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Model specific boards => Golf mk4 => Topic started by: ub7rm on 09 March 2006, 09:43

Title: Idiot garage and noisy timing belt
Post by: ub7rm on 09 March 2006, 09:43
Morning,

Well, took my car in to have the timing belt, tensioners and waterpump replaced yesterday, picked the car up, drove home and when I was parking it realised that the engine was sounding a little rough and decided to open the bonnet to have a look.  When I did I realised that there seemed to be a little bit of spray coming up from the side of the engine and at the same time there was a strong smell of fuel.  So I quickly went to turn the engine off and there was petrol gushing from the fuel filler cap.  Oh funk thinks I and ran away.  Phoned the garage and they sent someone round straight away and at first he couldn't understand what could cause that, then he looks under the bonnet and says 'oh yeah, I see the problem'  and starts pulling hoses out of a manifold beside the suspension turret (pressurised so more fuel pi55ing all over the place) and connects them up again, seems the first time he had connected them up wrong which caused a build up of pressure.  Lucky I only drove a couple of minutes up the roadÂ…Â…Â…Â….

Anyway I told him about the noise and he suggested that it could have been the EGR valve.  When he started the engine the noise wasn't there and I thought OK fair enough it might have been something to do with the fuel problem or maybe this EGR valve.  However I was out in the car last night and the noise seemed to come and go once the engine was warm, it kind of sounds like a ticking/chaffing/chattering sort of noise and varies with the engine speed.  It may have always been there and didn't hear it cos of the radio and I can hear it now because I was driving about with the radio off and the window open and am now paranoid but then again It is sometimes there when the car is Idling and I'm pretty sure that I've never heard it before.

Is it possible that the new bits are a bit noisy until they are run in a bit or is this more serious?  I don't particularly trust this garage anymore and don't want to give it back to them unless I have to.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

Thanks

PS itÂ’s a 2000 1.8T (AUM)
Title: Re: Idiot garage and noisy timing belt
Post by: richandhazel on 12 March 2006, 19:06

Is it possible that the new bits are a bit noisy until they are run in a bit or is this more serious?  I don't particularly trust this garage anymore and don't want to give it back to them unless I have to.

Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

Thanks

PS itÂ’s a 2000 1.8T (AUM)

No, the new parts should not be noisy and not need running in.
Don't blame you for not wanting to go back to the garage but its difficult to diagnose what the noise could be from what you have said.
Wouldn't have thought it would be the EGR valve as I wouldn't have thought that would vary directly with engine revs.
If you're sure the noise wasn't there before then it must be something that they have disturbed. Could it be mechanical contact? Say with the timing belt cover, not properly located maybe? :undecided:
Title: Re: Idiot garage and noisy timing belt
Post by: ub7rm on 14 March 2006, 20:55
Well I took it back and told them I wasn't happy etc.  They did rule out the cover rubbing, that was their first theory.  They now reckon that its the drive belt tensioner thats overtightening the drive belt at times causeing a noise and a slight burning smell.  Getting this replaced tomorrow for the price of the part so we'll see how that goes.  I'm sure I saw somewhere that there are two very similar drive belts available but one is slightly smaller, I just wonder if they put the wrong belt on when this was replaced (had both belts replaced).  Could this be possible?  The noise does come and go adding some strength to their theory that the tensioner is overtensioning at times but not being a mechanical expert and very cynical (especially given the noise only started after they had been working on it)  I have my doubts...........

Thanks for the thoughts, will let you know.