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Volkswagen Passat Maintenance and Repair

3340 messages,  Last post on Apr 25, 2013 at 10:07 AM

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What is this discussion about? Volkswagen Passat, Sedan, Wagon

    
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Messages Page 224 of 334

#2231 of 3340 Jingling noise from the front suspension by vinay_s

Jun 13, 2007 (12:07 pm)

I have a 2000 Passat 1.8T which has done about 73K miles.
 
I bought it used at 33K miles and I've not had much trouble with it till now. However I have three concerns for which I seek advice/opinions:
 
1: The last couple of months I have noticed a jingling noise coming from the front suspension. It sounds like a bunch of coins and increases when I drive over speedbumps or rough pavement. Took it to a Meineke shop which said I needed new shocks and struts (Approx $600 for Front only) . I then took it to a VW dealer. They said they could not find anything wrong with the car and advised against changing the shocks/struts. The noise is still there...any thoughts?
 
2: I have read and heard that the Passat needs to have its timing-belt and related mechanisms changed around the 75K mark. IS this true?. My car is not showing any signs of needing this repair. what should I lookout for?
 
3: On one rare occasion that I had an oil-change done outside the VW dealership ( at Lube Express), the mechanic warned me that my car has some sludge accumulated and recommended a 100$ "clean-up". When I checked with the VW dealership during my next oil change, they mentioned that VW does not recommend any clean-up and if the car was not giving me any trouble I should leave the sludge alone. Any thoughts??

#2232 of 3340 Re: Jingling noise from the front suspension [vinay_s] by shipo

Jun 13, 2007 (1:11 pm)

Replying to: vinay_s (Jun 13, 2007 12:07 pm)
If there is any evidence at all of sludging in your engine, I'd have the oil pan pulled pronto and have the oil pick-up screen cleaned. While the pan is off, if things look grim down there, I'm not quite sure what I'd do, but I seriously doubt that I'd have the dealership do a $100 cleaning. Why? I’ve actually seen that attempted, and all it did was loosen enough crud from the various surfaces so that on the very next drive, the screen was fully clogged again and the engine fails.
 
In the end, everything that I've read and experienced with engine sludge indicates that it cannot be removed without engine removal and at least partial disassembly.
 
I suppose if I had a good condition car that was diagnosed as having sludge, I'd probably pull the motor, disassemble it down to the block and head, send the two of them out for commercial cleaning, and then reassemble the motor, probably with new valves, lifters, cams, rings and engine bearings.
 
Best Regards,
Shipo

#2233 of 3340 Re: Jingling noise from the front suspension [shipo] by vinay_s

Jun 13, 2007 (2:08 pm)

Replying to: shipo (Jun 13, 2007 1:11 pm)
Shipo, Thanks!
 
It would probably mean spending at least a couple of thousand dollars on this. Right?

#2234 of 3340 Re: Jingling noise from the front suspension [vinay_s] by shipo

Jun 13, 2007 (2:56 pm)

Replying to: vinay_s (Jun 13, 2007 2:08 pm)
I don't know that it would cost quite that much. It won't be cheap either, however, it will certainly cost less than a new engine or a rebuilt one for that matter. In the end I suppose it all depends upon just how sludged the engine is.
 
Try pulling the cam cover and taking a picture so you can post it. If your engine is truely sludged, you'll know it immediately.
 
Best Regards,
Shipo

#2235 of 3340 40k check up by dkesler

Jun 13, 2007 (3:50 pm)

I have an 03 Passat with the 40,000 mile maintenance coming up, my dealer is an hour away, and wants $589.00 (five-hundred eight nine dollars). I am not a do it yourself person when it comes to cars. I am thinking of buying the parts and having my local GM dealer do the install. This would be the plugs, oil,and filters. I haven't checked with them but it would have to be much lower. I love my car, and I want to kept it in top condition. Anyone see a problem?? Thanks

#2236 of 3340 Re: Jingling noise from the front suspension [vinay_s] by altair4

Jun 14, 2007 (6:49 am)

Replying to: vinay_s (Jun 13, 2007 12:07 pm)
Jingling noise may be your control arms or tie rod ends going bad, a known weak link in Passats and their over-engineered front suspension. I'm surprised the dealer didn't mention it. Does the noise go away if you touch the brake pedal? Then one of the front pads could be loose.
 
