UK-POLOS.NET - THE VW Polo Forum

Hello members
I've got a VW Polo 1.4 E year 2001(X reg, not sure what 'Mark' version it is), and it always makes a tapping noise but i don't now think it's from the tappets, anyway, i took a trip to my local VW dealer/ service center and one of the mechanic's had a listen, this is what he said....

It's not the tappets, what it is, is that my model suffered a kind of manufacturing flaw, and while it was new and still under warranty the problem was rectified for free....

What he said is that it's something to do with the 'Pistons' having a coating which 'the way i understood it' either came off, or wasn't correct somehow, but that it was most deffinately not the Hydraulic tappets, he said it was a common issue with that model and year and that it would not damage the engine, when i asked him if he new this for a fact, he replied 'yes', he said he'd done many engines from this model during the warranty 'call back' period, i asked if there was any engine treatment on the market to deal with it, he said 'no', you have to take the head asembly off and change/ or recoat the pistons (i think, but i'm not sure of my understanding to his reply).

Has anyone encounter, had or heard of this before, or have they managed to sort it out for themselves using some sort of 'pour in' engine treatment they may know of.

Any help or info would be very grateful.

Kind regards
Livio

What he said sounds like a load of rubbish. Coating on pistons Even if by some strange reason vw decided to do that (I'm pretty certain they didn't) how would it make a noise ?

Could be anything realy, possibly tappets or a valve sticking, can't be diagnosed without listening.

Thanks hardhitter, is it possible that the engine's 'Pinking'? and does my VW have a 'Knock' sensor, shouldn't it sort the ignition timing out, and also, if the engine timing's out could it also produce the noise, and therfore is it adjustable?

Also, does anyone know of a 'mobile' service company or firm based in London that can deal with the above issue, and is fully equipped with diagnostics to check the above issues, and then correct them?

All advice would be grateful

regards

I too agree that his explaination is a load of b*******s. Sounds like he is trying to charge you for work that does not need doing IMO. If it sounds like a tappet then it is more than likely head related and not to do with the bottom end.

I had a similar issue once and it was the valve guide had gotten damaged. Sounded like a tappet at times but changed pitch and sometimes dissappeared! Changed the guide and a new valve and hey presto. Cost me about £30 and one evening to fix.

yeah, i'd say try a couple or three other garages for extra opinions, and go with whatever explanation matches up on two or more occasions. sounds like the guff me mate's cousin who's being "trained" (for want of a more accurate but board-safe word) at a mercedes garage would come out with.

according to him you don't need to run new engines in any more, or change the oil. ever. i won't be buying a mercedes in this end of town any time soon...