GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk4 => Topic started by: soulman_uk on 15 February 2006, 10:21
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:rolleyes: all about my vw golf 1.6s 2001
Been hearing this rattling noise from the engine bay and had a look and listened for a bit it comes from around the bottom left when facing the open bonet. Thought it might just be the rubber band thing that spins around bolt but that was fine so said the mechanic whoo checked it.
Then he said it must be the cambelt and tensioners and that they would need replacing.
The noise goes after the car has been run for about 15 odd minutes after it reaches engine temp.
But now I'm wondering what to do should I have the cambelt sorted for peace of mind as I heard if its snaps while your driving it you've pretty much got an even bigger problem.
I left with the garages details and took the car home and came straight on to here to ask.
He couldn't give me a price on the work as his boss wasn't there.
So I was wondering what this kind of work would cost ? just so I know I'm not being taken for a mug.
Cheers :smiley:
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well I've been quoted around £300 for my GT TDI but with yours being a 1.6 I'd expect that to come down a bit as there is less in the way to get to the cambelt etc!! And thats a stealership price.....
Did you go to a steralership or was it your local mechanic?? If its the latter then possibly sub £200...... :undecided:
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Whats your mileage and when was it last done? Does sound like its associated with the timing belt, in which case you'd be well advised to get the work done sooner rather than later - you don't want a roller, tensioner or belt letting go.
Don't know if all mk4's are the same but if the water pump runs off the timing belt, that might be the culprit too.
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i had the same problem about a year ago, the bit of plastic around one of the tensioner had snapped. cost me £250 if i remember right at local vag specialist for new belt/tensioners etc. get it done asap if its this other wise if the belt snaps or comes off your engine will be knackered!
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Rhyso: I took it to my local garage.
richardandhazel: it has just under 32k on the clock I've only had the car since january. As far as I'm aware it has never been done.
When I bought the car it came with a car care plan. I dont know if the problem will be covered by the gurantee if not I'll have to stump up.
Been a bit unlucky with this car ... been a catalogue of flippin problems.
Basically you go to a garage ask if they do warranty work and if so they contact car car plan to see if they will authorise the work. If
not then am a bit stuffed as I'm pretty low on money till I get paid at the end of the month. I just spent £50 on petrol today too.
Well as soon as morning comes will see what can be done.
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Update: Taken the car to the garage this morning. The mechanic had a look.
Said it sounds as if the bearing in the alternator has broken but he said he
cant say for sure untill they strip it down. If thats not it then they said
the cambelt and tensioners but unlikely at such low mileage. The reason he
said that it gets quieter when the engines at temperature is the bearing
expands so has less room to knock against anything. So when its cold it
smaller and has a bit more room to knock around. In his words. But he said
he didnt want to play guess the problem so said to book it in to be
diagnosed. As for my guarantee the boss frowned on it ... I gather as its
more hassle for them but was wliling to do the nescesary calling up of care
care plan once they had found the problem. So thats fair enough. If the part
isn't covered by the care plan then I don't know how much it will cost to
sort out, I asked but he wasn't sure of the part price so I stoped pestering
him. Problem was they are backed up with cars and cant get to mine till
saturday, so he said realistically I should have it back by monday or
tueasday depending on the work and availability of the part.
He did say its safe to drive if it does loose all power though then it the
alternator.
I'm pretty hesistant to drive it untill its fixed so I think its best left
parked.
So just a case of wait and see till they strip it down and look.
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Alternator bearing is very easy to check. Slacken the drive belt and remove it. Start the car and if the noise is still there it can't possibly be the alternator as that is no longer being driven.
Does your water pump run off the same belt or is it running off your timing belt?
If it runs off the same belt, don't run the engine for more than a minute or so. If this is the case and the noise has dissapeared, could be water pump or alternator.
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Hey richardandhazel,
ok I got the drive belt off started the car and the sound was still there! :cry: ... so looks like the cambelt and tensioners or possibly the water pump as you say.
"Does your water pump run off the same belt or is it running off your timing belt?" I have no idea what the water pump is run off :embarassed: I dont see the belt connected to anything else so as a guess I would say no.
I read waterpumps are common to fail.
the drama goes on.
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If it is the cambelt how much damage can it do if I have driven the car. As I drove it to the garage and back today rougly 11 off miles there and back and have to get it there again on saturday for them to start sorting it out.
....so if its the cambelt what damage could it have done to anything else :cry:
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if your cambelt fails mate you'll know instantly cos your engine will cut out.
if the cambelt fails it can cause massive damage to the internals :sad: and then you are looking at a very big repair bill :cry: as it will bend your valves in a big way :cry:
you should be fine to drive it back to the garage on saturday though :smiley: just don't drive it until then!!
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Ok so its either an idler, tensioner or water pump. Noise from the bearing suggests impending failure so you need to nurse the car until you get it fixed. Keep any highly necessary journeys down to a minimum and get it fixed ASAP. You're not doing any harm but something is about to fail and you need to get it rectified before any serious damage is done.
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ok.... thanks for the advice much appreciated. :smiley:
I've got it parked outside not driving it until saturday to the garage. Just incase.
Fingers crossed everything goes ok, it goes in on saturday morning and I should know whats wrong with it by the end of the working day but depending on the problem getting the car back to me fixed could be possibly tuesday wednesday which is fiar enough so long as it gets fixed and minimal damage is done.
What a wind up. :rolleyes:
Keep you posted on the outcome
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Right got an update: took the car to the garage first thing this morning. Drove it as gently as possible. In first gea at 60 mph *joke*
The mechanic saw to it first thing I waited for 30 mins he looked at a few things and took the drive belt off and was convinced it was the cambelt and tensioners. So he said its going to take some time so I left him to it and he said he would call once he knew what was wrong so fair enough.
Went home couple of hours later he calls me to tell me that if I had driven another 2 miles maximum it was have been it. He said theres 2 belts where the cambelt is I think it was ... and one had snapped and that was what was making the noise and the second one was hanging on by the skin of its teeth. So thanking the man like he was god :embarassed: he wont be able to get the parts till monday and should be done same day. costing £260 parts and labour. Which I think is a great price considering if the engine went it would have been a lot more! :shocked:
I cannot believe how lucky I am he said he doesn't know how the hell it didnt blow but told me to do the lottery tonight with this luck lol :smiley:
Wow what a relief. Been doing my head in but all is looking good. Just about got all the money together.
Cant say how much of a relief it is that my pistons and valvues will still live. Thankfully no damage has been done.
Thats about it :smiley: ... off to do the lottery. :grin:
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Good story. :smiley:
Hope everything turns out alright with the motor.
ps & also hope some lucky no's come in to pay the £260. :wink:
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thanks Ivor,
Unfortunately my numbers didnt come in ... cant blame me for trying :grin:
looking forward to getting the car back in one piece. :smiley: ... still I cant believe it ... close call.
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Got the car back this afternoon.
Problem free and running well.
No more rattles :smiley:
:smiley:
Amen what a close shave! :sick:
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I had a similar noise.
It went away when changed cambelt, tensioner, water pump and alternator belt (so not sure which one it was!).