03 GT TDI 150 Rattling/knocking noises

[Gman]

Hi all,

I hope someone can help me out here before I need to cough up some serious dough.

I've had the car about 1 year now and its done 50k. Last service ( main ) was done at 46K about 5 months ago.

Lately ( last 2/3 weeks ) its starting to make a rattling/knocking noise. You can hear the noise very faintly as you pull off but this disappears ( or maybe its drowned out by engine noise ) as you accelerate. I'm not a fast driver ( too scared to find out what this car can do!! ) and have rarely driven the car above 2500rpm. But when you rev up the engine past this rpm you can certainly hear the noise get louder and louder.

Checked under the bonnet last night - noise is coming from under the engine cover. I cannot be more specific, I'm a complete novice to these modern cars!

Could it be that excess revving ( for example during emission test at MOT ) may have dis-lodged something? MOT done 20th April 2007.

Has anyone had similar experiences with their TDIs?

Thanks,
Gman

[wasskies]

hi i had what sounds to be the same problem it was my gearbox chipped one of the cogs on the drive in gearbox.mine in park would make a rattle when clutched it it would go away but the problem only got worse 4 and 6 gear very bad got it repaired it but the problem is back 4 weeks later bummer cos im trying to sell it anyone what to buy a dodgy vw golf 150

[gazmacuk]

hi, now i am far from an expert, but i had a mk4 gt tdi 140 and it was making a similar noise and it turned out to be the timing belt tensioner !!!!
very cheap to fix but would have been bloody expensive had gone. hope its of use
Gaz

[Gman]

Thanks to you both.

Turns out one of the lobes on the cam had worn out .

I've seen on the site that this might be a common problem on the 150 TD GTIs. Is there any chance I can take it to VW for some compensation?

Thanks.