petrol additive

 

QUOTE (draycottgirlz @ Jan 10 2009, 01:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>petrol additive

Is that not cheating?

 

well first things first get the car scanned for faults to see if it has any fault codes stored, petrol additives arent really much use when the figures are so far off theres a problem, probably a faulty o2 sensor or the more common on 1.4 16valves is a cat

 

QUOTE (IanVW @ Jan 10 2009, 02:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>well first things first get the car scanned for faults to see if it has any fault codes stored, petrol additives arent really much use when the figures are so far off theres a problem, probably a faulty o2 sensor or the more common on 1.4 16valves is a cat

That's the exact problem that my other half had with her Mk4 1.4 16v. Changed the lambda and problem sorted. Common problem on these engines I believe

Another "cheaper" way of reducing emissions and sometimes works, is to give it a "good drive" just before taking it for the test, clears out of the shite that may have built up

 

Did you do 20mins of 'italian tuning'- driving the car round town 'with spirit' and reving out in 2nd and 3 rd gear; alternatively a long run in 4th and 5th about an hour before the test...
...doesnt look to have failed by much....

 

QUOTE (IanVW @ Jan 10 2009, 02:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>well first things first get the car scanned for faults to see if it has any fault codes stored, petrol additives arent really much use when the figures are so far off theres a problem, probably a faulty o2 sensor or the more common on 1.4 16valves is a cat

Will look into them thanks.

QUOTE (Tony D @ Jan 10 2009, 02:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>That's the exact problem that my other half had with her Mk4 1.4 16v. Changed the lambda and problem sorted. Common problem on these engines I believe

Another "cheaper" way of reducing emissions and sometimes works, is to give it a "good drive" just before taking it for the test, clears out of the shite that may have built up
Can you remember how much the lambda cost you to change?

QUOTE (BLZEEDUB @ Jan 10 2009, 02:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Did you do 20mins of 'italian tuning'- driving the car round town 'with spirit' and reving out in 2nd and 3 rd gear; alternatively a long run in 4th and 5th about an hour before the test...
...doesnt look to have failed by much....

My car gets a good drive everyday

 

It was replaced under warranty, so garage covered cost

 

QUOTE (mrvaincolin @ Jan 10 2009, 12:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Had my nct this morning for my mk4 1.4 golf and it fail on emissions

So anyway the guy told me its twice over the limit. This is what i failed on.

Lambda: 1.032. Pass is between 0.97 and 1.03
Co 0.45 vol% Above 0.3%. is a fail
HC 374ppm Above 200ppm is a fail.

Anyone know if its hard to get this sorted out and is it costly?

Cheers.

You need to get a 4 gas test done . to see what the O2 reading is. also check that the lambda is switching.
A high HC reading like you have could be a missfire or rich mixture.
the CAT on the 1.4 are a common fault and also the coolant temp sensor. which might explain the high HC reading.
the Lambda reading is a calculated reading from all the gases, so if you have high CO ect ,it will give a different lambda reading.

 

QUOTE (tonygriff @ Jan 10 2009, 07:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>You need to get a 4 gas test done . to see what the O2 reading is. also check that the lambda is switching.
A high HC reading like you have could be a missfire or rich mixture.
the CAT on the 1.4 are a common fault and also the coolant temp sensor. which might explain the high HC reading.
the Lambda reading is a calculated reading from all the gases, so if you have high CO ect ,it will give a different lambda reading.

I have a oil filter box i think thats whats its called?? it was full of yunk and was causing my engine to miss and make the car jumpy when accelerating since its been cleaned it only happens the very odd time when the engine is cold but the pipe coming from this is fecked its collapsed so its not open fully opened. Could this effect my emissions?

 

Is it the breather pipe coming from the sump into the air box?? That being gunked up would fail an emissions test, you may get away with replacing the pipe, new filters and an oil change, but it may be a sign of worse problems, worst case senario its the piston rings going which is bad, the 1.4 are known to chew them up, no cheap to fix either..

