Golf 118 TSI Engine Failures and Service Campaign 24S4

**gerhard** · 14-09-2009, 02:03 PM

Originally Posted by cktsi

The problem with sports mode is the gear changes are too aggressive for suburban driving. Fine for open road twisties.

It wont shift until at least 5,000rpm is reached. If i accelerate moderately it will red line. I dont really want to constantly thrash the car.

The unburnt fuel is not smoke. Just a brownish cloud of fuel. Same thing you see in any car under heavy acceleration.

Re brownish cloud of exhaust -

The GTI engine runs a very rich mixture around 10:1 under heavy acceleration, not what you'd call "electronic lean burn". If you're ever behind a a GTI that's WOT you'll see what I mean. Not to mention behind one that's running a big turbo and a big chip.......

It's no surprise that the twincharged engine is tuned rich as well, so when you cane it you should expect following cars to think you are driving a dirty diesel

**logger** · 14-09-2009, 02:31 PM

I am too busy hanging on for dear life and looking at the road ahead to notice whats going on behind, when I use WOT

Gerhard, is the rich mixture invoked to protect the engine from detonation?

**gerhard** · 14-09-2009, 02:34 PM

Originally Posted by logger

I am too busy hanging on for dear life and looking at the road ahead to notice whats going on behind, when I use WOT

Gerhard, is the rich mixture invoked to protect the engine from detonation?

I guess so, not really sure. But when you see the posts with dyno runs, the mixture is invariably very rich.

**cktsi** · 15-09-2009, 02:28 PM

Originally Posted by skyva

If they cannot diagnose the problem and you can replicate it, then insist on having a long term data logger put into the car. By long term I mean 72 hours or so. I have only read about it, but from what I hear, not every dealer has one, so they need to book it in for you to take away with you.

They don't have such a data logger (so I'm told). Each car has a data logger that logs faults only. That's the best they can do. Obviously this is not showing up in the car's error log.

So they kept the car overnight & couldn't replicate the problem. To them, there is no issue until the problem can be consistently replicated. Till then, they aren't going to do anything to the car, nor do anything about extending any warranty.

Basically until I can replicate it, there seem to be no other avenues of redress. I cannot claim the car is not of merchantable quality because it runs properly 99% of the time... till that one time the engine decides to shut down & not run properly.

Apparently they said that the car actually returned to normal even before replacing the fuel injector port. So that in itself was a pointless exercise.

Maybe it's the engine's ECU that is defective?

The only other thing I can think of is really not to let the "low down torque" take care of the acceleration and change my driving style so that I'm always kicking down a gear till I have at least 2,000 rpm when I want to accelerate.

**cktsi** · 15-09-2009, 06:00 PM

ok, i just picked up the car. I had a TDI DSG Caddy as a loaner with 270km on the odo !! :p I presume it's the 1.9 TDI and it had nice in gear acceleration... but I digress.

The head tech came out to talk to me and explained that the squirrelling noise was caused by the recirculation valve for the turbo not sitting correctly in the seat. They put in a new plug & noise has gone. They were also unable to replicate the issue but think it may be related.

All I'll do now is just be a happy owner for now (they also fixed some minor rattles) and be grateful the car is now as quiet as it was when I first got it (save for the supercharger squeak which is getting fainter in moderate acceleration). It is nice having the car back again cos the Caddy kept locking the side door every time I take off from stationary (it sounds like a very loud slap).

My warranty complaint has come to nought. They said i'd be wasting my time with VW Australia on extending the warranty (despite the fact that I've owned & had multiple issues with a Mark V as well).

All I can hope for is that the car settles down & gives me trouble free motoring. It is still a great car after all.

I have a feeling the odd fuel belch & the ticking may be due to an issue with the ECU. Who knows... a new APR chip may be what my car needs

I'm sure Logger would agree

**gtimk5** · 18-09-2009, 02:58 PM

My local dealer was just telling me that they have a GT 1.4 in there with a hole the size of a 20 cent piece in no. 4 piston....
Sign of things to come??
Andrew

**dopey** · 19-09-2009, 12:00 AM

Originally Posted by gtimk5

My local dealer was just telling me that they have a GT 1.4 in there with a hole the size of a 20 cent piece in no. 4 piston....
Sign of things to come??
Andrew

I wonder if its tuning related, the standard tune might perhaps be a little too lean and prone to pinging due to the quest for low emissions and good fuel economy. A super lean air/fuel ratio isn't always the best thing for a boosted engine. Perhaps those with APR flashes will find their engines more reliable?

**graeme86** · 19-09-2009, 12:04 AM

Originally Posted by gtimk5

My local dealer was just telling me that they have a GT 1.4 in there with a hole the size of a 20 cent piece in no. 4 piston....
Sign of things to come??
Andrew

Some cheapskate probably just put 91 RON petrol in it

**drbono** · 30-12-2009, 09:09 PM

I wanted to detail a major engine failure I experienced on my newish TSI 118...

Last week on Xmas eve at about 5:45 pm, my EPC & engine lights illuminated while driving 100kph on the M1 freeway. Engine lost power and I pulled over into the emergency lane and called VW Roadside Assistance.

Given it was after hours on xmas eve, they were great - a towtruck arrived within 30 minutes and a taxi about 45 minutes later. Ended up taking the taxi 80km ($180, yes $180) to my home - VW contributed $100.

My car was held with the towtruck operator and reached my local dealership yesterday. Due to the reduced staff, they only were able to look at my car today. I was told that there was reduced compression in one of the cylinders, similar to a previously posted experience. They had discussed this finding with VW Head Office and concluded that the engine needs to be replaced!!! Loan car should be organised tomorrow.

This is all a bit of a shock given that the car has only done 5,000km and my previous Peugeot 306 lasted 12 years with great reliability. Obviously even the best cars/engines can fail, and the service provided to me in the wake of this problem has been good, however it is still disappointing to have such a terminal problem in such a new (& highly awarded) car/engine.

I don't know how common this problem has been around the world. I look forward to my car's return, whenever that may be!

**Intensive** · 26-02-2010, 01:18 PM

Some follow up to my original post in the newbies area ( 6 month old united grey 118tsi). VW have confirmed that it is broken piston and piston ring. New engine has arrived in Sydney today and now has to pass through customs. Should be back in my car in about 10 days. This problem does not appear to be a "one off". Who is aware of similar issues with this engine? Does it run to lean or hot for Australia?