Had a Valve job now the engine is missing

Tiny
VIK0916475
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 VOLKSWAGEN GOLF
  • 1.4L
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 87,000 MILES
Hi,
I am stuck in a problem which is regarding a fault with my car.
Few months ago, I had my camblet and cylinder head changed by the Halfords after cambelt was snapped and made some damage to the valves and cylinder head (according to the halfords). Then after a month after I started to feel bit engine shaking feeling in my car but I thought it may be due to the due car service and for services I took it to KwikFit, but very next day, I saw that Engine Light came on and after some time just gone off.

I rang KwikFit and told them about it and they suggested me to pop-in and they will have a look at it. After connecting the diagnostic tool they advised me that there is some problem in the emission but when I told them about cambelt and cylinder head change they told me to better is to take it back to Halfords and they carried out some work previously. I took it to halfords where they told me leave the car for further investigation. After having it for a month they told me that there was one sticking valve inside the cylinder head and it happened due to the excessive head in the cylinder.

And they also told me that, cylinder three was running lean which caused the excessive heat and damaged the valves. But they were unable to find the underlying fault with the car and advised me to take it to VW for further investigation, which I did. But after the one hour labour VW told me that there is no problem with the car whatsoever and everything is running as per the company's standard. But halfords is not happy with their finding and not ready to take the responsibility of their part and told me if I could not find actual fault then they will not be responsible for any fault or damage occurs to the car.

Now, I want to know what can cause that excessive heat in the cylinder (or this is only the assumption of halfords supplier). According to VW engine is not running lean then how did halfords came to this conclusion. Halfords supplier also suggested there may be some problem with the catalytic converter or less oxygen in engine. Halfords is also saying it may be due to faulty ECU or faulty fuel injectors. But problem is no one sure about the problem and only making assumptions. If I just follow halfords assumptions then VW is asking me few hundreds to investigate in detail.

Can someone please suggest me anything about this fault and any specific test that can prove that there is no problem with my car because currently I cannot drive it because I am afraid if something happens then no one will take the responsibility and I will have to bear all the cost.
Please help me.

Regards,
Vik
Friday, November 21st, 2014 AT 5:47 AM

3 Replies

Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,643 POSTS
I assume the engine was running correctly before the timing belt issue. The underline problem seems to be with the cylinder head which the first garage worked on, if the valve job was not done properly it will cause the issues you are describing. Take it to another shop have have them do a leak down test, you will probably see one of the intake valves is leaking causing the aforementioned engine light.

Please get back to me with your findings.

Best, Ken
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Friday, November 21st, 2014 AT 2:26 PM
Tiny
VIK0916475
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Hi Ken,

Thanks for your advise but as I mentioned, there is no problem with my car at all right now as told by VW itself. They ran different tests and told me everything is alright. Halfords fixed that sticking valve issue when I brought my car back to them as they sent the cylinder head back to the supplier for repair.
But I am worried if same things happens again because according to VW everything is fine but halfords is saying that there is some underlying issue with it so in this situation if anything happens then halfords will take no responsibility.
Here is what halfords think:
1. Faulty ECU or faulty ECU wiring
2. Faulty injectors
3. Cat converter or faulty oxygen sensor
4. Cylinder is running lean caused excessive heat in the cylinder
5. To make halfords satisfy, I will have to get VW to carry out various tests related to above issues which again cost me many hundreds (as VW told).

Here is VW:
1. If there is a fault with ECU or ECU wiring then engine light must have come on already.
2. Again if this was the case then warning light must have come on
3. Again if this was the case then warning light must have come on
4. Cylinder is running lean caused excessive heat in the cylinder, this may be due to faulty cylinder head fitted
and now according to VW there is no faults exist in the car mentioned above and car is safe to drive.
And in terms of the tests suggested by halfords are useless and unnecessary according to VW.

So, with your experience what would you suggest, I mean VW's findings sound correct or the halfords assumptions. Or is there anything that you would like to add so that I can get in touch with VW or Halfords for more information.

Regards,
Vik
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Friday, November 21st, 2014 AT 4:50 PM
Tiny
KEN L
  • MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
  • 47,643 POSTS
Yes, I believe the head was defective and I agree with VW the car is fine to drive. I sounds like the halfords shop is trying to cover their bases and shift the blame to something else they didn't replace. Though the things they mentioned could cause a problem, the chances of it occurring are remote, the defective head was the problem.
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Friday, November 21st, 2014 AT 5:42 PM

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