First ever golf gti... disaster

Well just thought i'd type this up cause it might make feel a bit better knowing theres guys on here that have prob had similar experiences. Yesterday i bought a mk1 gti with a mk2 gti 16v engine runing twin weber 45s. Drove it home 30 miles fine but on a later run around the block when i pushed it a little but not excessively it started tapping slowly losing power and then it cut out on me. I got back and some steam came from the breather, i phoned my cousin who is an aston martin mechanic and asked him to come take a look. Without all the tools needed and taking the top of the engine he said its most likely a bent valve on cylinder one.

I really havent felt this bad in a long time, i went from being well chuffed to being devastated in the space of a few seconds. The car was sold as seen obviously and ran fine when i bought it. I really dont know where to turn now and im worried it could cost me a lot of money. If there are any experts on here that want to earn some money and save me some give me a pm i'd really appreciate any help.

 :cry:

most likely the cam belt has gone at some point.
it's a head off new valves,seals,guides etc job i'm afraid.
the engine is quite simply though so you should be able to do a lot of it your self.
do the whole head while your doing it no point in doing half a job.

oh and parts are cheapish so it's not dead yet. :wink:

^^^^

What he said - good excuse to learn your way around the cylinder head, get yourself a couple of books and mess up your kitchen table.

Don't worry too much bout it, bit gutting considering how new it is to you, but think about how satisfied you'll be once you've got it running again!

Mat

Where did you buy it from?  "sold as seen" doesn't really mean much.  the law states it has to be fit for purpose which this one isn't, although I am not sure on the distinction between private and trade sales but a quick phone call to cit. advise should set you on the right path.  I know it is a pain but IF the law is on your side a quick phone call to the seller should hopefully sort you out.

Otherwise as novocaine said it's probably a fixer

Good luck

metalblue said

Where did you buy it from?  "sold as seen" doesn't really mean much.  the law states it has to be fit for purpose which this one isn't, although I am not sure on the distinction between private and trade sales but a quick phone call to cit. advise should set you on the right path.  I know it is a pain but IF the law is on your side a quick phone call to the seller should hopefully sort you out.

Otherwise as novocaine said it's probably a fixer

Good luck

private sale you have no come back i'm afraid.
just get on a fix it.

My main worry about going it alone is setting things back up once its taken apart like setting the belt right and the cam timings, i do know people who could help me even my cousin said he would but hes working 6 days a week as it is so he doesnt have the time. Thing is though is this something that would have gone wrong eventually anyway? I guess my aim is to sort the head out and then get it professionally set up after that. Can anyone recommend me a good read?

the haynes is a good place to start mate.

only something that goes if the cam belt isn't maintained.

setting the belt etc back up is not that hard. neither is lapping the valves etc. you will need some specific tools to do the job though. (torque wrench, valve compressor, swizzel stick, valve paste, strobe etc.)

Rewind slightly, how did your Aston Martin mechanic diagnose that a valve was bent, without the correct tools to do so? Is it an educated guess? It might not be a head off job, could be a seized tappet or something? Could be lots of things....

paul_c said

Rewind slightly, how did your Aston Martin mechanic diagnose that a valve was bent, without the correct tools to do so? Is it an educated guess? It might not be a head off job, could be a seized tappet or something? Could be lots of things….

Its an educated guess, he checked the connections after we got it ticking over. Then he got a t bar and socket and pulled the plugs which were all fine, felt the back of the engine while it ticked over. Started it up on three cylinders then back on all four etc. He said he cant be sure cause it means taking the head apart, my local garage would charge me a lot just to take a look let alone fix it. Its definately tapping. I wouldnt mind doing it myself but i think i'd need someone watching over me tbh.

Well, a compression test will tell you if the valve is bent.....(or another issue).

Ok just did some reading and watching, gonna borrow a compression tester.

i presume theres plenty of oil in it? if it still runs its unlikley to be the cam belt,
Bert

Oil checked and fine yeah, im off out to pick up a car cover and a compression tester. Moment of truth later.

if the cambelt has jumped time and is still turning,it will bend other valves,so your probably ok on the belt side,may be worth changing it anyway if you dont know the history,
Bert

Probably an easy fix mate. Its only an engine after all! A very simple one aswell

I'm pretty sure the car wont have bent the valves, spin the crank with a spanner if it gets stuck anywhere other than top dead centre, then somethings wrong.

You mention the car starts so I'd say it can't be *that* bad.

I agree with Paul do the compression test.

Something to note though, the Haynes doesnt tell you you need new cylinder head bolts, dont use the old ones when you put it back together.

So i did a compression test about an hour ago, taking each reading with the other three spark plugs seated as i went. The readings i got were:

1: 125
2: 95
3: 70
4: 100

Not being very experienced i dont know what to make of it will have to seek some advice. Anyone got any ideas? Really appreciate the support so far.

tomsdubs said

So i did a compression test about an hour ago, taking each reading with the other three spark plugs seated as i went. The readings i got were:

1: 125
2: 95
3: 70
4: 100

Not being very experienced i dont know what to make of it will have to seek some advice. Anyone got any ideas? Really appreciate the support so far.

I assume they're psi, if so they're all over the place and not even cylinder no 1 is correct! How did you do the test (give as much detail as possible)?

Also do a wet test (splash of  oil in the piston of each) afterwards

Well i think i did it right

Pulled the ignition leads, removed plug one and tested, replaced plug one and removed plug two and tested etc. Did i do it wrong, i had no one around to show me and the guides i've read and seen have all said different ways.