Is it smokey? does it drink oil? What oil are you using (10/40 - 15/40)? Whats the spark plugs like (oily, burnt)??

 

QUOTE (babyface @ Jan 22 2009, 06:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Is it the breather pipe coming from the sump into the air box?? That being gunked up would fail an emissions test, you may get away with replacing the pipe, new filters and an oil change, but it may be a sign of worse problems, worst case senario its the piston rings going which is bad, the 1.4 are known to chew them up, no cheap to fix either..

Is it smokey? does it drink oil? What oil are you using (10/40 - 15/40)? Whats the spark plugs like (oily, burnt)??

Ya think its the breather box alright. No very little smoke only wen its revved a small bit would be coming out. i used 10w40 havnt checked the spark plugs they prob need doing alright tho. I changed the oil not so long ago I couldn't get the oil filter off tho who ever put the last one on tightened it to feck was afraid id break it if i forced it Im dropping it into my mechanic tomorrow his having a look at it. The starter motor is noising aswel. Looks like i wont be getting coil overs for a while now

 

QUOTE (mrvaincolin @ Jan 22 2009, 07:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Ya think its the breather box alright. No very little smoke only wen its revved a small bit would be coming out. i used 10w40 havnt checked the spark plugs they prob need doing alright tho. I changed the oil not so long ago I couldn't get the oil filter off tho who ever put the last one on tightened it to feck was afraid id break it if i forced it Im dropping it into my mechanic tomorrow his having a look at it. The starter motor is noising aswel. Looks like i wont be getting coil overs for a while now

Well you might get away with a new breather pipe, filters, plugs and an oil change (maybe 15/40?).. and a good drive and see how she goes..

The oil filter should come off if you use a filter wrench/strap.. or stick a screw driver through it and twist, probably better off letting the mechanic do it...

Oil on the spark plugs would indicate stem seals or piston rings, both bad news, hopefuly its just the pipe blocked......

 

QUOTE (babyface @ Jan 22 2009, 07:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Well you might get away with a new breather pipe, filters, plugs and an oil change (maybe 15/40?).. and a good drive and see how she goes..

The oil filter should come off if you use a filter wrench/strap.. or stick a screw driver through it and twist, probably better off letting the mechanic do it...

Oil on the spark plugs would indicate stem seals or piston rings, both bad news, hopefuly its just the pipe blocked......

Thats for the advice

 

No worries, the piston rings or stem seals would be the worse case senario but you will definately need that pipe sorted with new filters, plugs and oil (15/40).. If that sorts it happy days.

 

Might be worth your while checking you coolant too, if there is oil in your coolant, it might be a blown head gasket?? I am sure the mechanic will let you know more when he has a look at her..

 

QUOTE (babyface @ Jan 22 2009, 07:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Might be worth your while checking you coolant too, if there is oil in your coolant, it might be a blown head gasket?? I am sure the mechanic will let you know more when he has a look at her..

No oil in my coolant anyway i checked it out two weeks ago when it first went for the nct.

 

QUOTE (mrvaincolin @ Jan 22 2009, 08:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>No oil in my coolant anyway i checked it out two weeks ago when it first went for the nct.

Well thats one thing off your list.. Hopefully a replacement pipe and a service will sort her out.. Let me know how you get on.. only got rid of a mk4 1.4 after getting to know it inside out.. Unfortunately mine had everything wrong with it and only 58k on the clock...

 

QUOTE (babyface @ Jan 22 2009, 08:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Well thats one thing off your list.. Hopefully a replacement pipe and a service will sort her out.. Let me know how you get on.. only got rid of a mk4 1.4 after getting to know it inside out.. Unfortunately mine had everything wrong with it and only 58k on the clock...

Mine has 117 on the clock and its been going good enough. if i get two years nct on it i might try and sell it and get a gt tdi. Any idea what mine would be worth its 99 3dr 17inch rs4 alloys new shape and anni kit. What you driving now?

