Rattle at 2800rmp

Mr Pig

Active Member
Jun 17, 2015
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906
Car we've just bought, 150 TDI FR, is back in the garage for a rattle coming from the engine bay. They can't seem to figure out what it is.

Sometimes faintly hear it at lower revs but not always. Kicks in clearly at 2800rpm and lasts for about 500rpm. Sounds like plastky rattle. Always exactly the same spot in the rev range. Any ideas?

Thank you.
 

Mr Pig

Active Member
Jun 17, 2015
2,614
906
Engine mount not done up correctly?

Are you speaking from experience of that? Honestly, I have no idea what it is.I certainly think it could be something getting 'set off' by the vibration of the engine.
 

Jazzjames

Active Member
Sep 13, 2018
160
68
Germany
Are you speaking from experience of that? Honestly, I have no idea what it is.I certainly think it could be something getting 'set off' by the vibration of the engine.

I’m pretty sure it was an engine mount that worked its way loose on my mum’s Golf after a cambelt change. I don’t think the garage that did the cam-belt did them up properly, these things can happen. Worth a look if you’re in the engine bay anyhow!

The garage I took it to (I was on holiday at the time and couldn’t go toour regular garage) took a while to find the problem, so maybe worth mentioning.
 

Mr Pig

Active Member
Jun 17, 2015
2,614
906
The dealer told me today that it's the turbo. They said it's working normally but they are replacing it under warranty as a precaution. Yeah, ok. Like they don't know as well as I do that a turbo which it rattling is a turbo not long for this world.

Good that it's being fixed but does raise questions about why it failed after just 16k miles. I know these things can happen but did it fall or was it pushed? Hopefully the car will settle down but I'm glad we took the extended warranty all the same ;0)

Thank you for chipping in :0)
 

280jl

Active Member
Nov 20, 2015
162
59
Bromley
Cars go wrong mate... that is standard now, they do not make cars like they used to... it's getting replaced, that's the main thing. Glad you got it sorted !
 
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Mr Pig

Active Member
Jun 17, 2015
2,614
906
Cars go wrong mate... that is standard now,..

The 1.6 TDI Leon was the most reliable car we've ever owned, hence the FR to replace it.

I just don't have a warm feeling about this car. You know, something in your gut?
 

Jazzjames

Active Member
Sep 13, 2018
160
68
Germany
It doesn’t matter how well the car is made if someone ragged it from cold and was unsympathetic to it mechanically for the first years of its life. Buying a used car is a lottery.
 

Mr Pig

Active Member
Jun 17, 2015
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It doesn’t matter how well the car is made if someone ragged it from cold and was unsympathetic to it mechanically for the first years of its life.

Exactly. This is my concern precisely.

I identified the noise on the test drive before we committed to buying the car. The dealer gave assurances that it would be investigated and fixed but I had enough reservations to pull out of the deal. A few weeks later the package looked good enough, including a two-year warranty, that I decided to take the risk.

And a risk it is. You are exactly right. You are weighing up the pros and cons and making an educated guess on what you think might happen. But there ain't no guarantees. I hope I've built enough good will with this dealer, this is the third car we've bought from them, that if the car proves problematic they'll look after me. But, it's a risk and should the car misbehave more than I think it reasonable it'll be going bye bye.
 

Tonezz

Active Member
Jan 12, 2011
1,038
75
Preston
My MK2 had a similar rattle and it was the turbo wastegate actuator, just needed a clip though not a whole new turbo!
 

Mr Pig

Active Member
Jun 17, 2015
2,614
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My MK2 had a similar rattle and it was the turbo wastegate actuator, just needed a clip though not a whole new turbo!

I think that's possibly what my noise was, and I suggested it. I get the impression they don't want to take any chances after being wrong about the noise before.
 
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Mr Pig

Active Member
Jun 17, 2015
2,614
906
Update.

So the dealer changed the timing belt. Didn't fit it. Took the car back for a week and said it was the turbo. Changed that. Didn't fix it! :0(

Clearly the dealer is not capable of diagnosing this noise to today I took the car to little specialist place I know. They do a lot of tuning etc and seem pretty on the ball. They said the noise is coming from area of the intake manifold/charge air system but without pulling it apart they can't pin it down any more.

So I'll need to go back to the dealer with this info and see what they say. Problem is I have little confidence in the dealer's ability to take this to bits and correctly put it back together but I don't have much choice.

Fun and games.
 

martin j.

Active Member
Feb 11, 2007
1,996
889
Fife
Too much reliance in workshops now on their intra dealer workshop problem solver, I saw this at work, tech would get a noisy car and just go into the system looking for similar problems and follow their solution, often without checking it solved the problem, and so repeat, throw parts at it until it went away, or they cured it accidentally whilst carrying out one of the procedures.
 

Mr Pig

Active Member
Jun 17, 2015
2,614
906
Wow, so what have the dealer actually said now?

Funny you should ask. Literally just got a reply from the owner of the dealership. Clearly, he's just hoping it's all going to just go away. On the plus side he's still offering to buy the car back. Problem with that is finding a replacement. He's also saying that they will still take care of the car after the warranty runs out if something major happens.

However, he's basically not interested in investigating the noise beyond plugging in the diagnostic box. Will not start pulling the intake apart 'on a whim'. Says that as far as he is concerned the car is running fine and performing within specification so no action is required.

I find that a bit pathetic. If no action was required, why did they change the timing belt and the turbo? The noise which prompted those actions is unchanged so how come it mattered before and doesn't matter now?

The answer to that question is that so far, they haven't actually spent any money on the car! Both the timing belt and the turbo were replaced under my warranty so didn't cost him a dime. If he gets a tech in to look at it he'll have to pay for it so doesn't want to do it.

I'm not happy with his proposed options. We bought the car under the assumption that the noise had been diagnosed and would be fixed. We've now got a car with the noise not fixed and he's not interested in fixing it. The assurances of support don't cut it because how can I sell the car with a clear conscience? How could I sell the car to someone else knowing there is an diagnosed engine noise? I guess some people would be I wouldn't.

So quietly going away isn't going to happen. He has a rather long reply coming his way...
 

martin j.

Active Member
Feb 11, 2007
1,996
889
Fife
A long discussion with Seat customer services? They have paid out not an inconsiderable sum for him to fix it, when I working with. Kia if this had happened Kia would not pay the warranty labour costs and charge for parts used, otherwise dealers would make up warranty jobs to make money when work was slow. Worth trying?
 

Tonezz

Active Member
Jan 12, 2011
1,038
75
Preston
I'm assuming its an approved used from Seat?

You have a new turbo and belt, I'd probably keep it a bit longer and hammer it to try and break it then they can find what it is a bit easier! :happy:

Maybe get it in writing that you basically want an unlimited warranty off them if they have already offered you that?
 
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