Engine Noise on cold start

[Jumbo Golfer]

Yup - major problem! The garage have had the car for over a week (and still have it).

The Cam adjuster is causing this!! VW have a bulletin on this as it is a common fault apparently, and costs many £000's to fix. Over 8 hours of labour stripping the engine down plus parts and is covered under warranty!

Guys - listen carefully to your golf when it starts!! Not all owners pick it up, but it can be nasty if left too long. Like I say, when the engine fires, it sounds like a card board tube against bicycle wheel' spokes for about 2-3 seconds. It's not a diesel engine type sound, but different. Very much a growl (GRRRRRRRR) sound. If you do a search on the Audi part of this forum, it has afflicted the A4....

Hope this helps.

[Jumbo Golfer]

Still in the Shop

They put it together and then found that one of the valves needs replacing! New parts ordered and engine stripped again!

Not what I expected from a £18k car!!

[HHGTTG]

The day my car exhibits that sort of problem, I'll tell them to repair it and keep it for a book value sale and then move on!

[Brian566]

Looks like I could have picked the Wrong Engine ! Glad its 3 year warranty but was to be a long term Car

One of the reason I went for VW was there Reliabilty !!!!

[HHGTTG]

Never consider VWs for reliability, just badge snobbery!

Sent from my HTC Desire 'S'

[Gerryf]

I honestly think you've been unlucky Jumbo Golfer but I would be annoyed if a workshop replaced my cylinder head without testing it....what a bunch of Pratt's !

Your description left us in no doubt about your engines health but IMO the noise described by others is par for the course for a cold start up of 1.4 122 models.

The loud exhaust rumble is down to the fast idle and advancement of the ignition....which aids warm up.

[Brian566]

Never consider VWs for reliability, just badge snobbery!

Sent from my HTC Desire 'S'

I thought I left that Behind when changed from Audi

[Jumbo Golfer]

Promised back for tomorrow and I've asked for a list of everything that was replaced. Will post back!

[Rhigour]

I have been a bit puzzled about this valve cam adjuster thing ! Since the advent of modern OHV engines I was not aware of any adjuster as the systems . However reading the forums it appears that buried in the cars hydraulic system (nobody seems to now quite where ) there is an adjuster which controls the vave opening . When this goes wrong you not only get the noise on start up but it very quickly bu@@ers the valves.
Perhaps the mods should put up a sticky on this forum "BEWARE THE DREADED GRRRRRRR OF DEATH"

[Keithuk]

Alot of modern engine use hydraulic lifters that don't need any valve adjustment.

hydraulic tappets / hydraulic valves (or hydraulic lifters)