A few issues with my mk 4 Golf.

[Forky86]

Hi there, I've got a 1.6SR mk 4 Golf (X reg), it recently had an engine replacement due to the old one getting knackered (overheated and both the head gasket and cylinder head damaged).

This replacement engine was fitting just over 4 months ago (Overall I payed around a grand for the replacement engine (750 odd pound), belt tensioner, water pump, breather and thermostat, as well as extra for maintanence services to validate the warrany), and although the car rides ok, I still have a couple of issues.

1. The engine is not heating up at all (the temperature needle stays at a constant 0), and the ac unit does not give any hot air. The dashboard also sales ' STOP' check coolant'.

It takes a good 30 minute drive just to get luke warm air, and the engine needle still doesn't rise (whether it is london traffic or motor way driving). Apparently the engine people had put a new water pump in, and also a thermostat, so surely there should be no issues? The mechnic says that the coolant bottle/expansion bottle must have been damage when the old engine overheated and so that's why the computer thinks the car is overheating and will also need to be replaced... But I'm pretty sure when I bought the car in with the old engine, the actual problem was that the temperature needle kept rising to 130! So if it was working then, why would it stop now?

I had to drive this whole winter with a cold engine, I just hope it isn't damaging the engine...

2. When I drive off from start, and the rev reaches anything obove 2,000 rpm, there is a wierd airy/helicopter type sound coming from the engine, which subsides when I slow down. I asked the mechanic, who said they had put one new breather in with the replacement engine, and that the other breather will need to be changed to resolve the issue as it is probably too old now. Are there actually 2 breathers in the golf, or am I having my chain pulled?

Surely these issues should have been resolved with the engine replacement, but they said that these parts are not a part of the engine and would therefore not be included in the engine replacement price.

I apologise for the long post, but would be eternally grateful to hear your opinions on these issues. I just wanted to make sure that all the work they say needs carrying to resolve these problems out is needed before I go back to them, or could they possibly have not fitted the engine and the other parts porperly?

Thank you!

Also, I feel that the fuel consumption is a bit high on my golf, as I can only manage 260-270 on a full tank... Would the above issues be lowering these figures?

[Crasher]

What you paid is way too little for a new engine so it will be second hand.

From what you describe it sounds like there is no thermostat fitted and that is very worrying.

Driving it like that will damage it, the fuelling will be too high which will bore wash the engine and cause damage to the rings and bores and will damage the catalyst and lambda sensor.

I strongly advise you to take the car to another garage, preferably a VW specialist, and get a full inspection and report done and then prepare to do battle (litigation wise) with the garage that did the work.

[Forky86]

Thank for the reply, I really appreciate it!

I'm really worried now. I knew I was getting a reconditioned engine and not brand new, but if driving the engine cold realy does that amount of damage, i've clocked up nearly 2000 miles since the engine was fitted and it has been quite a cold winter in london...

It went in for a 500 mile initial service and a tightening of the cam belt... You'd think they would they'd notice something like that... The worst part is I have actually payed for a new thermostat.

What route would I go through in terms of litigating the said garage?
And how much would a full ispection/report cost?

[Crasher]

You need to get it checked over before thinking about the next step; I am only going by your description. Tightening the cam belt worries me as well, that is not necessary, once set it is auto adjusting for the period of its service life and a recon engine fitted for £1k is just not possible. An inspection could cost a couple of hundred pounds if it needs to be prepared with litigation in mind.

[Forky86]

The price could be cheap beause they do make a lot of reconditioned engines (apparently), and I'm also guessing the old engine they took out would have posibly been of some value.

Would you reccomened I confront the garage about this first? Oh yeah, the engine comes with a 5 year warranty as long as I complete all the services with them...

[Crasher]

I would strongly recommend an independent second opinion first before you confront the garage who fitted it. They are aware you have a problem aren’t they?

[Forky86]

I would strongly recommend an independent second opinion first before you confront the garage who fitted it. They are aware you have a problem aren’t they?

Yeah. they know about the problem, but they seemed certain that changing the coolant botte/expansion tank would fix the problem, as they said it was damaged from before when the engine overheated. I just haven't had time to back to them to get the part fitted.

I have just noticed something interesting though, when ever I turn the key one click (before starting the engine), the engine fan starts to run immeditately, and does so for a very long period of time after I take the key back out. Would an absent thermostat cause that, or possibly the thermostat stuck on the open position? Could it possibly be the coolant tank? The fan should only run once the the engine has been on and needs to be cooled down right?

[Crasher]

That sounds like a faulty cooling fan control unit. To be honest the car sounds like a real mess, you need to get it to a VW specialist or the dealer.