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Adrian's GTI clean up!


Adrian777
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Rookie error made, forgot to let the oil drain from warm so I just let it drain overnight😅 

I completely forgot about good Friday when ordering the oil and because of the weather, can't wait till Tuesday so Volkswagen main dealer parts it is! £23.98 for Quantum isn't the worst in the world in my mind!

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So after the oil change, there was a small leak from the sump plug. A new sump plug was used too so I reckon the careless maintenance it's had has destroyed the thread on the sump itself. Only a few drops an hour however but a new sump will be needed eventually.

But then after starting the car, misfire😓 

Due to the amount of oil I found on the spark plugs a few days ago, I didn't bother changing them as the timing belt and gasket was priorities so let's not destroy the new plugs!

To be honest I was bricking it that HT Leads or the coilpack had gone since when I pulled the HT Leads off to do plugs, I had accidentally pulled the cable off main body😶

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But this morning I just changed the one incredibly oily and destroyed plug, started it and it sounded like we were back on 4 cylinders! Going to give it a proper drive to make sure misfire has gone but if all goes to plan, I will change the others too😁

I believe the timing belt and pump were done around 40k ago so eventually will see what magic can happen on that as well as putting that new gasket in!

In the meantime I'd really appreciate it if somebody could pull that tray by the handbrake off and their gear gaiter and get us a pic☺️ I've messed up somewhere here so handbrake doesn't want to go down with the tray in place

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All 4 plugs changed now, idles and drives fine to an extent...😓

 

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In higher gears under load such as 4th going up a hill, car starts leaning out and misfiring, then Check Engine light comes on🙁 But when the engine is switched off and back on, CEL goes away.

Honestly don't know where to start😂 In my mind it is either to do with the HT Leads, Coil pack or blowing exhaust and possibly to do with the V Power I put in since it is a higher octane fuel so maybe it's harder to ignite but who knows...

But when buying leads and coilpack, what do people recommend? Are the Bosch ones or NGK ones decent or pay more for Volkswagen main dealer parts?

 

 

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Try fuel filter, take your time with the clips, they press in. Going on what you have already shown us, chances are the filter hasn’t been changed in a very long time.

From digging on here, it’s 4 years or 40k (whatever comes first) between cambelt changes -fry not to put it off for long

 

 

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5 hours ago, Rich said:

When pushing the centre thing back in you have bent the locating pins.

That's why it won't fit, snap them off or bend them and get it right.

The locating pins which stick out by the gearstick is it?😁

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Thank you everybody for the help, can't thank you all enough😊

Misfire update: Checked the resistance on all the HT leads and they were all perfect as expected. Then took it out for a spin and deliberately got the CEL on so I could use an OBD Reader. Worst nightmare is a reality but oh well, misfire in cylinder one, the one which was swimming in oil! Pulled out the plug and it was already destroyed and I'd only gone a mile...

So the plan is, the GTI isn't going anywhere for weeks unfortunately. Will drop some calls to local garages who can put in a new gasket/sealant for me as well as doing the belt and water pump for a reasonable price! I have a suspicion though that the common GTI valve problem has also occurred in this car as the fuel economy is genuinely pathetic like I've calculated myself doing around 18mpg and this is me being very sensible! I know I said I wanted to learn how to do these things myself but it needs doing and is way beyond my level currently but in 40,000 miles time I'll have a stab at it😀

After the engine is sound though, paintwork and exhaust! As well as whacking on that new fuel filter

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Edited by Adrian777
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Do a compression test on it before chucking money at cambelt change, you can get tester kit for £20. Sounds like you have a well worn (knackered) engine that probably needs a rebuild of some sort to bring it back to health, compression test will confirm.

Do a visual inspection on cambelt for tension belt condition as well as obvious clues as to how old it is, (water pump, tensioners, the print on the belt etc).

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3 hours ago, Sausage said:

Do a compression test on it before chucking money at cambelt change, you can get tester kit for £20. Sounds like you have a well worn (knackered) engine that probably needs a rebuild of some sort to bring it back to health, compression test will confirm.

Do a visual inspection on cambelt for tension belt condition as well as obvious clues as to how old it is, (water pump, tensioners, the print on the belt etc).

Sound advice.

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Thanks.

Also forgot to say, if you plan on learning this stuff anyway (which is a damn fine plan) at some future point you may as well just start now and spend the money on some tools that you will need instead of paying it to others and then having to buy them later anyway.

You could buy a scrap / cheap 4 cylinder engine (VAG stuff would probably be more helpful) and pull it apart in a sensible fashion to see what does what and get your head around how they work if needs be. or if you dont have room for that sort of clutter just go from books (showing my age) or internet and get stuck into the GTI engine. 

