Bit of a rattle

[Oops gti]

Thanks again for all previous answers on my mayonnaise issue. I've had the car fully serviced water pump and cam done. But as I've been running the car for a few weeks now I've got a couple more issues with it. The first one being the gear change is quite stiff and I struggle to make a smooth change, also while accelerating I'm getting a rattling from what I think is coming from under the engine. Is the gear box an issue with these? Also mpg is awful on my 7 mile trip to work which is all town driving I'm only getting 22mpg is that normal? And lastly the steering is properly heavy, not quite a two hands on the wheel job but not far off. Sorry for going on again. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Oh yeah and my airbag fault light keeps flashing at me.

[barrym381]

check your steering fluid as whoever done the belt might have took the reservoir off an fluid has drained  and mpg was never good on the 2.0

[jamiesgolf]

My mpg on my 2.0l has always been between 20-30 mpg for town driving, although I think it should be more like 30-35 though. My 2.0 also has a rattle only mine is from the catalytic convertor so I guess you might have a similar problem.

[Oops gti]

Is the catalytic converter at the front under the engine? I always assumed they were at the back by the silencer. How is the gear change on yours? Mines really stiff but I have no trouble finding the gears.

[jamiesgolf]

It's closer to your engine than it is the silencer, probably about in line with where you sit, maybe slightly further forward. My gear changes are alright, you could well have a problem with your gearbox, I'm
Not sure to be honest. A way to tell if it's a rattle on the exhaust may be to accelerate in one gear through the revs, then let the engine rev back down while after you stop accelerating. Mine makes the biggest rattle if I do that. Sorry I'm not much help!

[Oops gti]

Thanks for your help I'll try the exhaust in the morning.

[MoshiMoshi]

Gearbox oil could be low, is it leaking at all? Try and see under the car.

Cat does rattle when they degrade, but its more likely to be a loose heatshield or something. Still - could be the cat, does it sound like false teeth rattling around in a tin can?

Get yourself a vagcom scanner from amazon if you haven't already, scan the car (OBD port is under you stereo center console above the slidey tray thing, hidden by a panel that pulls off)

[Oops gti]

It's not leaking at all no. What gearbox oil can be used and do you know if specialist tools are required?

Yeah the rattle sounds very much like that   due to the crappy weather I've not been able to get under the car to have proper look. I'll try tomorrow.

I'll have a look for this scanner. But won't be till next month due to funds. Just hope the airbag doesn't explode in my face between one and then
Cheers for the replys