MK6 GTI - Rattle upon acceleration - Resolved via TPI: 2021062/7

[kennyc]

Yeah cool, im gonna put a deposit on one this week but ill try and replicate the problem with a demo to see if it annoying to me.
If you pump the music up do you still hear it?

[Corey_R]

So far its been as annoying as having a fly buzzing around your ear every now and then...... still love the car! just got the ECU flash a couple of days ago and planning to do a couple more things to it....but still hoping someone out there will find a fix soon.

If it really is the actuator rod on the turbo waste gate, I'm sure the APR Stage III kit will resolve the issue

[Sir_GTI]

Yeah cool, im gonna put a deposit on one this week but ill try and replicate the problem with a demo to see if it annoying to me.
If you pump the music up do you still hear it?

If I have the windows up and the music on at a normal level, I cant hear it at all. Its only really noticeable when the windows are down, and only barley audible with the windows up.

[DonkeyKong]

Funny that I did not hear the rattle until I refilled my tank for the first time with 98% RON petrol. I will give further feed back once I emptied the tank and refilled it with 95% RON.

[kennyc]

If I have the windows up and the music on at a normal level, I cant hear it at all. Its only really noticeable when the windows are down, and only barley audible with the windows up.

Do you have all the windows down? Or just the front 2?

[Sir_GTI]

I usually have all 4 down, but that wouldn't make a difference. Even if just 1 window was down I would still hear it.

Interesting comment about the fuel, I only had the rattle show once I filled it up for the 1st time on 98ron. I never use 95ron. Maybe the dealer used 95ron and it never made the rattle. Damn, filled up this morning ...... got to wait another 600km to test.

[DonkeyKong]

I am pretty sure it is related to the fuel as i did not have any issue prior. I noticed the rattle immediately after I drove away from the petrol station. The rattle only happened intermittently and usually occurred from stand still and with moderate acceleration.

[Sir_GTI]

So I guess the question is now, Do all the " rattlers " out there run 98ron or 95ron

[gr33nbastad]

I have run mine on 98 since day one ( a couple of weeks ago) and have had the sound. I think it was there when I still had the dealer-supplied fuel in it, so not sure that is a solution. Wouldn't be for me anyway - APR 98ron map = standard driving condition

[gr33nbastad]

If it really is the actuator rod on the turbo waste gate, I'm sure the APR Stage III kit will resolve the issue

Oh snap!!!

I don't mind the sound much now that I know what it is. Maybe a new Stage III turbo from Volkspower will get rid of it..

[MurphyTheElf]

Who knows what my tank was filled when when I first picked it up, but I've been exclusively using BP Ultimate. Maybe I'll drive until it's dry and try 95. Though I can't see what difference it will make if it's the wastegate.

[mckens]

I've used both 95 and 98ron (both from BP) and it has rattled regardless...

[Corey_R]

Yeh - I too would have no idea why it would make a difference. Fuel doesn't reach that component! hehe

[Primordial]

Yep, EXACTLY the same issue here too.. I took my car to a dealer today, and was met with the same spiel about it being the wastegate actuator rod rattling. That little rod sure makes a racket in my car - it's really noticable, not helped by the fact that 90% of the time I've got the windows down!

I had a 5000km old demo car to borrow from a friend of mine a couple of months ago when they first came to Oz, and that DIDNT have the rattle. I was a little bemused when they tried to suggest that my car was operating CORRECTLY, and the demo car without the rattle must have been operating INCORRECTLY (quoting the service advisor!). Yeah right...

Its left a bit of a bitter taste in my mouth to be honest. The logic works from VW's perspective though. It's a design fault, yes - but its not causing any damage or major discomfort to the owner, and its likely quite expensive to fix so therefore it wont be fixed under warranty!

As the service advisor said to me today - if enough people lodge their concern over it, VW will issue a fix - much like they did with the squeaking noise for the 1.4's.

The conditions sound very specific, but it falls in the "normal, sensible driving" category. Perhaps that's why many GTI owners aren't noticing it at all....

This is the thing that annoys me the most - it's the normal rev range which the engine uses when driving 'normally' which creates the rattle. I wouldnt be as fussed if it was only at 6-6500rpm or something!

I hate it and would be willing to pay a 3rd party to fix it if they could. However, my opinion is that VW should fix it under warranty. It is a characteristic of the car, but an unwelcome and unintentional one.

Agreed.. I think it's ridiculous to suggest that this is 'normal operation'. As someone else mentioned, it makes the car sound like a $5000 ****box with a rusted out exhaust.

Yeh - I too would have no idea why it would make a difference. Fuel doesn't reach that component! hehe

Yeah i agree. Though my car started with the rattle after the supplied dealer tank of fuel (give or take 100km), I see no way that the type of fuel could affect this issue

[Primordial]

Just reading through those other threads that were posted. It's a little worrying that noone has come up with a resolution (including VW! ). Especially considering this problem seems to have been around for a while!

Who should we be directing our complaint on this issue to - VWA or dealers?