Leon Cupra TDi 150 - Engine Problems like the Golf?

[emicen]

Is the 150PS TDi in the Leon Cupra the same as the 150PS TDi in the Golf GT TDi 150 and does it have the same worries regarding the cams?

[Defcon5]

I would imagine it is exactly the same engine. It the chocolate cam issue a major one? Im aware of it but it doesnt seem to be that common - then again it isnt exactly a common engine

[Yorkshirepud]

Mine ran like a dream at 130,000 miles until it was written off by some muppet.

Make sure camblet is changed every 60,000 and should be sweet, not many problems on the Forums.

Remap will kill your clutch.

[martin mrt]

Exactly the same engine, and has the same chocolate cam issues

[emicen]

Ok, so if I was looking at one with high miles, 100k+, it would be advisable to go straight for a timing belt change incorporating a revised cam with properly hardened lobes? (that's my understanding of the issue and how to solve it, is there more to it than that?)

[phumy]

emicen said:

Ok, so if I was looking at one with high miles, 100k+, it would be advisable to go straight for a timing belt change incorporating a revised cam with properly hardened lobes? (that's my understanding of the issue and how to solve it, is there more to it than that?)

It might have already been done, do you have the history, I had the Golf variant with the ERL engine (150BHP Tdi) and the cam went on that at about 60k miles as they all do so for it go at 100k is a little odd. If its lasted this long then i would imagine its ok or it has been done already.

[y2blade]

why not buy a quicker/better Diesel than the 150bhp VAG one?

[iluvmercs]

Yup it's the same engine, so susceptible to the same issues.

However, my brother's recently sold Leon 150 TDi had 108,000 miles without this issue. As with any car, just make sure it's well looked after

If this is an option you're considering, you certainly won't regret it. My brother was so happy with his car, and still misses it.

Very underated, unjustly IMO. It's a great car. I was fortunate to drive it a few hundred miles, and it's handling is fantastic and plenty of go for a 1.9 diesel.

Darren

Edited by iluvmercs on Friday 19th November 19:31

[martin mrt]

I had a 150bhp TDi Anniversary Golf in 07/08 and bought it from a friend, who had owned it from 30,000 miles, between us it had covered a further 37,000 miles with a full and documented main VW dealer service history

The cam lobes wore around 5,000 miles after I sold it on, now this was a car that had been pampered, serviced on the button without fail and the correct oil used, so beware that even cars that have been looked after correctly can suffer

The flipside though these are cracking cars with plenty of punch, there are better diesel units out there (but mist are 6 cylinder) and give fabulous mpg for the performance

I'm looking to downsize at the moment and I totally forgot about the Leon FR TDi

[emicen]

I havent actually bought one yet, just doing my research.

From the sounds of it, full history and check for it being done seems the best approach. All the ones I'm looking at are considerably over 60k, pushing on for 100k if not more so its likely it will have been done or not affected.

y2blade said:

why not buy a quicker/better Diesel than the 150bhp VAG one?

Such as?

55mpg every tank, reliable and faster are the requisistes. Oh, and under £5k

Edited by emicen on Sunday 21st November 19:18

[TDIfurby]

Both will be the ARL PD150 engine. Cam issue seems to be down to poor servicing / bad oil choice when servicing. I have seen some very good condition high milege PD150s. Not sure why this engine gets such bad rep as the PD130 ASZ engine is exactly the same top end - same cam, same head, same followers....

[emicen]

TDIfurby said:

Both will be the ARL PD150 engine. Cam issue seems to be down to poor servicing / bad oil choice when servicing. I have seen some very good condition high milege PD150s. Not sure why this engine gets such bad rep as the PD130 ASZ engine is exactly the same top end - same cam, same head, same followers....

From what I am reading the ASZ has the same head and cam but its the higher ratio on the injector rockers on the ARL which can cause increased lobe wear.

[TDIfurby]

emicen said:

TDIfurby said:

Both will be the ARL PD150 engine. Cam issue seems to be down to poor servicing / bad oil choice when servicing. I have seen some very good condition high milege PD150s. Not sure why this engine gets such bad rep as the PD130 ASZ engine is exactly the same top end - same cam, same head, same followers....

From what I am reading the ASZ has the same head and cam but its the higher ratio on the injector rockers on the ARL which can cause increased lobe wear.

I thought everything down to rockers was the same? ETKA says the rocker arms are the same. The only difference I 100% know is that the PD150 headbolts are roughly 15 to 20% stronger than PD130 ones.

[phumy]

TDIfurby said:

Both will be the ARL PD150 engine. Cam issue seems to be down to poor servicing / bad oil choice when servicing. I have seen some very good condition high milege PD150s. Not sure why this engine gets such bad rep as the PD130 ASZ engine is exactly the same top end - same cam, same head, same followers....

The cam issues are nothing to do with poor servicing/bad oil choice. Mind was fully serviced by VW on time and to spec, its just down to poor cam material. When my cam went they gave me 85% goodwill on a total bill of nearly £2k and they would not let me take the old cam for my own anaylsis.

[TDIfurby]

Maybe it is just down to a dodgy batch of cams. I guess if they never showed you it you don't know how it was worn? Curious to know if it was just a serious roughing up of the lobes, or whether the lobes were actually worn away / flattened off? I saw a cam a while back which was still super smooth on the lobes but the profile had was totally different. Seen others with good profile but with sandpaper like lobes and rough edges on the sides.

[Onz]

I have an 2002 TDi Anniversary (150) and have a horrible feeling I might have just suffered from the 'chocolate cams' problem referred to above. Car is on 126k (had it from 45k) has been serviced on time every time, last serviced at 122k, camblet due at 130k. Never left it wanting for anything - any advisory etc. always sorted.

Driving to my girlfriend's today and as I pulled up noticed a 'tappety' noise and that the engine didn't sound like it was running too great. Fuel consumption has been a bit down on normal the last month or two but wasn't sure if that was down to the cold weather - garage didn't find anything when it was recently serviced.

Have booked in at the garage tomorrow morning for them to have a look at it. Any reason why I shouldn't drive it to the garage in the morning (~80 miles on the motorway from my girlfriend's)?

Anything else it could be?

[TDIfurby]

I wouldn't worry about driving it (normally).

The cam cover is only held on by about 20 or so 10mm bolts. Can undo them all and lift the cover and take a look at the cam lobes yourself.

I imagine a new cam and tappets will be roughly £300 for the materials alone, and you may as well change the belt/tensioners & water pump whilst there and everything is apart.

Edited by TDIfurby on Wednesday 29th December 18:48

[D_G]

I've done lots of VAG engines with oil issues, they have a problem with the oil clogging the pickup gauze in the sump, this with full SH etc.
It's relatively easy to fix as long as no engine damage has occurred, the ones I have seen have sometimes been really bad, don't be fobbed of by a 'bad sensor' diagnostic.

HTH

Dave

[Onz]

TDIfurby said:

I wouldn't worry about driving it (normally).

The cam cover is only held on by about 20 or so 10mm bolts. Can undo them all and lift the cover and take a look at the cam lobes yourself.

I imagine a new cam and tappets will be roughly £300 for the materials alone, and you may as well change the belt/tensioners & water pump whilst there and everything is apart.

Edited by TDIfurby on Wednesday 29th December 18:48

Managed to get it home to the garage but it sounded awful by the time I got there - awaiting diagnosis, fingers crossed!

[Mr Senna]

My wife has just picked up a 54 Cupra TDI with 60k on the clock, I'm very impressed with the whole package. I took it for a run to Tonbridge from Brighton and got 55mpg on A-roads.

Anyone know if it's worth chipping?