« previous next »
Pages: [1] 2

Author Topic: check engine light and strange noises  (Read 3429 times)

Offline candywhite12

  • Here all the time
  • ****
  • Posts: 365
check engine light and strange noises
« on: 04 March 2015, 14:23 »
the check engine light came on as soon as i started the car this morning.  drove about 30 miles, light is still on.  I got home and let the car cool down.  Upon restarting, it kind of shakes a couple of times at around 1000 rpm and then the needle rests on idle at around 900 rpm.  Throughout this ordeal, a funny noise comes right out of the engine bay - something between a cat mewing and a dog barking  :laugh:  I called my mechanic, they said they need to diagnose but said if the car is driving ok i should drive it there myself.  I'm worried about all this.  Any ideas?
Logged
Wife's: mk8 TSI 1.4 RL, 5dr atlantic blue, DSG, Norfolk 17", pan s/r, leds
Now: mk7.5 TSI 1.4 RL, 5dr tornado red, DSG, Singapore 17", pan s/r, leds
Before: mk6 GTI 5dr candy white, DSG, Monza Shadow 18", s/r, bi-Xenons, DCC
Even before that: mk5 GT 5dr tornado red, manual, s/r

Offline RocketRossUK

  • I live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,186
Re: check engine light and strange noises
« Reply #1 on: 04 March 2015, 20:30 »
Quote from: candywhite12 on 04 March 2015, 14:23
the check engine light came on as soon as i started the car this morning.  drove about 30 miles, light is still on.  I got home and let the car cool down.  Upon restarting, it kind of shakes a couple of times at around 1000 rpm and then the needle rests on idle at around 900 rpm.  Throughout this ordeal, a funny noise comes right out of the engine bay - something between a cat mewing and a dog barking  :laugh:  I called my mechanic, they said they need to diagnose but said if the car is driving ok i should drive it there myself.  I'm worried about all this.  Any ideas?

Could be a variety of things mate. I could be something simple as a spark plug or coil pack failing, or it could be something more serious like timing chain (see pinned topic on MK6 section)

What age and mileage is the car? Do you feel any kind of misfire? Any blue smoke out of exhaust?
Logged
MK6 GTI CSG | Revo Stage 2 | Revo Stage 2 Intake | Milltek 3" TB Exhaust | SuperPro Anti Lift Kit | H&R ARB's | Bilstein B12 | TT Short Shifter |Mintex M1144 Race Pads | HEL Braided Lines |

MK5 GTI - DSG + Extras (Sold because DSG was Soooo Boring !!!)

Offline candywhite12

  • Here all the time
  • ****
  • Posts: 365
Re: check engine light and strange noises
« Reply #2 on: 05 March 2015, 06:47 »
Quote from: RocketRossUK on 04 March 2015, 20:30
Quote from: candywhite12 on 04 March 2015, 14:23
the check engine light came on as soon as i started the car this morning.  drove about 30 miles, light is still on.  I got home and let the car cool down.  Upon restarting, it kind of shakes a couple of times at around 1000 rpm and then the needle rests on idle at around 900 rpm.  Throughout this ordeal, a funny noise comes right out of the engine bay - something between a cat mewing and a dog barking  :laugh:  I called my mechanic, they said they need to diagnose but said if the car is driving ok i should drive it there myself.  I'm worried about all this.  Any ideas?

Could be a variety of things mate. I could be something simple as a spark plug or coil pack failing, or it could be something more serious like timing chain (see pinned topic on MK6 section)

What age and mileage is the car? Do you feel any kind of misfire? Any blue smoke out of exhaust?

it's a late 2009 car with 85K miles on it.  no blue smoke, no misfire.  just felt it like 'kicking' a bit rough when switched on and the needle playing for a while, plus the funny noise.  driving is as smooth as ever.  i had engine oil dripping from underneath lately (a couple of drops per day), the garage said they can fix that when i take the car in for its next service.  Dont know if the two relate.  my mind went to the PCV valve but it's just a hunch
Logged
Wife's: mk8 TSI 1.4 RL, 5dr atlantic blue, DSG, Norfolk 17", pan s/r, leds
Now: mk7.5 TSI 1.4 RL, 5dr tornado red, DSG, Singapore 17", pan s/r, leds
Before: mk6 GTI 5dr candy white, DSG, Monza Shadow 18", s/r, bi-Xenons, DCC
Even before that: mk5 GT 5dr tornado red, manual, s/r

