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| Any VW guys lurking here? Girlfriend's car is dying; Video: Really bad knocking sound | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Jul 28 2014, 11:33 AM (2,885 Views) | |
| arudlang | Jul 28 2014, 11:33 AM Post #1 |
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Andrew
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Listen to this To be clear, this video is NOT of our car, but our car DOES have the exact same 2.0L motor and is making the EXACT same noise, to a T. I have listened to her car, and listened to about 3 dozen of the results on youtube when you search for things like "2.0 VW knocking noise" and this sound from this guy's video is the exact match. There are plenty of other noises, quieter ones people have traced back to a cam chain tensioner or whatnot but this,... this sound is LOUD, like someone is drumming on the intake with a couple hard plastic hammers. Much like the car in this video, it starts up and idles without issue, but omg that awful noise! For her, it started after driving about 10 miles around town and started when she got onto a 4 lane highway. She turned around and brought it back to her house. The only engine code had already been in place from earlier, a cylinder 4 misfire code. When I got to her house I cleared that code and it did not come back in the 10 seconds we dared to start it up for me to listen to it. Obviously we are not running it anymore. To me, for as loud as it is, and so mechanical sounding I'm thinking maybe a rod bearing. Would love to get some more opinions if anyone has any thoughts? Edited by arudlang, Jul 28 2014, 11:34 AM.
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| pdqrunner | Jul 28 2014, 12:57 PM Post #2 |
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If you had a misfire fire code I would look at the coil packs. Start by pulling the intake manifold and looking at the plugs. One plug should tell you a tale. If you look at the comments on the sound clip a lot of folks talk about the coil sparking you may have the same problem. keep in mind if you have any damage it probably can't get worse at idle. Go ahead start it for trouble shooting. Good luck, old VW's can be a bitch. |
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| arudlang | Jul 28 2014, 01:38 PM Post #3 |
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Andrew
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You are right I should try some simple/easy things first, check out what the plugs look like and probably a compression/leakdown test My main problem is going to be the location of the car. She lives an hour north of me. I don't mind tearing into something in my home garage where I have lots of tools and access to more specialized tools from nearby family members, up at her place where the car is there are no tools and no garage. I have my Sprint tore down in one side of my garage and trying to get the transmission out of my SUV in the other bay. Kindof not a great time for me to pack up all my tools and take them up north. This weekend is shot for me but maybe next weekend I can buzz up there with enough stuff to do some tests. I'm not going to pull the intake off up there though outside in the middle of town. We may ultimately have to bring it to a shop. I will for sure check out the plugs, coil packs, anything thats relatively easy so any other ideas for things I can check out without ripping into the car too deep keep em coming. It would be nice if there was something simple being overlooked so I could get it running again, until further notice she is driving my 86 Firebird and thats not a vehicle I like to loan out, girlfriend or not!
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| pdqrunner | Jul 28 2014, 01:47 PM Post #4 |
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I have two Sons with VW's 90%of the repairs are in the street working out of the trunk. My bet is on a coil pack jumping to another cylinder. Start the car in the dark and look for sparks. Maybe you could pull a coil pack out of the bone yard for diagnostic switch outs. |
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| arudlang | Jul 28 2014, 02:00 PM Post #5 |
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Andrew
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Thats a good idea, I bet I could pretty easily get a used coil pack for cheap to test those out. Not like we are out much if it isn't the problem. It has been throwing a code for cylinder 4 misfire on and off for a while now and never had time to check into it. I've been getting ready to tear into it, I have a whole timing belt kit for it, new water pump, t-stat, cam seals, fuel filter, etc etc. But the plan was for her to drive it to my garage and use my SUV once that was back on the road, not for it to start knocking hard while partway through getting the SUV back on the road. How come cars never go along with my plans?
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| Metromightymouse | Jul 28 2014, 03:47 PM Post #6 |
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Powdercoat Wizard
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It's not fast enough or tinny enough for the cam adjuster (I'm well acquainted with it). It's also once per revolution so a coil issue or a rod or something like that. |
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| Cobb | Jul 28 2014, 08:02 PM Post #7 |
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BANNED
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Sorry bro, my experience is with the early water cooled and early diesels of the 80s.
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| Bad Bent | Jul 28 2014, 08:51 PM Post #8 |
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Facetious Educated Donkey
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Here's a video of how to check for errant sparks... On a hot day you can also spray yourself to cool yourself off.
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| arudlang | Jul 28 2014, 10:11 PM Post #9 |
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Andrew
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I agree metromightymouse it doesn't seem like its fast enough to be related to the cam. Other people have said its probably valve train but... Its so slow and so loud... I've listened to vids where the cam chain tensioner was loose and it was way different. Bad bent, is it just my phone or am I missing a link? I can't see the video. Edited by arudlang, Jul 28 2014, 10:12 PM.
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| Bad Bent | Jul 28 2014, 11:16 PM Post #10 |
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Facetious Educated Donkey
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Well, if your friends call you "Sas" and your door mat looks like this: http://www.stupid.com/bigfoot-welcome-door-mat.html I'm pretty sure it's your phone. https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xXAFQa0R9hA
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| arudlang | Jul 30 2014, 07:31 PM Post #11 |
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Andrew
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Ahh now I see it I have some work stuff that is going to take up most of the evening but I did manage to borrow a flatbed and get the car down to my house last night (got in at 3 AM ) so maybe if I get a break around dark I can go check for arcing coil packs. It started up and drove itself onto and off of the trailer without issue except for that awful noise going the whole time. Check engine light isn't even on... just weird. I'm off to chicago for a couple days to help my brother move so I won't get a chance to really start checking things out in earnest until next week. Also need to clean up the garage so there is room to move around in there... I started the thread so might as well post updates as they come. I'll get some pictures and/or video rolling when I do start digging in
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| Bad Bent | Jul 30 2014, 11:24 PM Post #12 |
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Facetious Educated Donkey
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Actually a video (for the sound byte) of how it sounds now would be nice.
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| arudlang | Aug 4 2014, 11:53 PM Post #13 |
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Andrew
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Welp, mystery solved I swear, I checked all the spark plug wires twice, meaning I wiggled them and they seemed tight on their plugs. Tight or not, #2 spark plug was blown out: ![]() This is extremely hopeful. There appears to be no debris or any part of the plug dropped into the cylinder. Still proceeding with caution but the fears of a broken rod, piston skirt, camshaft, etc are quickly starting to fade. I do not yet have any great theories on why this plug might have blown out. It was ran for a few seconds yesterday so my father could hear it. Still starts right up. Still has no CEL. We didn't start it tonight we pushed it into my garage. I checked the ignition advance with my code scanner (that gives live data) when we ran it, computer was only advancing the timing 4-6 degrees so seems like timing belt probably has not jumped any teeth, although it is in crappy shape: ![]() A lot remains to be investigated but... there is hope...
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| aaronvincent | Aug 5 2014, 12:21 AM Post #14 |
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Mr Mojo Risin'
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Volkswagens make good paper-weights
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| Good bye | Aug 5 2014, 12:23 AM Post #15 |
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Plugs blow out when not properly torqued. Does the hole still have threads, sometimes they just back out and the hole is ok. That belt looks scary close to coming apart. Years ago I had new timing belts in the bottom drawer of my tool box for my 83 Audi 5000 Tdi. The cam belt failed and bent many valves, I retired that car at that time and bought my first Lincoln. |
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I'm pretty sure it's your phone.


2:25 PM Jul 11