Questions from a new GTI owner

**McDub** · 26-10-2008, 03:14 PM

I've had my car for a week now.
2003 model gti with 85,000 k's, good condition for 15.5k.

I have two questions, and they may be related.

First thing, is when i start the car, there's a short engine knocking kind of sound, almost like i'm starting up a diesel. What could this be? or is it normal?
Note the water pump has gone on this before and the car overheated (im unaware of the specifics), but it got replaced along with the timing belt, so possible engine damage?

Second thing. This could just be turbo lag, but i find the car is a dog to start. letting out the clutch the slightest bit just eats up for those precious revs, and putting your foot down on the gas doesn't seem to help. I've tried starting quickly a few times, and the only way i've found is to get the revs up past 3000, and to gradually let the clutch go. it seems to absolutely struggle if i let the clutch out too much.
I don't know if i'm expecting too much, but i'm just worried that there may be a fault with the car. Hopefully though, it is just my poor driving. I've previously only driven manuals every so often, like once a month (from holden utes to RX8s).
If any of you have driven an RX-8 before, i find it has a very simillar thing. So could just simply be low torque at low revs.

Oh other than that, i absolutely love this car. plenty of juice once that turbo spools up

**Preen59** · 26-10-2008, 03:38 PM

They can sound a little rattly on start up due to the hydraulic valve lifters some times. The oil pressure has to come up and pump up the lifters before they stop "rattling".

As for the take off issue.. You might be used to driving cars with much larger capacity engines. The 1.8 20v engines don't have much torque from idle (in my personal experience) and can seem a little gutless right down low. Yes, this is from the engine being designed for boost, and it will seem doughy off boost.

You may just need time to get used to the clutch and the engine characteristics, but if there seems to be a bad issue of low down torque, it could be as simple as needing a new set of plug leads.

**McDub** · 26-10-2008, 03:46 PM

Originally Posted by Preen59

They can sound a little rattly on start up due to the hydraulic valve lifters some times. The oil pressure has to come up and pump up the lifters before they stop "rattling".

As for the take off issue.. You might be used to driving cars with much larger capacity engines. The 1.8 20v engines don't have much torque from idle (in my personal experience) and can seem a little gutless right down low. Yes, this is from the engine being designed for boost, and it will seem doughy off boost.

You may just need time to get used to the clutch and the engine characteristics, but if there seems to be a bad issue of low down torque, it could be as simple as needing a new set of plug leads.

thanks, in fact in the time that i posted this topic, and this response (20 mintues later), i took the car out for a quick spin just to practise some quicker starts.
Seems like i was just not used to the clutch/engine. i was able to get enough power down without sounding like some deranged granny.

so good to hear that they do sometimes sound a little rattly on startup.
and great to know that in the short 5 minute drive i just had then, i can actually get the thing going properly now!
was very nice once i nailed it. felt like a bit of an idiot though. hehe. had to find some streets without people.
but yeah i still had to work it more than larger sized engines as you'd expect, but i was able to get some quick take offs that felt and sounded quite natural
(perhaps not in a quiet residential street though)

though when you mentioned plug leads, i was actually wondering if that was a possible cause for the these two "problems".
but im happy with it now. it's been serviced recently and so i don't plan on taking it anywhere in the new future, as i think i am happy that these issues are non-isses... i hope!

**McDub** · 26-10-2008, 04:10 PM

might as well put up a pic of this car hey

did a dodgey black out of the surrounds, don't want you to all know where i live

this was taken just after i waxed and polished it, the day after i got it

car came with bascially brand new set of bridgestone ER300's. apparantly the first set of tyres the previous owner had to purchase.
oh and it has a full 12 months rego. so stoked about the $15,500 i paid for it. awesome value for sure IMO.
timing belt and water pump also been replaced. (though a suspiciousy cheap service - see timing belt topic)

**qsilverza** · 26-10-2008, 04:26 PM

Lol

We are going to come and hunt you down !

**h100vw** · 26-10-2008, 04:30 PM

As long as the water pump has a metal impeller it should be good to go.

I think the reason it feels slow to start off is the heavy ass dual mass flywheel and I notice that you have 16 inch wheels fitted. When I put 16s on my A3 to go over the bigger brakes I noticed that acceleration had taken a bit of a hit.

The turbo gets into its stride over 2500 revs but you can probably feel that anyway.

1.8Ts do sound rough IMO but they don't break easily.

WHERE do you live?

You don't have plug leads on 1.8T they have coil packs, one per cylinder and you will know for sure if one has died. It'll run on 3 cylinders, very badly.

The MAF, airflow meter, can prove troublesome but they are easy to diagnose with a VAG-COM cable.

Gavin

**McDub** · 26-10-2008, 04:48 PM

Originally Posted by h100vw

As long as the water pump has a metal impeller it should be good to go.

I think the reason it feels slow to start off is the heavy ass dual mass flywheel and I notice that you have 16 inch wheels fitted. When I put 16s on my A3 to go over the bigger brakes I noticed that acceleration had taken a bit of a hit.

The turbo gets into its stride over 2500 revs but you can probably feel that anyway.

1.8Ts do sound rough IMO but they don't break easily.

WHERE do you live?

You don't have plug leads on 1.8T they have coil packs, one per cylinder and you will know for sure if one has died. It'll run on 3 cylinders, very badly.

The MAF, airflow meter, can prove troublesome but they are easy to diagnose with a VAG-COM cable.

Gavin

the 16's are standard on the gti.
don't know if the current impellar is plastic or metal. (what was the original?)

live near north sydney. maybe for my first service i'll take it to chatswood classic cars (VW dealers in this area), and just ask them to diganose the engine or whatever, but i'm pretty sure it's just my poor driving that got me a little worried about the car.

cheers.

oh and i did a quick dodgy engine detail when i waxed the car, and i do remember seeing these coilpacks you speak off.
rather than a lead, it's like a little power pack installed on the top of each piston, i assume that's what i was looking at. interesting.
other than the audi logo on them, they look rather unimpressive (ugly). no-wonder most engines have engine covers on them

**h100vw** · 26-10-2008, 05:22 PM

I made the comment on the wheels because my A3 came std with 15s so there was a marked difference when fitting the 16s.

The std pump had a plastic impeller, as do the VW replacements. Mine had done 140000ks so they don't break quickly. Just keep an eye on the water temps, if they ever go above normal, 90 deg, consider it one of the first things to check.

Gavin

**VW Convert** · 26-10-2008, 05:44 PM

Originally Posted by McDub

maybe for my first service i'll take it to chatswood classic cars (VW dealers in this area), and just ask them to diganose the engine or whatever,

Wondering how long till Mischa comments on that statement!

Many on this forum (myself included) have a low opinion of the quality of service offered by dealers (although I'm not commenting on the specific dealer you mentioned). I'm sure there will be many who will agree that a good quality suitably qualified independent may be a better option.

Cheers

George