Offline Poached

  • I live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 716
Re: check engine light and strange noises
« Reply #3 on: 05 March 2015, 16:41 »
Get it scanned for errors. The rough idle you describe is not dissimilar from how my engine behaved before the tensioner failed.
Logged

Offline RocketRossUK

  • I live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,186
Re: check engine light and strange noises
« Reply #4 on: 05 March 2015, 18:14 »
you need to pay attention to start up noises. Start the car with you stood outside it and the bonnet up, listen for any rattle in the first 5 seconds, because if it is the chain you could nip it in the bud now before it goes bang.

PCV's can fail, mine did. best way to check it is having the engine running and then remove did stick for a few seconds. It should nearly stall. If it carry on pretty much as normal then it means its on the way out.

also, remove engine cover and look for oil around the PCV valve.
Logged
MK6 GTI CSG | Revo Stage 2 | Revo Stage 2 Intake | Milltek 3" TB Exhaust | SuperPro Anti Lift Kit | H&R ARB's | Bilstein B12 | TT Short Shifter |Mintex M1144 Race Pads | HEL Braided Lines |

MK5 GTI - DSG + Extras (Sold because DSG was Soooo Boring !!!)

Offline candywhite12

  • Here all the time
  • ****
  • Posts: 365
Re: check engine light and strange noises
« Reply #5 on: 06 March 2015, 08:09 »
ran diagnostics at garage yesterday.  got 1 fault found: 000369 Fuel Trim; Bank 1, P0171-000-System too lean- MIL ON.  Mechanic said air must have entered the engine (the check engine sign did come on only after i topped up oil).  They also said it might have something to do with the oil drops from underneath the car - booked an appointment to fix that so hopefully all will be ok.  PCV valve seems to be fine

my only worry - and i can't remember if this is how it was before - in the morning when i switch the car on, the needle stays at around 1100rpm for about a minute and then falls at around 800rpm.  I felt the car shaking a bit at startup today and yesterday and this lasted for a while until the car warmed up.  Is this normal?
Logged
Wife's: mk8 TSI 1.4 RL, 5dr atlantic blue, DSG, Norfolk 17", pan s/r, leds
Now: mk7.5 TSI 1.4 RL, 5dr tornado red, DSG, Singapore 17", pan s/r, leds
Before: mk6 GTI 5dr candy white, DSG, Monza Shadow 18", s/r, bi-Xenons, DCC
Even before that: mk5 GT 5dr tornado red, manual, s/r

Offline Poached

  • I live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 716
Re: check engine light and strange noises
« Reply #6 on: 06 March 2015, 08:48 »
That should be normal minus the shaking, it's to warm up the cats.
Logged

Offline candywhite12

  • Here all the time
  • ****
  • Posts: 365
Re: check engine light and strange noises
« Reply #7 on: 20 March 2015, 09:43 »
problem solved, lighter by around 500 pounds.  had PCV valve and a ring on the underside of the oil pan changed.  car is running smoothly again, no rattles, no funny noises, no oil dripping from underneath.  thanks for the input guys
Logged
Wife's: mk8 TSI 1.4 RL, 5dr atlantic blue, DSG, Norfolk 17", pan s/r, leds
Now: mk7.5 TSI 1.4 RL, 5dr tornado red, DSG, Singapore 17", pan s/r, leds
Before: mk6 GTI 5dr candy white, DSG, Monza Shadow 18", s/r, bi-Xenons, DCC
Even before that: mk5 GT 5dr tornado red, manual, s/r

Offline Buck

  • I live here
  • *****
  • Posts: 1,292
  • Das Auto
Re: check engine light and strange noises
« Reply #8 on: 20 March 2015, 19:10 »
Glad you got it sorted - always worrying when things start going wrong.

You can start enjoying the car again now :)
Logged

Offline andygo

  • GTI forum regular
  • ***
  • Posts: 178
Re: check engine light and strange noises
« Reply #9 on: 20 March 2015, 19:14 »
Whats the ring on the underside of the oil pan? Do you mean the washer on the sump drain plug< Think they are a couple of quid max and 2 mins to swap.

So was it the PCV valve causing the issue? A few oil drops doesn't cause a Golf to judder on startup generally.
Logged
Pages: [1] 2
« previous next »