Dr. G! Cambelt and Aircon
Discussion
DR.G you may know the answer to these - and the rest of you!
Ref. an 08 plate Mk 5 Gti with full VW service history and mid-40's K miles. Its being prepped following sale at a franchised (but non-VW) dealer. They need to fix the aircon which isn't operating and change the cambelt due to it being over 5 years old (advice from my local VW dealer is cambelt change at 80k miles or 4 years). I was considering having a reduction in price by saying I would have the cambelt sorted by me after the sale because I've heard that the follower on the cams is chain driven (although it has a cambelt) so, if it was to let go, it wouldn't result in 16 valves through the head; is this true? Or would it be as terminal as with a normal cambelt failure?
The aircon not functioning is, I know, a common Mk 5 fault, so could be a leak somewhere, or could need a new compressor etc. At the last service the VW dealer tried to regas the aircon, but found a leak (which I guess the previous owner didn't want to fix because they were about to sell it). What is the usual fix for this? New pipes etc or just find the leak and seal? Would a short term fix patching the leak result in problems later?
Cheers
VT
Ref. an 08 plate Mk 5 Gti with full VW service history and mid-40's K miles. Its being prepped following sale at a franchised (but non-VW) dealer. They need to fix the aircon which isn't operating and change the cambelt due to it being over 5 years old (advice from my local VW dealer is cambelt change at 80k miles or 4 years). I was considering having a reduction in price by saying I would have the cambelt sorted by me after the sale because I've heard that the follower on the cams is chain driven (although it has a cambelt) so, if it was to let go, it wouldn't result in 16 valves through the head; is this true? Or would it be as terminal as with a normal cambelt failure?
The aircon not functioning is, I know, a common Mk 5 fault, so could be a leak somewhere, or could need a new compressor etc. At the last service the VW dealer tried to regas the aircon, but found a leak (which I guess the previous owner didn't want to fix because they were about to sell it). What is the usual fix for this? New pipes etc or just find the leak and seal? Would a short term fix patching the leak result in problems later?
Cheers
VT
I think it's the timing variator in the head or something that's supposed to wear; I haven't come across it in so long I've forgotten exactly what it is. I believe it was sorted quite early on too, pretty sure the last one we saw was a 2005 car and have never heard of it on a late one. With belt and water pump done using genuine parts I wouldn't worry too much.
Leaky aircon has a snowball effect as the gas that escapes contains the lubricant for the system as well as the refrigerant. Just like running an engine without enough oil in you'll dramatically accelerate wear. You might get lucky and find a cracked o-ring but often with this sort of repair you'll think it's done then the leak re-appears elsewhere when it finds the next perished seal.
A decent air-conditioning specialist should be able to diagnose this and refurbished compressors are a lot less painful than a brand new one from VW.
Enjoy, they're wicked little cars
Leaky aircon has a snowball effect as the gas that escapes contains the lubricant for the system as well as the refrigerant. Just like running an engine without enough oil in you'll dramatically accelerate wear. You might get lucky and find a cracked o-ring but often with this sort of repair you'll think it's done then the leak re-appears elsewhere when it finds the next perished seal.
A decent air-conditioning specialist should be able to diagnose this and refurbished compressors are a lot less painful than a brand new one from VW.
Enjoy, they're wicked little cars
MK5 aircon can be temperamental, I would think really hard about getting it all fixed with the dealer (no finger pointing).
You say it has full history, then there is a good chance of goodwill if something big is required (like the compressor), plus
if any of the temperamental things appear within two years (pressure switch, incomplete cleaning leaning to another failure)
just take it back.
Here is the cam follower FAQ
http://www.golfmkv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=102...
If you are going to check it, then replace it!
At 40,000 there should be no need, budget for a replace at 80,000 or something.
http://www.golfmkv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=102...
If you are going to check it, then replace it!
At 40,000 there should be no need, budget for a replace at 80,000 or something.
Thanks guys. Really useful info there. I'll be speaking to the dealer in the next few days to get a collection date. They said they'd resolve both as part of their minimum standards before I drive it away, so I'm just concerned as to how they will address it. I guess doing the cambelt is a great (but they probably won't do the water pump the same time). I'd be impressed if they properly fix the aircon issue, if it isn't simply a leaky O ring. I guess having it properly fixed under goodwill by VW is something I could hope for, if the problems rematerialize.
Compressors are quite weak and tend to fail on 06/ 07 GTIs (mine had this issue) but I thought the later ones were more reliable. Make sure to give it a good test before purchase, but I presume you're getting some sort of warranty with the car anyway if it's from a dealer? May be worth checking the small print to see if AC is covered.
Also be aware there are a few other wear and tear components on these that may also need replacing such as the turbo diverter valve. Awesome cars but can be a bit expensive to run, found I needed to replace bits on mine every month or two. On the plus side I sold it for the same price I bought it for so residuals are solid!
Also be aware there are a few other wear and tear components on these that may also need replacing such as the turbo diverter valve. Awesome cars but can be a bit expensive to run, found I needed to replace bits on mine every month or two. On the plus side I sold it for the same price I bought it for so residuals are solid!
If it was me I'd be insisting on the water pump getting done too - false economy not to while they're in there doing the belt.
Make sure that whatever they end up doing to the air-con when they re-gas it they put dye in at the same time so WHEN (not if) it starts to leak there's at least an opportunity to head under the bonnet with a UV light and try to ID the source without going through the re-gas circus to get it working again short term. Given we're heading into winter make sure you leave it on auto and at the first sign of moisture on the inside of the screen not clearing as you'd expect, suspect that the air-con is no longer doing its job. If you don't realise till next summer that it's not working properly you're unlikely to see much effort from a garage to resolve....
