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General => The garage => Topic started by: acko on 18 March 2005, 13:57
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Right, I got a mk2 1.6 driver 1990
The heater has been on the blink for a while now, no hot air on the blowers, tracked this down to lack of coolant as when the level gets too low the blowers start to blow cold. I assume this is because the collant is no longer flowing round the pipes that the hot air blowers take their heat from? (I may well be wrong as this is only a guess) Anyway losing more and more coolant. The cars getting hot after a while as the coolant level drops. I stopped at services to day and popped the bonnet, It was venting coolant from the expansion tank all over. It was coming out of the back of the tank somewhere tho covered by the little black plastic shroud thing.
As well as this my exhaust has been steaming like a good un for a while. I thought this might be down to the exhaust it has got on it coz its got a full stainless scorpion exhaust on it. Also some mayo in the rocker cover filling cap, but this may be down to short drives in the cold?
This sounds to me like a head gasket which is not good news. My questions are as follows:
1. If it is the head gasket which has gone, how hard are these to replace? mr hanyes gives it three spanners but i don't trust him!
2. What else could be causing this loss of coolant? faulty expansion tank????
3. Apparently I need a special tool to remove the exahust front pipe on my 1.6 driver. Does anyones know if this is true and where they can be bought from, and even better how much?
Cheers for any helps you knowledgable people!
Acko
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Definately sounds like head gasket. All the right symptoms. Whats your level of technical experience? Have you ever done a timing belt for example?
The special tool that you refer to will probably be for removing the 'C' clamps that connect the downpipe to the exhaust manifold. I managed to make a tool using a bush, 2 bolts and a couple of nuts.
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The heaters will indeed blow cold if you don't have enough coolant :)
Don't jump to HG failure just yet, my scorpion SS system smokes like a goodun when its cold too, often steams up the rear screen :grin:? Mayo in the tank can be caused by lots of short journeys, take it for a 20 minute blast down a motorway see what that gives you.
Loads of places to loose coolant, first thing I would do is replace the tank cap with a new blue one from VW sounds like the seal has gone.? If the tank is still venting steam buy a new one!
Other things to check are the radiator, look for crusty green deposits down the rad and water on the cross member underneath.? Also the plastic flange on the right side of the block is prone to leaking, whip it off and replace with a nice new one from VW after cleaning the mounting area with some fine sandpaper.
Do you have carb problems when cold?? The coolant channel o'ring in the inlet manifold is prone to failure, and ends up blocked the flow of coolant, then often leads to a coolant leak at the back of the block causing smoke (coolant) to come off the exhaust manifold area.
Part 32 in the pic below:
(http://www.moddin.net/images/temp/golf/oring.jpg)
The special tool needed to remove the driver downpipe, was an exhaust clamp with the clampy bit taken off and fitted outside of the nuts, then you just loosen the nuts till you can get the 'C' clamps off :)
Headgasket is a doddle, I had to do mine when I fitted my exhaust as one of the exhaust manifold studs had completely rusted into the head due to the coolant o'ring leak above, had to drill it out!? If non of the above tips sort your problem let me know and I'll give you the fool proof HG replacement procedure I used? :grin:
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cheers rubjohny,
Yeah my rear screen steams up randomly too, stoopid scorpion exhausts, makes it sound like a tank too! Sounds like the expansion tank cap is an easy place to start so i'l try that. Hope it is an easy fix coz I don't fancy doing the gasket. I still got the pierburg carb so cold mornings can be a bit dodgy what with sticky chokes and the like. My plan is to fit the weber replacement at some point but being a pikey student my funds are way bad at the moment! Good tip for getting the c-clamps off too :smiley:
I'll let you know what the problem was when I sorted it
ez
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Well if you have sticky choke problems do the coolant channel o'ring, I garauntee it'll be blocked and you'll be loosing coolant out of it :)
Getting a webber will solve the choke problem but you'll still have a knackered o'ring in the inlet.? Does it run badly when cold, smoke alot, smell of petrol, crap performance/echonomy?? Does the engine randomly rev up to 1.5/2k untill its very hot?
Edit: Read my Pierburg2e2 FAQ:
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=18871.0 :)
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I replaced the cap the other day with a new blue one from GSF. This has not solved the problem unfortunately as it is still losing loadsa coolant. Went to see my trust mechanic friend and he confirmed it was indeed the head gasket thats gone : (
He's gona help me sort it out tho, Change the gasket, cam belt and other bits and bobs including skimming the head for around 300 notes which aint too bad I don't think, He reckons it will take a day and a half or so, This sound about right?
Acko
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My engine is in pieces!
Took her to bits today, removed the head and it is currently being skimmed at a local engineers.
A few knuckles down but quite pleased so far, putting it back together is gona be a bit harder I feel! While i've got it in pieces it has gotten me thinking and I need a few questions answering;
1. I have heard a mk2 gti 8v cam will be a straight swap, is this true?
2. If so is there any other bits which need changing aswell, rocker cover for example? or does it need specialy setting up?
3. What are the advantages of fitting this cam?
quick answers would be cool coz i'm hoping to get the head back tommorow so if i want a cam it would mean getting down the scrappers quick sharp!
Cheers, acko
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1. Yes
2. No
:)
You'll need new camshaft mounting bolts and oil seal from VW, and I would recommend new exhaust manifold mounting studs & copper nuts installed with plenty of copperslip (If you actually removed the exhaust manifold that is)
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cheers matey, good news that is, I've already ordered some new manifold studs cos the old ones were pretty crap and had to cut a few to get it off, Where abouts is the oil seal, is it the orange and blue rubber things at either side?
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No theres an extra seal that goes round the crankshaft where it sticks out the side of the head. Should defo replace it or you risk leaking oil into the timing belt cover and on your belt.
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When you take the camshaft pulley off, you will see the seal that 'rubjonny' is on about. Its a round 'U' section seal that goes around the end of the shaft, it is clamped by that first bearing cap. I agree, you should definately replace it.
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Cheers for the help guys,
I replaced the oil seal today, got everything bolted back together, Those C-shaped clips that hold the downpipe to the manifold are an absolute arse! Why couldn't there just be a flange with some bolts!!!!!! took me ages with the little tool, and the clips and the inaccesability and wiggling and the wahoyhoy. :laugh:
Anyway, being a novice really with cars this is by far the most major thing i've ever done, i've only really dabled with changing exhausts and little bits which are a doddle. I was really pleased with myself, got it all done and then filled it up with oil, no leaks! filled it up with water, pissing everywhere! one of the hoses which bolts to the head had not been tightened properly coz the bolt rounded like every other rusty nut on my car! :angry:
Gona have to wait a few days now coz I need to give it some hasstle to get it out and put some new uns in. Theres always sumet int there, just when you think your on to a winner...