Lemon
03-04-2017, 12:58 PM
Hi everyone!
It's been a long and rough few months with my poor Polo, also a really long story, so I'll try to keep it brief. After four months off the road, two sets of baffled mechanics, and a third mechanic with diagnostics, finally an independent VW specialist (not VW) managed to diagnose my non-starting issue: the crank pickup ring inside the engine is 'broken and incomplete'. It makes total sense, given the symptoms (I can explain those if anyone would like to know).
Firstly, has anyone had a similar problem, ever? I'm very new to this mechanicing stuff, bit it seems unbelievable that a part sealed inside the engine, pressed onto the crankshaft, would randomly destroy itself one day. Plus, access to it is very difficult - as though VW weren't expecting it to break either?
My other question is: What to do now?
a) Try to replace the ring? On some models it looks like you can access the ring through the sump and if you remove the rear main seal. Anyone tried this or know if it's possible on the 1.4tdi/AMF engine? Otherwise I believe it's a case of lifting the engine out, stripping it, taking out the crankshaft etc... which sounds like an enormous task and probably not worth it in such an old engine.
b) Replace the engine? Again, a massive job. I do have access to a workshop with all the tools needed and a small army of home mechanics, but even without paying a garage labour costs (totally unaffordable!) you're looking at £600-800 for a decent donor engine, the fluids and doing the clutch at the same time (it's ok but could do with being replaced if the engine's out anyway). Again, probably not worth it on an old car. Plus, this car apparently has some demons so I wonder how long it'll be until the next expensive part will break.
c) Throw in the towel and break it for spares? This is what the VW specialist recommended. It makes sense given the first two options are not guaranteed to fix the problem... however, I have sunk a lot of money into this car (over £1k) trying to keep it happy and it's a great car when it's working! I have replaced the following parts in the last year: brand new alternator, new cambelt and water pump, four brand new tyres (honestly, they've driven less than 100 miles, it pains me to think about it), new windscreen, new auxiliary belt tensioner and belt, and wearable parts on the suspension replaced (CV boots/bushes etc.). As you can probably tell, this option saddens me a little and I don't feel overly hopeful on how much money I can recoup.
It's the 1.4 tdi S (AMF engine) Mk 4 Polo, 2002, 125k miles on the clock.
Many thanks for reading all the way to the end of a lengthy post. Advice, insights and wisdom appreciated.
It's been a long and rough few months with my poor Polo, also a really long story, so I'll try to keep it brief. After four months off the road, two sets of baffled mechanics, and a third mechanic with diagnostics, finally an independent VW specialist (not VW) managed to diagnose my non-starting issue: the crank pickup ring inside the engine is 'broken and incomplete'. It makes total sense, given the symptoms (I can explain those if anyone would like to know).
Firstly, has anyone had a similar problem, ever? I'm very new to this mechanicing stuff, bit it seems unbelievable that a part sealed inside the engine, pressed onto the crankshaft, would randomly destroy itself one day. Plus, access to it is very difficult - as though VW weren't expecting it to break either?
My other question is: What to do now?
a) Try to replace the ring? On some models it looks like you can access the ring through the sump and if you remove the rear main seal. Anyone tried this or know if it's possible on the 1.4tdi/AMF engine? Otherwise I believe it's a case of lifting the engine out, stripping it, taking out the crankshaft etc... which sounds like an enormous task and probably not worth it in such an old engine.
b) Replace the engine? Again, a massive job. I do have access to a workshop with all the tools needed and a small army of home mechanics, but even without paying a garage labour costs (totally unaffordable!) you're looking at £600-800 for a decent donor engine, the fluids and doing the clutch at the same time (it's ok but could do with being replaced if the engine's out anyway). Again, probably not worth it on an old car. Plus, this car apparently has some demons so I wonder how long it'll be until the next expensive part will break.
c) Throw in the towel and break it for spares? This is what the VW specialist recommended. It makes sense given the first two options are not guaranteed to fix the problem... however, I have sunk a lot of money into this car (over £1k) trying to keep it happy and it's a great car when it's working! I have replaced the following parts in the last year: brand new alternator, new cambelt and water pump, four brand new tyres (honestly, they've driven less than 100 miles, it pains me to think about it), new windscreen, new auxiliary belt tensioner and belt, and wearable parts on the suspension replaced (CV boots/bushes etc.). As you can probably tell, this option saddens me a little and I don't feel overly hopeful on how much money I can recoup.
It's the 1.4 tdi S (AMF engine) Mk 4 Polo, 2002, 125k miles on the clock.
Many thanks for reading all the way to the end of a lengthy post. Advice, insights and wisdom appreciated.