Make sure that whatever they end up doing to the air-con when they re-gas it they put dye in at the same time so WHEN (not if) it starts to leak there's at least an opportunity to head under the bonnet with a UV light and try to ID the source without going through the re-gas circus to get it working again short term. Given we're heading into winter make sure you leave it on auto and at the first sign of moisture on the inside of the screen not clearing as you'd expect, suspect that the air-con is no longer doing its job. If you don't realise till next summer that it's not working properly you're unlikely to see much effort from a garage to resolve....
the-photographer said:
What is the deal with water pump's, why are they so weak?
It's not that they're particularly weak, but they'll probably do 70-odd k miles or maybe a bit more with a following wind (90k if you're lucky) - that's pretty much bang between 2 cambelt changes, but changing the belt and then re-tensioning the replacement might be enough extra side load on the bearings to hasten their end and promote a water leak.There was a weak design years ago with plastic impeller but those will be long gone now.
For the sake of a few quid for a water pump vs the potential labour to remove the belt to get to it....
So the latest is that they have diagnosed the aircon fault as a faulty pressure switch, which thy are replacing, along with the obvious regas. The cambelt will be replaced with genuine VW parts; despite it being a non-VW dealer that I bought it from, they do have VW dealers in their network, so they have been liaising with them for advice and parts. They are only doing what they are obliged to do - unfortunately the water pump isn't included. I'd get it done myself if it was me doing it! It comes with their own dealer warranty for 6 months, so if the a\c goes again I can have it sorted. Will be watching it like a hawk over the winter!
va1o said:
Also be aware there are a few other wear and tear components on these that may also need replacing such as the turbo diverter valve. Awesome cars but can be a bit expensive to run, found I needed to replace bits on mine every month or two. On the plus side I sold it for the same price I bought it for so residuals are solid!
The GTI has it's fair share of problems but none of them are horrendously expensive, or stop the car from working:Coils were replaced under recall
Excessive HPFP cam follower wear was covered under the 3 year powertrain warranty (American customers recently got that extended to 10 years / 120,000 miles)
Rusty wings covered under 12 year perforation warranty if paint depth is factory (around 130 microns)
Diverter valve is 40 quid for the latest revision
Front and rear PCV, revision P and N respectively, £100 for both
That's the well publicised stuff and all easily solvable.
The internet scare mongery stuff is cam chain wear (on 2004/2005 AXX engines) and A/C pumps exploding and it's all exaggerated out of proportion.
Replacing bits every month is a gross exaggeration and not representative of the 100,000s of these world wide.
SuperchargedVR6 said:
The GTI has it's fair share of problems but none of them are horrendously expensive, or stop the car from working:
Coils were replaced under recall
Excessive HPFP cam follower wear was covered under the 3 year powertrain warranty (American customers recently got that extended to 10 years / 120,000 miles)
Rusty wings covered under 12 year perforation warranty if paint depth is factory (around 130 microns)
Diverter valve is 40 quid for the latest revision
Front and rear PCV, revision P and N respectively, £100 for both
That's the well publicised stuff and all easily solvable.
The internet scare mongery stuff is cam chain wear (on 2004/2005 AXX engines) and A/C pumps exploding and it's all exaggerated out of proportion.
Replacing bits every month is a gross exaggeration and not representative of the 100,000s of these world wide.
I agree with most of what you're saying but I genuinely was having to replace/ renew stuff virtually every month! Granted this was only over half a year but still annoying. I bought it after the previous owner had spent loads replacing the tyres, cambelt and PCV thinking it would be trouble-free motoring but it wasn't. When I sold it the car still needed a wheel arch replacing due to the paint starting to bubble, and it could probably do with a new cam-follower as still on the original. Coils were replaced under recall
Excessive HPFP cam follower wear was covered under the 3 year powertrain warranty (American customers recently got that extended to 10 years / 120,000 miles)
Rusty wings covered under 12 year perforation warranty if paint depth is factory (around 130 microns)
Diverter valve is 40 quid for the latest revision
Front and rear PCV, revision P and N respectively, £100 for both
That's the well publicised stuff and all easily solvable.
The internet scare mongery stuff is cam chain wear (on 2004/2005 AXX engines) and A/C pumps exploding and it's all exaggerated out of proportion.
Replacing bits every month is a gross exaggeration and not representative of the 100,000s of these world wide.
Perhaps it wasn't the right car for me since I'm more used to running much newer/ in warranty stuff so I didn't really appreciate all the annoying old car niggles. I'm in no denial that the Mk5 GTI is a superb all rounder and easily the best recent hot hatchback, but they are expensive to run! I'd love another but not as a daily driver and its not quite fast/ silly enough for a weekend car. Maybe an R32 could be calling
My one (2006);
Still on original pads at 60,000 miles.
Overall, I would say average and definitely not bad,
- Regular services (VW fixed price stuff)
- DV and PVC replaced (although they hadn't broken) as part of normal servicing, so no second trip to garage
- Coilpack recall (replaced with service, so again no extra trip)
- Tyres £100 each, about 12,000-ish from the fronts
- AC failure, £800 after 20% goodwill (that was two extra trips)
Still on original pads at 60,000 miles.
Overall, I would say average and definitely not bad,
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