Golf 118 TSI Engine Failures and Service Campaign 24S4

[TheOne]

Presumably you bought it privately? Because if you bought it through a dealer, the car's under a statutory 3-month warranty.

Yeah privately unfortunately

[jdw]

Bought a 2010 Jetta 118 TSI two weeks ago. Engine died 3 days ago Wish I knew about this thread before purchasing. Having lots of trouble finding a replacement engine. Will probably cost about 4-5K to get an engine and get it replaced.

I called VW themselves, they said it would be better in the long run if I took the car in to them and get them to fix the engine. They said even with a new engine the same issue may occur. Said they would rebuild it in a way so that this issue would never happen again. But it would cost 6K+

I bought the car for $9400

Sorry for your bad luck ....do you know what they mean by "they would rebuild it in a way so that this issue would never happen again"

[TheOne]

Sorry for your bad luck ....do you know what they mean by "they would rebuild it in a way so that this issue would never happen again"

I'm not that car savvy so apologies if none of this makes sense. I did a lot of research after the engine stuffed up and thought that the reason my engine failed was because of the ECU mapping in my car made the engine run lean. I thought they fixed that issue with the 2011 model of the Jetta. So i was trying to source an engine from a 2011 Jetta so I could know for sure that I could be getting an engine that wasn't running lean due to bad ECU mapping. I called VW to confirm if it would fit with no problems. He said it should be fine but he wasn't exactly 100% about it.

He said that the issue would still happen down the line even with a 2011 engine. He said if I brought the car in, they would rebuild it and rebuild the pistons so they wouldn't stuff up in the future. He told me to 'be careful about what I read on the forums'.

[Mk R]

I'm not that car savvy so apologies if none of this makes sense. I did a lot of research after the engine stuffed up and thought that the reason my engine failed was because of the ECU mapping in my car made the engine run lean. I thought they fixed that issue with the 2011 model of the Jetta. So i was trying to source an engine from a 2011 Jetta so I could know for sure that I could be getting an engine that wasn't running lean due to bad ECU mapping. I called VW to confirm if it would fit with no problems. He said it should be fine but he wasn't exactly 100% about it.

He said that the issue would still happen down the line even with a 2011 engine. He said if I brought the car in, they would rebuild it and rebuild the pistons so they wouldn't stuff up in the future. He told me to 'be careful about what I read on the forums'.

Firstly, Sorry to hear about your predicament. Many of us have been there before.

Secondly, anyone who tells you they can fix an engine so a failure "never happens again" should be trusted about as much as a dodgy used car salesman with all gold teeth. The forums can't always be trusted but i'd trust them more than a VAG service rep. Ask him what the ratio of apprentices to qualified VW mechanics is in his workshop and compare it to your local mechanic or a private Euro mechanics shop. You might be surprised who'd be doing your rebuild at VW.

Keep calling all the large wreckers, I picked up a late 2011 CAVD central block with 20,000 on it for $2k. I'm sure there's still plenty of them out there for that price. I run a stage 1 tune and it is now 50,000km down the track and going strong. The lean map wasn't the only issue and if you want to be even more certain of avoiding another failure get in touch with the guy on here who replaced his CAVD engine with a CTHD version which has the forged pistons and a few other strengthened internals. I understand that engine fits into our cars too. Those may be more $$$ as they're newer and rarer at the wreckers. Those CTHD upgraded parts are most likely what VW will be selling you and there's a good chance you wont get all of them with a rebuild.

Also have a look at getting the latest high pressure fuel pump, spark plugs and coil packs. If you want to keep the car also consider a bigger intercooler to keep the temps down, the Golf R intercooler from the Mk VI golf/Audi S3 fits straight in. Only use 98 octane.

Bottom line: low km used CAVD from 2011 on for $2,000 and about $1,500 for the install from a good mechanic. Negotiate from there and don't be afraid to call bull**** on the VW $6,000 quote.

[TheOne]

Firstly, Sorry to hear about your predicament. Many of us have been there before.

Secondly, anyone who tells you they can fix an engine so a failure "never happens again" should be trusted about as much as a dodgy used car salesman with all gold teeth. The forums can't always be trusted but i'd trust them more than a VAG service rep. Ask him what the ratio of apprentices to qualified VW mechanics is in his workshop and compare it to your local mechanic or a private Euro mechanics shop. You might be surprised who'd be doing your rebuild at VW.

