GolfGTIforum.co.uk
Model specific boards => Golf mk3 => Topic started by: llol_slim on 05 March 2007, 09:15
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Hello all,
Im finally being introduced into the VW world in the shape of a mk3 GTI 8v (yeh, i know the 16v is better but hey, I had a bravo 1.8HLX before so fast enough for now :))
Thing is, there's this horrible raspy rattle coming from the exhaust, about where the driver is when you give it some revs. It sounds like a blowing exhaust, but there's plenty of pressure, putting your hand over the end of the exhaust, there's plenty of pressure.
I've searched the forum and alot of people complain about a loose heatshield, but I've also heard that this could be the cat.
(im no mechanic :))
So if it were the cat, how much am i looking at? And if its the heatshield then will getting my local mechanic to weld it help?
Thanks in advance. Love the forum, love the car :-)
laurie
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There are two heatshields. One under the CAT and if its that rattling then just rip it off!
The other one is up on the manifold/downpipe and is much more troublesome!
It is welded on the exhaust and the only way to do it properly is to take the manifold off and this is not recommended just for that. Bolts can snap and that means a head off job!
If anyone knows of an easy fix for this heatshield then please shout!
I have heard of jubilee clips but having seen where it is I dont think they can be practical.
If your CAT is duff it costs 200 - 300 to replace.
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There are two heatshields. One under the CAT and if its that rattling then just rip it off!
The other one is up on the manifold/downpipe and is much more troublesome!
It is welded on the exhaust and the only way to do it properly is to take the manifold off and this is not recommended just for that. Bolts can snap and that means a head off job!
If anyone knows of an easy fix for this heatshield then please shout!
I have heard of jubilee clips but having seen where it is I dont think they can be practical.
If your CAT is duff it costs 200 - 300 to replace.
oh thanks for that, i really appreciate the quick response :)
Hopefully its the one under the cat then and NOT the actualy cat causing the problem. I'm going to pick the motor up tonight, is there anyway of telling if I have a duff cat? Does it smell, or smoke or anything? I know it can limit the revs if it breaks up, and I didn't notice any limiting.
Thanks again
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if it is the cat try http://www.eurocarparts.com/ they did a cat for my old mk3 8v for around £65 delivered.
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another thing to check is this.
At the base of the steering column in the footwell there should be a plaastic cover that goes over the hole in the bulkhead where the colunm goes through.
If thats missing you get a surprising amount of noise coming into the cabin which also sounds exactly like a blowing exhaust.
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if it is the cat try http://www.eurocarparts.com/ they did a cat for my old mk3 8v for around £65 delivered.
thanks i had already tried there, they havent got any in stock ..
another thing to check is this.
At the base of the steering column in the footwell there should be a plaastic cover that goes over the hole in the bulkhead where the colunm goes through.
If thats missing you get a surprising amount of noise coming into the cabin which also sounds exactly like a blowing exhaust.
thank you :) Unfortunately, the driver's door was open, so it was deffinately coming from under the car. I looked under the car and gave it some gas, but couldnt quite work out where it was coming from.
I think I might just take it straight to my local garage and see what they say. Get it put right from the beginning.. Assuming it isn't too pricey!!
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If your exhaust is blowing there is a very quick and easy check.
With car running go round and put your hand over the exhaust outlet, careful it could be a bit warm!
But anyway close off the exhaust if the engine splutters and dies then exhaust fine, if it doesnt then you have a hole somwhere!
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If your exhaust is blowing there is a very quick and easy check.
With car running go round and put your hand over the exhaust outlet, careful it could be a bit warm!
But anyway close off the exhaust if the engine splutters and dies then exhaust fine, if it doesnt then you have a hole somwhere!
right thank you. We will do that. We did it the other day, but didnt hold it over for any decent amount of time, just long enough to see pressure was building up. Hmm.. annoyingly I cannot remember what happened when I put the gas on with his hand over.
Is it safe to just put my hand over (recognise it will be hot!) until it dies? Or just until it starts to struggle. Will struggling be enough?
I have a feeling it isnt a hole. That would probably be better than the cat needing replacing :)
Next time I buy a car, I'm going to get the RAC/AA to come and do those checks. I hate looking at cars, so much to remember for a non-mechanic!
thanks so much for all the help
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Best if you dont make the engine stop completely, just make it splutter should only be a second or so.
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Best if you dont make the engine stop completely, just make it splutter should only be a second or so.
ok brilliant. I'll try it then. Thank you
Is there no way to tell if the cat is nackard?
Bit worried as we have already put a deposit down, and it occured to me since then that maybe its the cat, hopefully it wont be anything too pricey.
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Can try wacking it gently! See if it rattles. But not all CAT's react to that!
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Can try wacking it gently! See if it rattles. But not all CAT's react to that!
we don't condone animal cruelty round here Len. :laugh:
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Can try wacking it gently! See if it rattles. But not all CAT's react to that!
ok, i could try that, i'd have to be able to get access under the car though, that might be tricky. I dont have a drive or anywhere to get under it.
Would it smell real bad if the cat is nackard? I have eggy/sulphury smell in my head.. have i made that up?
thanks loads for all the help :) you have no idea how much i appreciate it :)
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I hate CATS! :evil: All versions! :laugh:
I dont think the egg/sulphur smell has any bearing - I think thats the cheaper ones as I smelt that from new cars.
