Mk4 GTI Turbo Pinking Problems

[matty1000000]

Hello all,

Just thought I would post my problem on here as I do not know what to do with my engine pinking problem.

First off the 1999 Golf has done about 115k.

The engine has suddenly just started to pink, at first it was quite and only going up hill, but now seems to be getting worse.

I hear slight pinking when pulling away on a flat road.

I had a mate check for fault codes and none were present and I have no fault lights.

I have tried super unleaded and this only makes a slight difference.

I have been asking people for advice and several suggestions have been made.

1) Knock sensors - I am led to believe there are 2 sensors on my car
2) Valve seats worn - thin and glowing hot
3) Carbon build up - I have used a fuel additive to remove carbon build up but no luck
4) Poor spark - possible coil pack problem
5) Temperature sensor failed

I do not know what to check or change first as I donÂ’t know what is the most probable cause of this problem.

I spose I am kind of hoping that someone will be able to point me in the right direction.

Will leaving the engine pinking cause a problem in the future for my car, will it cause sever engine damage?

I apologise if some of these questions seem a bit silly but I know absolutely nothing about cars, if I can’t find a cure I will be forced to let the main dealers have a look and be robbed blind! 

Thanks for your time and help

Matty

[New Duncan]

You have said you know nothing about cars:

Therefore you have to say why you think it is pinking ? what is it that you are suffering: Loss of power, loss of smooth accelleration.

Your ignition and timing are via the ECU, so it won't be conventional pinking (which is the ignition is set too far retarded) from having the distributor set too far anti clockwise from top dead centre.

Inlet valves in need of regrinding would cause loss of power, outlet valves would cause knocking.

Coil packs - all four have to be up to spec, otherwise rough running, and missing occasionally.

Please describe the problem in more detail. Then others who have the 1999 turbo may be able to recognise the fault that is developing.

[matty1000000]

The reason I think my engine is pinking is because this is what I was told by a friend. I just assumed he knows what pinking is.

I donÂ’t think that my engine suffers from lack of power, but when under load (Up a hill) the engine makes a rattle noise and is more pronounced when I accelerate hard, normally changing down a gear will reduce the noise but still it remains present.

I can also get the engine to make this noise when on a flat road and I try to accelerate hard. It is almost making slight noise all the time but worsens when I go up hills, or accelerate hard. If I demonstrate this problem to anyone, the way I create the noise is to select 5th gear and try pulling away. This is the noise that I get whilst driving normally, but is not normally as bad as the demonstration.

I have also noticed that to drive up a hill at a relative slow speed I would need to be in 1st gear where as a 1.8 T passat will go up the hill in 2nd or maybe 3rd gear. It is almost like it lacks power at low revs.

I hope this makes sense and has given you some more information about my problems

Thanks for you help in advance

Matty

[Albertyn]

I know the sound you are describing. I have a 1.8T GTI and it does the same thing from time to time. Happens when your in too high a gear and trying to accelerate. I drive alot of 4x4s at work and they all do this alot. Not really sure what causes this, but personally I'm not to bothered by it.

I'll look into it further & will be sure to let you know what I find out.

[Downsey]

Hi - The symptom you are describing is pinking - Its basically a hot spot on the top of the piston - pre-ignition.
And yes if you keep driving it - you will f*ck it - Its running lean - Could be ignition. It needs sorting anyway. Do you have any mods? Try V-Power petrol and Octane booster to see if that gets rid of it. DO NOT ignore this problem.

[hary_j]

A bit of a silly one, but have you changed your fuel filter??, My advice would be to start from the less cost effect parts to the most expensive, the last thing you would want is to lift the Head off!..

The reason to why i had suggested the fuel filter is because a mate of mines had this sort of problem with hes V6 4motion which has covered 166k miles  yess and only being on a 52Plate is the worse bit, any ways before hand he changed hes Coil pack, Ignition leads and Spark plugs "Still nothing!!" we all know these bits wouldnt come cheap at all for a V6 4Motion ,lol  ..

Again i'm not stating it could be exactly that, but worth a try hey!

[Albertyn]

I had the same problem. I replaced the spark plugs and started using higher octane fuel, which stopped the pinking.