Poorly TDI

[amjd]

If anyone could offer any advice on this it would be much appreciated.

My '04 Leon Cupra TDI is making a loud tapping/rattling noise over 1500 rpm when the engine is warmed up, Seat have run diagnostics no fault showing, they removed the 'racking' cover and apparently the valves look o.k., they are about to remove the cylinder head to investigate further...

I've been told it could be a camshaft bearing, valve tappets or cam followers (possible oil starvation). If anyone has experienced similar, or if there is a common fault with this engine which might point to something in particular... I have a feeling Seat are about to replace half my engine for me!

Cheers.

 

[Viking]

This is a pd150 engine is it? How many miles has it done?

 

[glynnd]

Is there a problem with the pd150 tdi at higher mileages then?

 

[Viking]

Over on the VW side, yes. Round about 50k - 70k miles the camshafts decide to destroy the cam followers on one cylinder. Srvice history seems to be irrelevant. Full VW srvice history cars have also been affected.

May or may not affect the Seat engine.

 

[amjd]

Yeah, it is the 150pd engine, its done high miles too - 128,000...

 

[amjd]

with full main dealer service history every 10k miles on the dot, right up to now.

 

[amjd]

Just heard from the garage, apparently the exhaust through inlet valve was burnt out and the no1 cam completely rounded showing the cam follower. New cylinder head time

Seat have quote just under £2,809 for a new cylinder head with all the other bits needed (belts etc). If anyone has any advice or could recommend a garage nr london that could do the work for less.... I cant afford this repair

 

[Dyscontinued]

Jesus man, I feel for ya. Sorry I can't recommend owt.

 

[googies]

Scrappy for a new head, i heard of a thread about here that had worn followers and vavles, cam, followers and valves replaced and no taking head off to do it!!

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=116861

 

[amjd]

That thread explains a lot, sounds like others have had this on older 2002 engines - thanks for the info. Maybe I just been unlucky.

I found this place in Lancashire which others might find useful for reconditioned VAG engines/repairs, with next day anywhere in UK for £22:
www.vwenginerecon.co.uk

The latest is my Leon's getting a tow from Seat Wimbledon to big boys toys in Thurrock. B-B-T quoted £1,700 for cyclinder head,camshaft,valves etc plus gaskets, belts, new water pump etc all fitted. I'm also considering a replacement engine (£2400 fully fitted reconditioned engine at B-B-T). My worry is that there is something wrong with the bottom end too, and if I just get the cylinder head done i'll end up with more problems.

Both options are still more than I can really afford, so the alternative is B-B-T offered to buy it from me, might hav to do that

 

[glynnd]

I am a bit worried now as i have an 04 cupra tdi (leon) coming up to 100k same as yours fully serviced every 10k on the dot. Had a corolla t sport before very quick car only changed because i started doing 30k per year. Before that i had a passat 130 tdi loads of problems in 6 months of ownership I will never learn my lesson!

 

[thebeno]

Can you not buy an engine for less than that?

Maybe a silly question, not sure yet.....

 

[amjd]

Glynnd, i've probably just been unlucky, I dont want to scare you! But you should bear in mind that you will get no good-will from Seat on a car with that mileage even if it is only 3 yrs old (I've tried), and fdsh has not prevented my engine from failing.

I could buy an engine for a lot less, and get it fitted for £450. It comes down to whether I source a cheap engine myself, but with no guarantees and risk ending up back in this position again with no comeback, or whether I get B-B-T to source & fit the recon engine from a reputed source and with a years warranty...

Buying a reconditioned engine is not something I've ever had to do before, so I'm worried about taking a risk with where I get it from!

 

[thebeno]

I once bought a brand new engine from Vauxhall for 1k, assume its more expensive for a pd150.

 

[amjd]

Seat dont seem to be able to suppy a whole 150pd engine, just as a separate cylinder head and then the bottom, which are reconditioned from their factory in Spain. They just told me the whole engine (fitted) would be another £2200, on top of the £2800 they quoted for the cylinder head!!!!

The 150pd does seem expensive tho - thought I'd found a recon cylinder head for £500, but then I gave them the exact engine number and the price shot to £1000

 

[thebeno]

Jeepers, there's a few on ebay for 1k ish

 

[UncleFester]

Won't a PD130 head fit? I thought the only difference was in the injectors and the map? I'd give Allards a ring too

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/vw-golf-1-9-t...ryZ21654QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

Brand new head there for £350!

 

[micky 32]

Won't a PD130 head fit? I thought the only difference was in the injectors and the map? I'd give Allards a ring too

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/vw-golf-1-9-t...ryZ21654QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

Brand new head there for £350!

The PD130 head is the same as the 150 including the injectors, all other PD's use the saem head also except for the injectors so all heads are interchangeable.

The most likely cause of your failure is most likely down to using the wrong oil at some stage and it doesn't matter if it was serviced by a dealer or not as i know lots who just throw any oil in.

i bought my car new and i serviced it from day one and i have 165k and cams are all perfect.

 

[silver surfer]

whats your engine code have full engine in shed

 

[amjd]

ARL engine code....

Hurry cos I've just given Big Boys Toys the go ahead to order a new cylinder head

Whats the history of the engine/why is it in your shed?!