Hi, Problems and ... Traction Control or Not?

[timbotdi]

Hi there,

Been reading the forum at work for months, but actually got around to registering at home, so I now have a user!

Having a few problems with my car at the mo. It's a Mk4 Golf PD 115 with Keskin KT2s, R32 styling, and Allard's work under the bonnet - good for 220BHP. Since the engine work I've had problems with either a blown head gasket, or a crack in the head / block. The car drinks a litre of water every 50 miles, quite obviously coming out the back in steam. The water loss is linked directly to the throttle - the car will sit and idle fine at 90 degrees. When you refill the empty header tank, it will release alot of pressure and fill partially from coolant coming in through the top inlet pipe. People have suggested the head gasket, but a pressure test at Allard resulted in liquid coming out of the second cylinder, so I supsect a cracked head.

The mileage is high - 148,000, so I plan to replace the engine block / head with a breaker's yard item sourced through Allard. The car's currently in the garage having cv joints and wheel bearings done - now they reckon my offside driveshafts knackered too - I'm absolutely brassic!

One question, on a slightly more positive tip... Traction control or not? I find, that especially in the wet, it can completely cut power to one side of the car and put you into a skid rather than stopping you! Haven't really tried it much with it off. Grip should be ok I guess - I've got Dunlop Sports - 8.5 front, and 8.5 stretched over 9.5 rims at the back.

Anyway, catch yas later.

T

 

[sssstew]

surely its worth finding out exactly whats wrong with the current engine before sourcing another, sounds like head gasket to me initially. Pop the head off and have a look.

For fast get away the general concesus is TCS off.

 

[timbotdi]

Hi Stew - thanks for your reply.

My main worry is that to replace the gaskets and have the head sent away for testing would mean the car off the road for at least 3 days, and cost at minimum £400 - the opinion of the mechanics I have asked so far is that it's a cracked head / block. I work contract, and need my car for commuting, or else I don't get paid... I can source a guaranteed low mileage PD130 with all ancillaries, including gearbox for £700, and I have a quote of £450 to fit. In my mind, this will mean the car's off the road for the same amount of time, and should solve all my problems in one fell swoop - yes it's another 4 figure sum, but I've invested so much money in the car upto now, I want to make sure it's good for a few thousand more miles yet!

T

 

[devonutopia]

Sounds unfortunate. Mine's also had some Allard hardware fitted, and is good for 220horses, but its still only a 30k mile engine, so it's showing no signs of unreliability. Which turbo do you have? VT2?

A head gasket replacement / skim will be quite costly, especially in labour terms. On a 148k mileage engine, it might be worth replacing a few internals whilst the head is off (should uncover any dodgy parts when the head is removed).

I always use TC, unless on a track / drag strip. Just find a more reliable form of acceleration with it on - bit more predictable to have ASR flashing and controlling the spin in 2nd. Otherwise it just redlines straight away and I end up changing gear to 3rd, and then its at quite a low speed that it doesn't pick up well in that gear.

 

[sssstew]

Hi Stew - thanks for your reply.

My main worry is that to replace the gaskets and have the head sent away for testing would mean the car off the road for at least 3 days, and cost at minimum £400 - the opinion of the mechanics I have asked so far is that it's a cracked head / block. I work contract, and need my car for commuting, or else I don't get paid... I can source a guaranteed low mileage PD130 with all ancillaries, including gearbox for £700, and I have a quote of £450 to fit. In my mind, this will mean the car's off the road for the same amount of time, and should solve all my problems in one fell swoop - yes it's another 4 figure sum, but I've invested so much money in the car upto now, I want to make sure it's good for a few thousand more miles yet!

T

yup fair point Tim, the time off the road would be an issue then.

 

[timbotdi]

Cheers for your comments guys.

I've read all about your Fabia over the last few months - tis a sweet little rocket!

You were right with your guess of VT2 - I was tempted by the VT5, but this required even larger injectors, and the extra power would be impractical through 2WD.

The garage have rung to tell me that the driveshaft was the weak link in the transmission and that it's now fixed, and back to original spec. All I've got to sort now is the engine! Going to ring the breakers yard this afternoon, and find out what units they have in stock.

