Post cambelt & Headgasket change issues!

[Jizmondo Scrotmondo]

The head gasket blew between cylinders 1 & 2. The head gasket, cambelt, tappets have all been changed. All the timing marks are lined up as per Haynes. The head bolts were all torqued down correctly and in order. The engine itself fired up straight away and sounds sweet but is idling terribly. Sometimes the revs drop and it cuts out. It revs ok and but as soon as it tries to idle it's all over the place. We had a timing light on it and it's more or less cock-on.

Can't understand what's going on with it. Feel like giving up to be honest.

[datsundrew]

What car? Check hoses etc for air leaks, it's so easy to disturb or mix up when doing work like this.

[Jizmondo Scrotmondo]

Mk2 golf gti 8v digifant. The leads are in the right order too. The impression I'm getting is that I've disturbed something.

[rodney]

check everything on the inlet side mate , it got coolant etc in it now? , inlet gaskets , vac pipes , are the tappets ajustable?? as too tight will stop it idling,.

[Jizmondo Scrotmondo]

I'm gonna have a good check over the bank holiday weekend. Coolant is all OK, I've replaced all the vacuum hoses (inc. the blanked off one on the back of the throttle body) The tappets are non adjustable. As saft as it sounds, the engine itself sounds the best I've ever heard it, it's just won't idle properly.

Just to add, When I removed the head, it still had the inlet and exhaust manifolds attached.

[ejenner]

a. does it have a crank sensor

b. could you have disturbed it during the work


If so, take it out, check and clean, check the wire and plug.

[RobinJI]

How's the idle control valve? This might help.

[Jizmondo Scrotmondo]

I have a confession to make. After having a read and poke about on the net, I've realised that when I lined all the timing marks I didn't set the flywheel at TDC, I set it at the 6 degrees before mark which is used for the timing light. I should have set it with the TDC dot what a Nob.

I'm out in a minute reset the mark, buy a timing light (the one we used was my friends workmates) and get it sorted!

[andyborris]

We've all been there, glad to hear it's sorted and easily too.

[ejenner]

Hehehe... dick~ish thing to say... but someone has to... lucky valves didn't contact pistons... ;D

[RobinJI]

May 4, 2013 8:43:35 GMT ejenner said:

Hehehe... dick~ish thing to say... but someone has to... lucky valves didn't contact pistons... ;D

1.8 8v VW engines of that era are non-interference .

Bad luck, it's easily done. Shows the importance of attention to detain in engine work I guess, at least it was a mistake that's easily reversed for free.

[ejenner]

twice in two posts... I'm feeling stupid

[Jizmondo Scrotmondo]

All sorted timed up at TDC, all timing marks where they're supposed to be and the big 6 degree mark all timed and matched up at 2500rpm.

Only downside is the throttle body gasket needs replacing as it's leaking so can't set the idle properly until that's replaced on Tuesday as it's a dealer only part.

I knew it was a non interference engine, otherwise I wouldn't have attempted it

Thanks for the replies!

[rodney]

make a tb gasket with gasket paper or even cereal box to get it running,.

[Jizmondo Scrotmondo]

May 4, 2013 23:06:56 GMT rodney said:

make a tb gasket with gasket paper or even cereal box to get it running,.

I dropped one of the throttle body bolts and by a freak chance, it went down into the body/chassis of the car........

I'm popping over to Volksmagic tomorrow for a couple of bolts and to see if they've got any gaskets.

I'll probably end up making one as I've heard they're discontinued? They don't list them on VW heritage and there's none on Thiefbay. I was thinking gasket paper but apparently it soaks up oil and perishes?

[cobblers]

A little smear of hylomar or something would be fine, but gasket paper is deffo OK when in contact with oil - that's what it seals 50% of the time.

[Jizmondo Scrotmondo]

I've found a part number for the gasket so I'll give the VW stealer a ring Tuesday, if no luck, I'll use the old gasket as a template and make one from gasket paper and fit it up with a smear of Hylomar.