6N2 GTI Exhaust/Manifold 'Supports' - Any Ideas?

wrz6n2 · Post by **wrz6n2** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 6:06 pm

Not your usual exhaust question but more one about the 'supports' that you can see when looking directly down at the manifold when you open the bonnet - you can't actually see this 'support' on the left hand side due to engine cover/cam belt cover and all the other gubbins on this side of the engine however on the right hand side (as you look down) you can see this 'fixed' onto the manifold; small thin piece of metal bolted to engine and manifold.

Strange in cabin vibration starterd a few weeks ago and and given my GTI was having its cam belt/water pump changed by VW (another story as this was done by a local independent VW specialist back in November 2011, he didn't use genuine VW parts and the water pump failed...) I asked them (VW) to inspect the noise and I was catergorically told it was the manifold at fault, i.e. I need a new one.

VW told me there weren't any in the UK and this then had to be specially ordered from the factory at a cost of £370.00 including fitting - I went away to think about this given the cost and also maybe an opportunity to get my GTI down to AMD in Essex for a new manifold, exhaust, air filter and re-map - having spoken to AMD and also looked at various threads on here; big cost for little BHP increase and given my GTI is 115,000+ miles I decided agaisnt this.

So, paid the money and went back to VW a couple of weeks later once VW had received the part from the factory, within 15 minutes I was told there is nothing wrong with the manifold and it is one of these 'supports' that had broken - the mechanic appeared with this in his hand and stated 'one of your supports has broken, one is still fine so no big deal, but we need to order one of these and not the manifold...'

To add insult to injury VW rang me the following week and told me they have no idea what these are or how to get them as they don't apparently exisit on their parts sytstem...

These do not come with the manifold as I have already found out and apparently not with the exhaust either - money since refunded and here I am sat waiting for VW to find out how to get hold of this part, bloody joke really...

Any ideas greatfully received, does anyone actually know what these are or what the part actually is?

I'd love to go back to VW, given them an earfull and actually tell them what they need to get...

6N2 GTI 00 · Post by **6N2 GTI 00** » Mon Apr 23, 2012 8:37 pm

Do you have any pictures you could supply mate?

I cannot recall seeing the parts in question on my old GTI but that could have been due to the heat shield obscuring the view, if you could post a picture of the part then it would be appreciated.
Some of the lads on here have aftermarket exhaust manifolds fitted to their GTI's so perhaps they could spare you the part that you require.

Thanks

wrz6n2 · Post by **wrz6n2** » Tue Apr 24, 2012 9:39 pm

As requested:

Showing right side of engine bay.

Showing the bracket, I think...

wrz6n2 · Post by **wrz6n2** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 5:55 pm

Sorry all, anyone got any ideas on these brackets...??

Verity · Post by **Verity** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 6:38 pm

sorry to hear about all your troubles.

Im guessing as VW cant find it on their system then anyone with ETKA or anything alike wont be able to find out either.
silly VW for not putting a part number on

might be best to try and get one from a breakers?
or maybe even have it welded?!?

wrz6n2 · Post by **wrz6n2** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 8:02 pm

Thanks for the response, appreciated. Having thought about this a fair bit, I am wondering if these are related to the heat shield and possibly nothing to do with the manifold/exhaust, don't know.

Having had a bit of welding already done on a couple of my exhaust brackets I was trying not to resort to it!!

Surprised also as no modifications have been done by any of the two previous owners so the exhaust/manifold is as it was when new, I.e it is pretty rusty in places, bit of welding as i say when i bought it, but really not touched since it left the VW dealer in Essex back in 2001 - in other words these are OEM!!

6N2 GTI 00 · Post by **6N2 GTI 00** » Thu Apr 26, 2012 9:17 am

They are just heat shield brackets mate, some people remove the heatshield altogether as they tend to get pretty tatty over time

Verity · Post by **Verity** » Thu Apr 26, 2012 10:48 am

I think the manifold Cover is a bit deseaving in that photo, Its attached to the bottom of the manifold

wrz6n2 · Post by **wrz6n2** » Thu Apr 26, 2012 1:16 pm

Yes, I think you/we are right, i.e. it's got to be Heat Shield related...

I am now questioning if it is one of these brackets that is causing this vibration, may get another opinion because if one of these brackets has broken surely the vibration I'm hearing wouldn't be that bad, it's only a bracket! It definitley sounds like an exhaust vibration, i.e. the vibration only starts at about 3000 rpm, is worse from a cold start (overnight) and you can't really hear it when driving - in essence it is really only apparent when I'm at a standstill and rev the engine.

If I open my passenger door and rev the engine the sound is far worse down the near side (left side) then the off side (right side) and given it is the off side bracket that has broken I'd imagine the noise to be worse on this side, who knows hey!

I think I'll get back on the phone to VW and mention the Heat Shield, you'd think they could have worked this out themselves really.

Thanks again.

wrz6n2 · Post by **wrz6n2** » Thu Apr 26, 2012 1:18 pm

Actually having just re-read Verity's comment she is right, it is attached to the bottom of the manifold and not the heat shield, bugger...

6N2 GTI 00 · Post by **6N2 GTI 00** » Thu Apr 26, 2012 3:31 pm

It might be worth checking the exhaust brackets too because I had an annoying rattle on mine which I originally thought was the gearbox but later turned out to be a corroded exhaust bracket by the CAT. As for the Manifold brackets i'm suprised VW cannot help on this matter, surely there must be something they can do?

I'm sure you could get a bracket fabricated but normally ze germans put part numbers on everything so you would expect the manifold supports/brackets to have some kind of part number. There are plenty of GTI's being broken unfortunately so you might be able to source one for eBay or your local scrap yard.

wrz6n2 · Post by **wrz6n2** » Thu Apr 26, 2012 9:43 pm

I find it difficult to not get distracted when at VW - R32's, Pirelli Edition Golf GTI's, fat V6 Toureg's & a nice candy white 9N Polo GTI (not a good colour in my book) so having a sensible conversation can be tricky...

Scrap yard is a plan indeed, funnily enough I am still waiting for them to call be back.

wrz6n2 · Post by **wrz6n2** » Thu Apr 26, 2012 9:45 pm

I just wrote a reply but hey...

Scrap yard is a plan indeed if VW really can't do anything, funnily enough still waiting for a call back.

6N2 GTI 00 · Post by **6N2 GTI 00** » Fri Apr 27, 2012 8:45 am

wrz6n2 wrote:I just wrote a reply but hey...

Scrap yard is a plan indeed if VW really can't do anything, funnily enough still waiting for a call back.

Good luck mate, I hope you get the part you need

Trottagti · Post by **Trottagti** » Sun Apr 29, 2012 2:38 pm

I have my old manifold and all the fitting parts if you need anything. All your bolts tight? Take the manifold cover of and it should stop.....

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