Why does everything happen in three's?

[Mixmasta]

Hi guys,

I am pretty sure that these probs are unrelated but I'm no mechanic. Over the last week my cars has decided to throw the teddy out of the cot and is displaying the following probs.

1, Pretty massive coolant level loss (light always coming on the on the dash) but with no visable signs of where it's coming from or going to - I.E. let the engine get to temp and wait for the fan to kick in, check pipes, rad, header etc with no signs of leaks -- Have checked the oil too which thankfully isn't emulsified!

2, The starter motor I think is on it's last legs as intermittently you turn the key to hear a 'click' and nothing else. It's as if the solenoid is throwing the cog in but it isn't turning. I was just wondering whether when this is the case, it's worth stripping down and cleaning with petrol or equiv or whether I should just buy a recon one.

3, When it does start  It is running like a complete dog almost as if one of the pots isn't firing properly. I have checked the plugs, dizzy and HT leads and all seems well. When the car gets to temp, it runs fine again however the idle is a little higher than normal - Is this a fuel air mix issue?.

My car is ALWAYS wrapped in in cotton wool  and is maintained by VW, but VW costs a fortune for fault finding £65PH and I have recently had to leave my job so money is tight!!. These probs are worrying to say the least - Please has anyone any ideas on what could be going on?

Thanks guys

Mix

[Ozz]

For the second problem, try whipping the live wire off the top of the starter motor (i think its a live anyway, the one bolted onto the top of it!!) clean up the contact and then bolt back on nice and tight, mine was doing the same, did this and havent had the problem since.

[Mixmasta]

Thanks!! will give it a bash

[Ozz]

Bashing it sometimes helps too actually!! 

[hc-animal]

not a head gasket is it?

[mk1]

Hmm, was thinking head gasket as well. Coolant loss into the cylinder can hydraulic lock sounding like a starter fault and when the engine starts it will miss fire. Is there a lot of pressure in the expansion tank and a petrol smell after running it for a few mins.
Steve.

[Mixmasta]

OH NO!!!!

Well all I can say is "FOR FKS SAKE"!!!! coming back from the missis's this morning down the motorway, the water temp guage went more or less to the max from nothing and the oil temp hit 104, managed to get it back home with the oil temp around 96. When parked I let the oil get to 102 and the fan wasn't kicking in, turned the engine off and inspected for leaks. No leaks were evident however the expansion tank was making a hissing noise as if high pressure air was escaping (I've recently replaced this as the last one blew through the filler cap). Then looked at the oil, looked like a cross between cottage cheese and clotted cream - I think that this confirms the worst possible news - must be the head gasket!  :embarassed:   

Has anyone any ideas on what the best thing to do is? is this worth attempting yourself? is their anything which should be done to the engine whilst it's in bits.

I have contacted Awesome Gti in Warrington (these are the guys which have done all my work thus far) they want anywhere between £350 and a staggering £850 if it needs reconditioning.

Your help has never been needed as much, if anyone has any advice on what the best thing to do is I would really appreciate it!!!!!!!!

Yours properly p*ssed off

Mix

[gibby]

Sorry to hear that.    I'm not mechanical myself but the price that Awesome quoted sounds to be about right although it is a very broad price (£350 - £850  ) as head gaskets seem to be between £300 - £500.  I dont think head gaskets are to be tempted by someone with little or no experience of them as the head may have got warped and may need skimming and if you dont skim it the problem will return fairly sharpish. The p1sser is that the gasket sets are a few quid yet the whole job is a nightmare and expensive. 

I'd probably suggest putting a thread in the garage section to see if any of the more technical members can point you in the right direction if you are thinking of attempting it yourself. I remember sportline_velly did his own a few months ago but needed assistance from a mechanic mate for some of the job.

[Mixmasta]

Thanks Gibby will do.

I know what you mean about the price quoted, they say that they do not know the extent of the damage till they're in there - which I agree with, trouble is, this really gives them a license to write money!! Was thinking that if the majority of the price is labour (stripping it down and rebuilding) then is it worth speaking to a tuner such as TSR to see what they would do for the same money - does anyone know of anyone or have any advice? I mean, they renew all the gaskets n stuff when they mess about with it..... don't they?

The only other thing I'm thinking of is making a bold as brass step and putting the engine I've always wanted in it, namely a 1.8T, but this is also loaded with major connotations not least of which is the cost.

Just shows you tho, you can have a minter with a FVWSH and under 70K and it can fk up on you - not in keeping with that engine. I had a MK1 1.8  GTi hardtop (83) and that thing really was indestructible, I sold it with 184,000 miles on it and it didn't blow anything out the back and went like a train.

Thanks all

Mix

 

[kai]

i vote on doing it your self. if you need any help you can just post a thread and somebody ill have the answer for you.
plus you'll get a better understanding on how your engine works.

my 8v engine cost me about £100 in VW and GSF parts when i changed my head gasket and surrounding parts.

Good luck with what ever you do to getting it sorted.