Timing belt and associated parts: There are no overt signs that a car will need a new timing belt. It's working fine one minute, and it's broken the next. The primary problem, however, is that the VW engine, like many other manufacturers' current engines, is an interference design. That means if the timing belt snaps, the pistons will make contact with the valves. This is not an inexpensive repair.
 
On the sludge issue...I personally wouldn't take the word of any Iffy Lube (or any of their ilk) regarding sludge. Too many of those shops are in the business of upselling other services (many of which aren't needed). Let's talk a little about your manintenance habits to determine the likelihood of your engine sludging.
1) You should have done 8 oil changes during your ownership if you've been following the 5,000 mile service interval - how many have you actually done?
2) What oil have you been using - synthetic oil or not? 502.00 compliant or not?
3) What are your driving conditions? Lots of stop-n-go, long distance cruiser, or a mix?
4) Do you ever cool down the turbo after a hard drive?
 
It seems that the 1.8T doesn't so much sludge the oil as coke it due to the turbo's heat. Particularly apparent when using non-synthetic oil, not paying strict adherence to the 5,000 miles or less oil change interval, and not letting the turbo cool down after hard driving. These hard particles of coked oil collect on the oil pickup screen, and slowly starve the engine of oil. You'll often hear the first signs of it with a rattling noise emanating from the rear of the cylinder head at the cam chain adjuster.

#2237 of 3340 My 1993 Passat VR6 smokes + fuel in oil by joe146

Jun 14, 2007 (8:30 am)

Hey Pat & Karen, I'm joe with joe146 as my screen name for edmund
I've had a 1993 VW-Passat VR6 for few years, I've serviced it and
changed oil often. Recently it has started to smoke and loose power. I
changed Plugs and noticed one of the plugs is wet with fuel. I packed it for few days for I had to travel and when I came back I checked the oil and it smells like gas, ie gas is liking to the oil tank and it smoke even more. Is this a known problem with Passats or just me? I this almost the end of my Engine? Shall I be looking into another motor or. My car is 165K non turbo VR6.
Thanks

#2238 of 3340 Re: My 1993 Passat VR6 smokes + fuel in oil [joe146] by shipo

Jun 14, 2007 (11:49 am)

Replying to: joe146 (Jun 14, 2007 8:30 am)
I drove my 1995 VR6 Passat to well over 100,000 miles and never experienced that kind of a problem, that and I have hung around on numerous Passat boards for years and never heard of that kind of a problem. As such, I'm thinking you have a fairly isolated problem.
 
Were I in your shoes I'd have the fuel injection system thoroughly checked as it sounds like you are running WAAAAY rich. This could simply be a matter of one or more clogged fuel injectors that are refusing to close between discharge events, or it could be something more serious wrong with the control unit that runs the fuel injection system. Regardless, get that thing to a qualified service center (now is not the time to be looking for an inexpensive mechanic) and have it gone through.
 
In the mean time, CHANGE YOUR OIL, PRONTO. Fuel dilution in the magnatude you've described can and will ruin your engine in relatively short order.
 
Best Regards,
Shipo

#2239 of 3340 Re: My 1993 Passat VR6 smokes + fuel in oil [shipo] by joe146

Jun 14, 2007 (2:28 pm)

Replying to: shipo (Jun 14, 2007 11:49 am)
Thanks Shipo, I did take it to VW dealer, they told me it could be control unit, they changed that with no luck, suggested injector changed all of them, cost me over $2000. Now they are telling me "it could be" gasket and need another $3000 for that cause block might have crack as well.
Still love my VR6, is it time to look for another motor or shall invest some more on this? Bad thing is they do not know if that is the problem for sure or not.

#2240 of 3340 Re: My 1993 Passat VR6 smokes + fuel in oil [joe146] by shipo

Jun 14, 2007 (3:04 pm)

Replying to: joe146 (Jun 14, 2007 2:28 pm)
I have a pretty fair amount of engine experience and I have NO IDEA how they can draw a line from running rich enough to cause significant fuel dilution to a head gasket and/or a cracked block. Something smells fishy, very fishy.
 
Regarding what they've told you and what they've done and charged you for, ummm, it sounds like they are totally incompetent and simply throwing parts at the problem in the hopes that they'll get lucky. Were I in your shoes I'd call around to various VW dealerships and/or Independent shops that specialize in VWs (and other European cars), and ask if they have a technician on staff that is certified on the fuel systems of the 1990s vintage VR6 motors.
 
Best Regards,
Shipo

Messages Page 224 of 334

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