failure on the "old" twincharged engines, while the new ones seem to have rather a lot of engines with the same issue - piston/ring failures

Edit: Just read of a 30,000Km Golf GT Sport with this fault (piston/ring failure) in the Mk V sub-forum (see post #6) :

http://www.vwwatercooled.org.au/newforum/upload/showthread.php?t=42443

[MariusGT]

All this talk about fuel economy??

The 1.4 is NOT a diesel... Having said that my average after just over 10,000kms is 8.0

that's with a few (5) long trips to thredbo, Nelson bay and bega area. And I also live in sydney's inner west.

As mentioned the 1.4 is fantastic on the highway.

If you want great economy in the city switch the "W" (wet/snow) mode to ON which reduces torque in 1st and 2nd.

Engine failure?
Greg: the gt/gt sport 1.4 engine "obviously a significant difference" to the 118. Really? I thought it was just retuned for the 7sp dsg?

[Tigger]

So what were the approx build dates of the 118TSI cars that have experienced these problems? First batches?

Have we seen any improvement with the newer batches arriving now? Or I guess these have not been out for a long enough time to highlight any issues?

And as already asked...what is the ratio of Manuals to DSG vehicles with these issues?

I agree too with another post that said something along the lines that a 1.4 with " all this bolt on stuff" is being asked to do a great deal of work in our Aussie conditions...

[cme2c]

There is obviously a significant difference between the old Golf GT 1.4l and the new 118TSI engines. There don't seem to be many reports at all of piston failure on the "old" twincharged engines, while the new ones seem to have rather a lot of engines with the same issue - piston/ring failures

I think if it was a significant difference, the answer would be known by now.

I think it's something stupid like incorrect piston heat treatment, or the odd injector not delivering enough fuel or there being a mistake in the fuel map or a MAP sensor giving an incorrect reading. Or ?????

Overheating would more likely affect either no 4 cylinder, or a "siamesed" cylinder. Excessive leanness would be likely to affect valves. If there was a general problem, more than one cylinder in a given engine would be affected, and this doesn't seem to be the case. So I dunno.

Still watching with interest...

[mr gee]

just noticed there's a new jetta (4 mths old)on Singapore forum with a piston/ring failure as well.

[nicandlance]

I wanted to detail a major engine failure I experienced on my newish TSI 118...

Last week on Xmas eve at about 5:45 pm, my EPC & engine lights illuminated while driving 100kph on the M1 freeway. Engine lost power and I pulled over into the emergency lane and called VW Roadside Assistance.

Given it was after hours on xmas eve, they were great - a towtruck arrived within 30 minutes and a taxi about 45 minutes later. Ended up taking the taxi 80km ($180, yes $180) to my home - VW contributed $100.

My car was held with the towtruck operator and reached my local dealership yesterday. Due to the reduced staff, they only were able to look at my car today. I was told that there was reduced compression in one of the cylinders, similar to a previously posted experience. They had discussed this finding with VW Head Office and concluded that the engine needs to be replaced!!! Loan car should be organised tomorrow.

This is all a bit of a shock given that the car has only done 5,000km and my previous Peugeot 306 lasted 12 years with great reliability. Obviously even the best cars/engines can fail, and the service provided to me in the wake of this problem has been good, however it is still disappointing to have such a terminal problem in such a new (& highly awarded) car/engine.

I don't know how common this problem has been around the world. I look forward to my car's return, whenever that may be!

We picked up our tsi a week ago but just before I did, my hubby had a work colleague email him about her Golf Mark 6 (which was a MY09 tsi).
Her car had blown up and needed an engine replacement and she wanted to warn us before we bought.
Sounds like exactly the same thing - she is now waiting on a replacement engine from Germany.
What exactly is this fault and does anyone know whether the problem has been rectified?
Another work colleague was poo pooing the Golf (he is a safe and boring type who prefers to stick with Toyota). Gave me the ****s really, as I love my new tsi - it really burst my bubble a bit - hope I don't experience the same as she did!

[hoi polloi]

All I can say is that I hope it gets sorted out quickly and to your satisfaction...

Regards,
- Anthony.

[cktsi]

I don't know if there is a consistent cause amongst all cases. Just to summarise in DrBono's case and my case both had the same symptoms - lack of pressure in one of the four cylinders.

For some reason in his case the entire engine was replaced. I don't know if DrBono still visits these forums but I would like to know how his car is now.

In my case they didn't replace the engine - only one fuel injector. HOWEVER.... immediately before they replaced the fuel injector they had to move my car around the workshop to perform the actual job. In doing so the engine was back to normal! Since an issue had been found, detected & logged and they had the part, they decided to replace the injector anyway.

My car has been fine ever since.

[golfyvic]

This sounds very familiar with my car. About 8 weeks ago, my engine warning light came on, car started rattling, couldn't drive it...Got it towed to Peninsula VW, they did a compression test on the cylinders and found that one of them had a low compression rate. Took the cylinder apart and found a peice missing from the piston ring. Peninsula VW suggested replacing the engine block, VAG said no, replace the pistons and injectors. well 7 weeks went by, (no loan car BTW, after 5 attempts requesting one, I gave up), they finally got the parts in, just about to complete the work, when VAG changed their minds, and decided an engine replacement is required. Good I suppose I'm getting a new engine, bad in that it's taken 8 weeks to sort it out..

Anyway, picked up the car friday morning, was down the street on sat morning when the coolant warning message came on the MFD. Checked the level, found the cap wasn't screwed on proberly and it was bone dry. I filled it up, and noticed water pissing out from underneath the car!!!! Mate I was soo angry. Now I've got the car at South Yarra VW getting it fixed.

It's been a pretty crap 2 months, I'm calling Peninsula VW tom morning to give them a spray!! Also writing a letter to VAG about my experience.

I'm in vehicle finance for a salary packaging company, so what do I say to someone that wants to buy a TSI????

Very dissapointed VW owner here

[hooba]

That's a horror story that just keeps getting worse.

I hope that the new dealer sorts it out for you.

[anthony]

This was 1 reason why I went for the Honda Accord Euro over a Jetta 118 TSI.

[cube_3]

Not sure if anyone has seen this yet:
Volkswagen Golf 118TSI warning | Review | carsguide.com.au

[Stoney!]

Mines due to be returned tomorrow from service and warranty work, better make sure they have done the ecu update.

Stoney!