Keep calling all the large wreckers, I picked up a late 2011 CAVD central block with 20,000 on it for $2k. I'm sure there's still plenty of them out there for that price. I run a stage 1 tune and it is now 50,000km down the track and going strong. The lean map wasn't the only issue and if you want to be even more certain of avoiding another failure get in touch with the guy on here who replaced his CAVD engine with a CTHD version which has the forged pistons and a few other strengthened internals. I understand that engine fits into our cars too. Those may be more $$$ as they're newer and rarer at the wreckers. Those CTHD upgraded parts are most likely what VW will be selling you and there's a good chance you wont get all of them with a rebuild.

Also have a look at getting the latest high pressure fuel pump, spark plugs and coil packs. If you want to keep the car also consider a bigger intercooler to keep the temps down, the Golf R intercooler from the Mk VI golf/Audi S3 fits straight in. Only use 98 octane.

Bottom line: low km used CAVD from 2011 on for $2,000 and about $1,500 for the install from a good mechanic. Negotiate from there and don't be afraid to call bull**** on the VW $6,000 quote.

Thanks mate that's great advice! I think after I get it fixed I'll sell it. This has been a pretty disheartening experience. I did love the car though, just had a reverse camera put in, tinted windows and had a custom android head unit put in too. If I had say $15K for the next car I buy, what VW car would you guys recommend? I loved everything about the Jetta but don't want to touch anything with a 118 TSI engine.

EDIT: Just wanted to add I'm a big guy and don't like how I look in a hatch lol. So a sedan is what I'm looking for!

[Rawcpoppa]

Thanks mate that's great advice! I think after I get it fixed I'll sell it. This has been a pretty disheartening experience. I did love the car though, just had a reverse camera put in, tinted windows and had a custom android head unit put in too. If I had say $15K for the next car I buy, what VW car would you guys recommend? I loved everything about the Jetta but don't want to touch anything with a 118 TSI engine.

EDIT: Just wanted to add I'm a big guy and don't like how I look in a hatch lol. So a sedan is what I'm looking for!

Jetta with a 2.0T engine instead might be what you're looking for. Better yet in manual.

[tigger73]

If I had say $15K for the next car I buy, what VW car would you guys recommend? I loved everything about the Jetta but don't want to touch anything with a 118 TSI engine.

EDIT: Just wanted to add I'm a big guy and don't like how I look in a hatch lol. So a sedan is what I'm looking for!

Or you could look at a Tiguan SUV - can also get it with the 2.0T also and if you get a DSG (instead of auto) it's the much stronger 7speed DQ500. The earlier MY09-MY10 models came with conventional auto or manual only. DSG was introduced in MY11.

[Mk R]

Or you could look at a Tiguan SUV - can also get it with the 2.0T also and if you get a DSG (instead of auto) it's the much stronger 7speed DQ500. The earlier MY09-MY10 models came with conventional auto or manual only. DSG was introduced in MY11.

No worries, maybe a B7 or maybe B8 Audi A4 or a 4 motion Passat? Could get you awd with a sedan shape and a 2.0T or 2.0TDI engine...

[TheOne]

Or you could look at a Tiguan SUV - can also get it with the 2.0T also and if you get a DSG (instead of auto) it's the much stronger 7speed DQ500. The earlier MY09-MY10 models came with conventional auto or manual only. DSG was introduced in MY11.

Thanks guys. Will have a look. I just called volksaffair in Melbourne and asked them how much to swap a CAVD engine with a CTHD engine, they said 7k!

[Mk R]

Thanks guys. Will have a look. I just called volksaffair in Melbourne and asked them how much to swap a CAVD engine with a CTHD engine, they said 7k!

Yeah, you need to source the block yourself. I see the sequence of events as follows:

1. Use this forum to find someone who has a good value VW mechanic in Melbourne. For example my guy is a small local guy in Sydney that had done a couple of these swaps before. Call the recommendations and ask how much to swap an engine block that you provide. Keep $1,500 ish as your guide. Also remember, this is not to include a regular service or any of the other crap you'd normally get done.

2. Start at google and call all the big wreckers in Melbourne and surrounding areas and ask them how much for a low km VAG CAVD engine. You're selling after the job so you don't need to worry about getting a CTHD. Tell them you've had a quote for $1,999 delivered. I'd take anything after mid 2011 up to 50,000km in your case but obviously later years and lower km are preferred.

3. book in the work and get them to give you the printed notice of the engine swap for the sale of your car. Keep the invoice from the wreckers which will include the odometer reading for your replacement engine, this will be useful for potential buyers.

Don't be afraid to let people know that you know these are the prices you're willing to work with. You could be done with all this in as little as 2 weeks.