UPDATE: VIDEO! VW Golf 1.4 aex knocking sound, can you offer me some advice?

[joehb10]

ive now added a video link with audio of the knock! Please watch and listen and let me know your views!!

Thank you so much guys!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FA0e-Eeh9bs




I have a 1997 1.4 golf, which i brought for 400 pounds about a month ago. so far no issues, apart from the knocking noise coming from the engine. it knocks at idle, and when i just stood still in neutral, the knocking will increase as i rev the engine, up until  about 2500 revs then you dont hear the knocking abymore, just the engine reving, which sounds good- how its supposed to sound.

Under load, accelerating you can hear the knocking worst of all. Ive been to several garages, and even took a mechanic with me to check the car when i brought it. he said it sounds like tappets or at least, the top end, and that its a sound car. i also asked a garage near my flat and they said its piston slap, and that it needs a new engine- £600 was their quote. Today i asked another mechanic whom i know and trust as he serviced my old car regularly, and he said i shouldnt worry abotu it, he said hes almost certain its the lifter tapping away.

ANYWAY i was reassured when he said that, but driving it today and listening to it, i dont think it sounds like tappets. Its a high is pitched knock 'chack, chack, chack chack...'' and its as if its coming from the area of the engine on the driver side, near to the exhaust manifold. there is a broken bolt on the manifold in this area, but its still well attached to the block and this is not a leaking manifold sound... and i cant feel any gas escaping from the area. when im coasting the car in neutral you can barely hear it...


im sorry to go on. its just that i really love this car in every way and dont want this to all end badly...!

I would really appreciate your input.

BTW, this knock is fairly loud. when im driving down the street, people turn to look at the car, as its quite loud. When i get out of the car and leave the engine on, and walk away, i realise its loud too. the engine is very sound. Just the loud knock!

Please advise...

[AlexMozza]

Bearings?

[joehb10]

You mean big end bearing?...

The one thing that scares me is the prospect that i could be driving along one day, 80 miles from home, and it just dies, and then im screwed...

[Wayne]

1) Not a tappet
2) Main, big end or small end bearing in trouble
3) stop using it and get it fixed if it lets go it will cost you loads more.

[joehb10]

could it not just be piston slap?? thats what i was praying it was.

as i though piston slap is not such a major issue?...

thanks

[Wayne]

could it not just be piston slap?? thats what i was praying it was.

as i though piston slap is not such a major issue?...

thanks

Well if it is a piston I would still not keep using it.

[AlexMozza]

I had that with my Celica. ended up just scrapping it in the end :/
If it is the Big Ends then its a tough job to do your self, but not impossible, i would just go and get a GT

[joehb10]

That makes me sad... How long did you keep the celica going before scrapping it then?

[AlexMozza]

about a month. I changed the bearings but one of the pistons had been scored so could not be assed with rebuilding the complete engine.
Do a compression test, this could rule out slapping as this would lower the compression I think :S

[joehb10]

ok so lets say i do a compression test and theres no loss, would that suggest big end problems?...

BTW oil consumption is almost non existant. Had an oil change 600 miles -ish ago and oil level is fine. No smoke out the back, or anything, just the knock...