Interesting comments on the TCS - I'll experiment a bit more, and see what the difference is. Either way in heavy rain it's propa scary - feathering the throttle doesn't even cover it.

On an unrelated tip, I drove to Dorset and back (I live in the wonder of High Wycombe) over the weekend - embarassed an old WRX (and confused driver) on the way down, and had a whole load of fun with a Cayman S on the way back! There wasn't much in it at all - he had pulled away by maybe 10 metres by 80MPH, and bottled out on a long corner at 110MPH - I made sure to hang infront of him before leaving the customary cloud of smoke. At the next roundabout, the driver was all smiles, and looked genuinely impressed by the TDI badge on the back! Does make me feel, that however much money the car is eating through, it's gonna take a while until it's 45 grand! ;o)

T

 

[devonutopia]

I was going to suggest looking around breaker yards for a pd130 engine. Might be more economical in the long run to spend £1000 odd on a ASZ engine with very low miles. Plug it in, fit your turbo to the back and away you go.

 

[ibizacupra]

how reliable are you expecting this sort of conversion? 220bhp starting at what initial level?

 

[m0rk]

115bhp.... that's a big increase for an engine never designed to take it I'm sure

 

[ibizacupra]

well I know I was thinking wonder what 300bhp would be like on stock components which were originally 156bhp...
but then again some 225/210 motors went pop with just remaps and sub 300 power... luck of the draw as well as tuning?
who knows

 

[Fl@pper]

115bhp.... that's a big increase for an engine never designed to take it I'm sure

was an early rumour that the 150pd's werent too clever even at std power replaced 2 std motors less than 20k miles

could your TCS veering problem be linked to the driveshaft fault ??? is it still happening after the fix ? especially if the rims are that wide

crack test for the head and new gasket could be done same day depends on local facilities really though - im related to one so i get preferrential

 

[bellautos]

Allard's work under the bonnet - good for 220BHP. Since the engine work I've had problems with either a blown head gasket, or a crack in the head / block. The car drinks a litre of water every 50 miles, quite obviously coming out the back in steam.
T

May be hae a word with them to see if its a problem they have caused.

 

[Niall]

The 115pd are well known for not being the stongest engine's. The PD130 and 150 have different internals, cylinder heads, strengthend bottom's etc. Basically VW used the 115PD as a driving testbed, because they the 110 was becoming technically obselete.

 

[sssstew]

yes agreed with niall, ive read some about this on uk-mkivs.net too.

 

[timbotdi]

The car's been back to Allard twice now, and despite trying various tests, nothing conclusive has been found. I'm gonna ring round the breakers yards today - anybody have any particular recommendations?

I'm definitely looking for a PD130 - good to know the engine code, ASZ. Then it's apparently a three day job - bolt in the injectors and turbo, plumb in the intercooler / exhaust systems - been quoted £450+VAT - seems reasonable to me. Should hopefully push an extra couple of horses, but most importantly give me more than 5 minutes of full throttle before overheating!

The front CV joints, wheel bearings and offside driveshaft have now been replaced - completely cured all of my transmission problems. Marlow VW, a specialist in High Wycombe, just off the M40, come highly recommended.

Thanks for all your comments.

T

 

[muddyboots]

Is it definitely an ASZ in a Golf ?

The PD130 has a different code in the Passat.

 

[timbotdi]

As I understand the engine codes are the same across the VAG range. I'd imagine the Passat has a different code because it's engines are longitudinally mounted.

T

 

[timbotdi]

Righty then... time for some action! The breaker who did have a complete ASZ engine no longer does, so... I rang Sanburn in Coventry who have a whole range of engines and heads. Having spoken to m'local VW specialist, who confirmed they could do the work, I've decided to get a head and swap with new gaskets all-round.

It's an ASZ, PD130 complete head minus injectors from a 2004 golf which had done 19,000 miles, and cost £260 including delivery. Labour should be around £300, and given the probability of this solving my problems, I've taken the plunge... It could still be a crack in the block whereupon I've wasted yet more time and money, but Allard are 99% certain it's the head. The block is made from cast iron, and the head, alluminium so should be much more cerceptable to cracking.

Fingers crossed!

T