Maybe there are different types, some have precious metals others ceramics. Dunno.
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I had the same rattle on my Mk3 and thought it was the exhaust going.
The garage where I had it serviced said it happens a lot and they simply took it off - they said it was the shielding "around the exhaust" Sorry not to be more help :sad:
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would be really interested to know the result you get on this.
having had my 'perfect' mk3 gti written off a month or so ago I got myself a replacement mk3 gti with said problem - see my response to darkangel's post-
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=43636.0
i have had six garages tell me its not the exhaust but when i cover the tailpies with a rag the car continues to run but can i hell find a hole or where its blowing. having saif that 2 garages have suggested what monkeyallan has said, and that the rubber boot at bottom of sterring column has perished so im hearing lot of noise, gettin that replaced this week so will keep you posted. Andy
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I have exactly the same thing, when im inside wi the door and window shut. I hear it when accelerating but not when revving it from idle while sitting still! The previous owner said the exhaust was blowing but its not audible from the engine bay which is weird.
If its not induction noise, or a heatshield, it may be blowing like my nieces car - it had a spring like flexible joint wi mesh tubing inside and was blowing inside this spring so it was a bugger to find. Will check the haynes to see if we have one of those but suspect the heatshields myself OR a missing trim from firewall as monkeyalan said. Gonna check today properly.
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thank you all very much for the replies.
I will let you know on friday the result, as the car is in the garage ... the rattle being the worst of the cars trouble..
To go off on a tangent if i may :
drove the car 90 miles, half a mile from home it broke down (terrential rain, midnight) so left it in a layby overnight, went back next afternoon.
Not being any god with cars, I rang my mechanic who very nicely talked through some diagnostics to get it started ie the distributer, and leads.
Figured out it was the rotary arm, as it was nackard and a common problem, replaced it, still didnt start, power going through the leads so he picked it up.
This afternoon he rang me back it was a problm with the HT leads, fixed but theres more ...
To the tune of £200 on top :-S cantremember exactly what, but things like the brake hoses are rusty, things are seizing etc.
On top of that (!!) the cam belt hasnt been changed (or no record of it) so that needs doing as well.
so looking at around £400!!
Not such a good start, but it will be lovely come friday when I pick it up knowing I've got a really tidy and safe mk3 :)
I will then post some piccies in the sticky :)
Thanks for reading :)
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if it is the cat try http://www.eurocarparts.com/ they did a cat for my old mk3 8v for around £65 delivered.
Dealers told me it would be £600 + for new and fitted :cry:
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if it is the cat try http://www.eurocarparts.com/ they did a cat for my old mk3 8v for around £65 delivered.
Dealers told me it would be £600 + for new and fitted :cry:
hey thanks for that. However, my golf is a J reg, which means I don't need a cat :)Last year that doesnt require one for the MOT, decat all the way :)
Getting it back tomorrow, can't wait to actually be able to drive it! SO excited!!
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ummm, similar story to mine slim - i had my car fully sorted until written off, got what I thought was a very good replacement and have so far had to replace dizzy, rotor arm, leads, lambda and cambelt so hoping to get this noise sorted asap. Mines booked in Monday for the rubber boot to be replaced so lookinf forward to a post when you get yours back 2moro.
I have tried the trick with covering the exhaust and my car runs on still - pointing to a leak or crack in the system but no garage can find this, instead have suggested this rubber boot (gunna b arounf 80 notes to replace).
Good luck for 2moro mate!!
Andy
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ummm, similar story to mine slim - i had my car fully sorted until written off, got what I thought was a very good replacement and have so far had to replace dizzy, rotor arm, leads, lambda and cambelt so hoping to get this noise sorted asap. Mines booked in Monday for the rubber boot to be replaced so lookinf forward to a post when you get yours back 2moro.
I have tried the trick with covering the exhaust and my car runs on still - pointing to a leak or crack in the system but no garage can find this, instead have suggested this rubber boot (gunna b arounf 80 notes to replace).
Good luck for 2moro mate!!
Andy
well, i'm glad im not the only one!! As soon as I pick it up, i will give it some gas whilst still at the garage, if still rattling, I 'll ask them to take another look. They are a TOP quality garage though, I trust them 100%. They go out of their way tohelp me, and keep it cheap as possible. How many garage will do that? Customer service is amazing!!
As soon as I'm home, I'll take some photos and post it up.
its my brithday saturday so I might not get the opportunity to wash and wax it.. tohugh i might as a birthday treat ;) lol.
Very excited to be getting it tomorrow!
laurie
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how did you get on with your motor?
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how did you get on with your motor?
sorry, got it back other night, not had much chance to catch up..
gave it some gas, no problems. I forgot to ask them what the cause was :rolleyes: However, now we've noticed, whilst idling, traffic lights, parking etc, after a few seconds we can smell petrol really strong. I'm assuming this isnt normal?!!
Might have to take it back, makes you feel quite sick quite quick!!
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No that isnt normal mate! So yea take it back! Sharpish!
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No that isnt normal mate! So yea take it back! Sharpish!
ok willdo. I'm going to test it first, to make sure I can replicate the problem. I'd hate to ge there and then it not happen!!