Problem Mkiv GTTDI, is it worth it!
Discussion
Hi guys!
So, I have owned or had extensive exposure to several Mkiv golfs over the years, mostly standard tdi engines, thought my brother had a pd150.
I bought a pd115 6-speed the other day off a friend who works offshore, regularly leaving it for a few months at a time. he said it always worked and it was mine for £500.
Problems I have encountered so far:
The cabin electrics are mostly faulty - the drivers side heated seat doesnt work, the radio doesnt seem to have a memory, the blower only works on setting 4, the windscreen wipers change their setting to max speed and sometimes dont turn off.
(I believe there is an electrical unit behind the glovebox that controls most of these in-cabin electrics, and I am pretty sure its been leaked on for years. The gutters are all blocked and the floor matts are soaking. I have bought a cheap replacement bit for the blower setting. The interesting thing about the blower to me is no heat. And I have suspicions that it may be linked to the recent engine over heating problem).
The MPG is dreadful - 43 is the best Ive managed so far, and Ive never had one before average less than 55mpg!
(I reckon its been remapped at some stage, could it be such a bad map that its done that to the MPG)
After I did a full engine service (new shell 5w30 oil, mann filters all round, including fuel) I noticed that a lot of the fuel lines were in need of repair, and also, the dip stick housing has snapped.
Now, heres where is gets really annoying: driving the next day, the temp gauge started rising above 90, I sped up a little to get more air flowing through and it continued to rise. I stopped and shut the engine down, leaving it with the ignition on. It did cool and I continued driving. It was then a start stop matter till I reached my destination. I released the coolant top up reservoir when I had some water, and it was under a lot of pressure. Water erupted into the overflow hose and flooded the car park with rusty coolant. Not ideal...
The oil cap is showing grey sludge, and the engine smells hot after use. I drove 5 miles or so to work today and had no problem with over heating. Also, no smoke from the exhaust or even spitting. occasionally when you accelerate I have noticed some shuddering.
With regards to the grey sludge, it may be worth considering that I did the oil change during the evening, and left the system to drain whilst I went about changing filters, could that just be condensation that's caused the sludge? I suspect that the lack of hot air may also be associated with the coolant problem - could the system have an airlock that is causing the pressure build up whilst simultaneously starving the engine of coolant, and the blower of hot air?
Any input would be greatly appreciated as I can't really afford to be b*ggering around with a dead end car!!
Thanks so much for reading!
George
So, I have owned or had extensive exposure to several Mkiv golfs over the years, mostly standard tdi engines, thought my brother had a pd150.
I bought a pd115 6-speed the other day off a friend who works offshore, regularly leaving it for a few months at a time. he said it always worked and it was mine for £500.
Problems I have encountered so far:
The cabin electrics are mostly faulty - the drivers side heated seat doesnt work, the radio doesnt seem to have a memory, the blower only works on setting 4, the windscreen wipers change their setting to max speed and sometimes dont turn off.
(I believe there is an electrical unit behind the glovebox that controls most of these in-cabin electrics, and I am pretty sure its been leaked on for years. The gutters are all blocked and the floor matts are soaking. I have bought a cheap replacement bit for the blower setting. The interesting thing about the blower to me is no heat. And I have suspicions that it may be linked to the recent engine over heating problem).
The MPG is dreadful - 43 is the best Ive managed so far, and Ive never had one before average less than 55mpg!
(I reckon its been remapped at some stage, could it be such a bad map that its done that to the MPG)
After I did a full engine service (new shell 5w30 oil, mann filters all round, including fuel) I noticed that a lot of the fuel lines were in need of repair, and also, the dip stick housing has snapped.
Now, heres where is gets really annoying: driving the next day, the temp gauge started rising above 90, I sped up a little to get more air flowing through and it continued to rise. I stopped and shut the engine down, leaving it with the ignition on. It did cool and I continued driving. It was then a start stop matter till I reached my destination. I released the coolant top up reservoir when I had some water, and it was under a lot of pressure. Water erupted into the overflow hose and flooded the car park with rusty coolant. Not ideal...
The oil cap is showing grey sludge, and the engine smells hot after use. I drove 5 miles or so to work today and had no problem with over heating. Also, no smoke from the exhaust or even spitting. occasionally when you accelerate I have noticed some shuddering.
With regards to the grey sludge, it may be worth considering that I did the oil change during the evening, and left the system to drain whilst I went about changing filters, could that just be condensation that's caused the sludge? I suspect that the lack of hot air may also be associated with the coolant problem - could the system have an airlock that is causing the pressure build up whilst simultaneously starving the engine of coolant, and the blower of hot air?
Any input would be greatly appreciated as I can't really afford to be b*ggering around with a dead end car!!
Thanks so much for reading!
George
Well the car isn't worth much not running! I just want to fix it if it's easy enough to fix. I can technically do any of the work, but don't have time to dedicate loads of time and money if it just keeps breaking ha. I have just found the coolant return pipe to be blocked, so am suspecting a lack of coolant flow to be causing the overheating rather than a head gasket failure.... Any thoughts?
- *UPDATE***
The resistor for the interior blowers was so rusted and shot that it almost crumbled in my hand. I will be replacing that, however, the replacement i bought (with pins) is incompatible, so I will need to find a slim one as is in my golf.
hope this is of some interest to somebody!
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