 

QUOTE (mrvaincolin @ Jan 22 2009, 08:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Mine has 117 on the clock and its been going good enough. if i get two years nct on it i might try and sell it and get a gt tdi. Any idea what mine would be worth its 99 3dr 17inch rs4 alloys new shape and anni kit. What you driving now?

Mine was a nice 99 3dr comfortline with 58k, had the rear spoiler, rs4's and lots of other stuff.. I just gave up on her and sold her on, well, I sold her on 14" alloys for a 95gt celica and 400 quid, then sold the celica for 1500 euro and got 400 euro for the rs4's and I was happy to get that.. The lad I sold mine to has her for sale for 4500euro's..

Not sure what yours would be worth but the 3dr's fetch more, but nothings selling these days....

I have a few cars at the mo, but only VAG car I have is a 97 passat 20vt but thats a work in progress at the mo..

Good luck with the golf, hope its a cheap enough fix for you..

 

Had its nct again today it failed on the co which was 0.55vol% above0.3 is a fail.

Mechanic thinks he will have to replace the valve seals

Anyone have any idea how much this would cost?

 

So what exactly did you do to it since the last time it failed?

If the valve stem seals are the problem (and I'm not saying they are, in fact I doubt they are) then don't just replace them on their own is my advice.

You will only end up having to take the engine apart and do everything else afterwards anyway. I've seen it happen to several of them after people trying to do it on the cheap by just changing the stem seals.

Usually with these once there is over 100k on them the exhaust valve guides will need changing as well as all the stem seals. Also you may as well put a set of piston rings on it while the head is off. Also while the sump is off take off the oil pump pickup and check it for sludge buildup.

Last one I did cost €1000 to do including a new timing belt kit and water pump.

 

I did the valve stem seals on a 1.4 mk4 myself, parts you will need is gasket kit (80-120 euro) new head bolts (30-40 euro) a service kit, oil, filters etc (70-80quid) and if you doing that you be best doing the timing belt, tensioners and water pump (150 - 200 quid)

Also when I did the stem seals, It didn't cure my problem, It was more than likely the piston rings (80 - 100 euro), so its probably best to do the lot once you taking the head off..

There is a cheaper way to do the stem seal with out taking the head off, using compressed air, but it may not be the stem seals causing the problem and the head may still have to come off, if its not sorted by the new seals...

As for pricing a mechanic to do the job, I reckon you would be talking the guts of a grand (for everything mentioned above plus labour), if you get it sorted for less you would be doing well..

Now I wouldn't be an expert but I did have the same problem, and went through the process of fixing it, but someone else might be able to tell you more..

 

Since the last test my mechanic changed the oil filter cleaned the plugs throttle body and he said he gave it a good hard drive. He was saying he might be able to do the valve seals with out going at the head. He wasn't sure about it tho. Really hope i dont have to spend a grand to get it right

Must ring the mechanic next week he said he would look into prices and stuff.

 

I doubt that the valve stem seals are the problem.

Can you post up the exact results from the fail sheet, both low and high idle figures exactly as they are on the sheet please.

 

QUOTE (mrvaincolin @ Jan 26 2009, 07:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Since the last test my mechanic changed the oil filter cleaned the plugs throttle body and he said he gave it a good hard drive. He was saying he might be able to do the valve seals with out going at the head. He wasn't sure about it tho. Really hope i dont have to spend a grand to get it right

Must ring the mechanic next week he said he would look into prices and stuff.

Any good mechanic should be able to do the stem seals with out taking the head off, you probably be looking at least 4-500 quid, and it may solve the problem.. But if it don't it might end up costing you more by having to go back and do the rest... My mk4 had 58k on it and it was the piston rings, and I found out after rebuilding the top end, Its sort of a gamble just doing the stem seals and the odds ain't that good..

Though I would rebuild the engine rather that buying a replacement engine but you may get a replacement engine for cheap?but thats another gamble, it may be as bad as the one you replace?