Probably just needs valve stem seals, maybe valve guides, maybe valves lapping in, maybe more involved stuff, maybe piston rings, you wont know until the head is off and you see what the problem is. Compression test will point you to likely suspects or else show the core engine is fine.

 

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Looking through the stack of paper I was given, belt was done around 40k ago so it will be done but visually there is no cracking like all seems well😀

Currently trying to bid on a few engines on eBay, I've had a look down the side of the engine where the belt is and it does seem quite a squeeze. Obviously parts will be taken off like the engine mount by the looks of things for more accessibility but I'm going to attempt to do a belt change on an engine which has been taken out a car so I can see what's going on more clearly in terms of the TDC markings like Sausage suggested! It's one of them ones where I reckon I know what to do but I'm not confident on doing it on my own where I know it is a working engine😂

Will get the current engine compression tested however, good shout!

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Let’s just hope your compression is good, but whatever way forward you take it will require timing belt - how long ago was it done?

Timing belt is an intimidating job, but if you take your time and it’s not that bad. I’m not sure I would go as far as getting an entire engine to practice with - just go to a scrap yard and practice/research, if you make a mess it doesn’t matter. pretty much any 16v polo or lupo is the same timing belt set up as AVY. Youtube has loads of films, watch as many as you need till it makes sense.

Best advice I ever found for timing belts is mark with nail varnish the timing marks and the same timing mark positions on the old belt. Copy these marks onto the new belt, important thing here is number of teeth, this overcomes stretch and should stop being a tooth out - engine runs, but drive like poo.

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21 minutes ago, LR5V said:

Let’s just hope your compression is good, but whatever way forward you take it will require timing belt - how long ago was it done?

Timing belt is an intimidating job, but if you take your time and it’s not that bad. I’m not sure I would go as far as getting an entire engine to practice with - just go to a scrap yard and practice/research, if you make a mess it doesn’t matter. pretty much any 16v polo or lupo is the same timing belt set up as AVY. Youtube has loads of films, watch as many as you need till it makes sense.

Best advice I ever found for timing belts is mark with nail varnish the timing marks and the same timing mark positions on the old belt. Copy these marks onto the new belt, important thing here is number of teeth, this overcomes stretch and should stop being a tooth out - engine runs, but drive like poo.

Reckon it should be alright since it does run sound as long as it isn't being floored but yeah can never be too sure! Think the belt was done around 40k ago so it will be due around now, good timing😀

Yeah that's exactly how I see it now, like if you break the job down and use common sense it's not impossible to do at home. Just hoping to find something which shares a few bits with the GTI so have some parts to steal too😂 If no luck though then yeah, to a scrappy it is. If I do a belt change on an engine which has been taken out a car, have you got ideas how I can test it to see whether it's been done correctly without putting it in something though?

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18 minutes ago, Adrian777 said:

Yeah that's exactly how I see it now, like if you break the job down and use common sense it's not impossible to do at home. Just hoping to find something which shares a few bits with the GTI so have some parts to steal too😂 If no luck though then yeah, to a scrappy it is. If I do a belt change on an engine which has been taken out a car, have you got ideas how I can test it to see whether it's been done correctly without putting it in something though?

Not sure if I follow what you are saying?  I was suggesting practic8ng on a car in a scrap yard, remove and reinstate the belt just to gain knowledge and confidence. What parts are you looking for?

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7 minutes ago, LR5V said:

 

Not sure if I follow what you are saying?  I was suggesting practic8ng on a car in a scrap yard, remove and reinstate the belt just to gain knowledge and confidence. What parts are you looking for?

I may buy an engine which shares some components which I can use for the GTI too if it is for the right price. But will use it primarily to attempt belts on and make a table out of afterwards...  

Good point though, bank account will be a lot happier if I go and try it in a scrappy!  

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The GTI will progress soon! Exam season means restraining myself from touching it😀😓 

In the meantime I was quoted £570 including labour from a VAG specialist to have the timing belt, water pump, tensioner and camshaft cover gasket to be changed. 

Have a picture of the plugs I pulled from it though!😂

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20 hours ago, Adrian777 said:

The GTI will progress soon! Exam season means restraining myself from touching it😀😓 

In the meantime I was quoted £570 including labour from a VAG specialist to have the timing belt, water pump, tensioner and camshaft cover gasket to be changed. 

Have a picture of the plugs I pulled from it though!😂

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Could I have the name and address of the vag specialist.

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