We deal in three year old VW Polo's and have noticed that many 1.4 and 1.0
engines have a noise that sounds like the ends rattling, it is more
noticeable when cold, but can still be heard when warm with a blip of the
throttle, it is defiantly not the tappet noise, that we are all used to
after they have been standing for a few days.

A local VW service advisor confirmed that it was known as a characteristic
and it was recorded by VW in a technical manual or bulletin, unfortunately
he has left the dealer and nobody else can find the details of this problem.

I did once have this problem before on a 2000 X 9000 mile one year old car
was in warranty, and after a lot of pressure a short engine was replaced
under warranty, it still rattled a little when first started but was better
that before.

The noise is just annoying and I would like to prove to my customers that it
is just a characteristic and not a sign that the engine is about to fail.

If anyone can point me in the right direction I would be grateful.

John

John C wrote:
We deal in three year old VW Polo's and have noticed that many 1.4
and 1.0 engines have a noise that sounds like the ends rattling, it
is more noticeable when cold, but can still be heard when warm with a
blip of the throttle, it is defiantly not the tappet noise, that we
are all used to after they have been standing for a few days.

snip

Yes, I know exactly what you mean.

My father's 1.6 does the same thing. We find it's most noticeable just
*after* you blip the throttle, as the revs are dying off. It's also
quite apparent when changing up through the gears (when it actually
sounds likes it's coming from behind the dashboard).

Anyway, thanks for reassuring us that it's a characteristic, and not a
fault!

These are 8V engines, could you briefly explain what piston slap is.

John


"Charles DH Williams" wrote in message
...
In article ,
"John C" wrote:

The noise is just annoying and I would like to prove to my customers
that it
is just a characteristic and not a sign that the engine is about to
fail.

I think the noise you are describing is 'piston slap'. This is not a
good 'characteristic' IMHO. I know several 1.4 16V engines that do it in
cold weather.

I believe that 'characteristic' is what dealers say when they mean "I
don't like the sound of that, shove off."

Charles.

We deal in three year old VW Polo's and have noticed that many
1.4 and 1.0 engines have a noise that sounds like the ends
rattling, it is more noticeable when cold, but can still be heard
when warm with a blip of the throttle, it is defiantly not the
tappet noise,

This page popped up on a simple internet search

http://www.peachorlemon.co.uk/polo.htm

Search it for "piston slap".

In article ,
"John C" wrote:

These are 8V engines, could you briefly explain what piston slap is.

I dunno about the 8V's. More about piston slap:

http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/jk/020320.htm

http://www.pistonslap.com/

I think GM's 1.5 minutes is *very* generous in GM's favour.

Charles

On Fri, 11 Jul 2003 20:49:58 +0000 (UTC), "John C"
wrote:

We deal in three year old VW Polo's and have noticed that many 1.4 and 1.0
engines have a noise that sounds like the ends rattling, it is more
noticeable when cold, but can still be heard when warm with a blip of the
throttle, it is defiantly not the tappet noise, that we are all used to
after they have been standing for a few days.

A local VW service advisor confirmed that it was known as a characteristic
and it was recorded by VW in a technical manual or bulletin, unfortunately
he has left the dealer and nobody else can find the details of this problem.

I did once have this problem before on a 2000 X 9000 mile one year old car
was in warranty, and after a lot of pressure a short engine was replaced
under warranty, it still rattled a little when first started but was better
that before.

The noise is just annoying and I would like to prove to my customers that it
is just a characteristic and not a sign that the engine is about to fail.

If anyone can point me in the right direction I would be grateful.

John


Had a similar noise on a 1996 1.6 and that was to do with the air
filter housing rattling at a certain rev range, worth checking if it's
the same problem ?

Mark S.