02 Jetta VR6 makes Rattling Noise

I noticed a rattling noise in the engine area anytime I "give it the
gas". It's worse between 40-50mph. It seems to be worse depending on
how cold it is outside. I drove it 3 hours one day and at the end of
the trip I could barely hear it. I've taken it to VW dealership (they
are worthless) and a friend who owns a car repair place. He said the
only way to find the problem was to tear down the engine and that
would cost $800+. He put in thicker oil which didn't help much.
Any ideas/suggestions?

On 3 Feb 2007 10:17:55 -0800, cwhitmore (AT) austin (DOT) rr.com wrote:

I noticed a rattling noise in the engine area anytime I "give it the
gas". It's worse between 40-50mph. It seems to be worse depending on
how cold it is outside. I drove it 3 hours one day and at the end of
the trip I could barely hear it. I've taken it to VW dealership (they
are worthless) and a friend who owns a car repair place. He said the
only way to find the problem was to tear down the engine and that
would cost $800+. He put in thicker oil which didn't help much.
Any ideas/suggestions?

What octane gas are you using? Does it do it with high test gas? It it
noisier when it is cold like 20C or is it noisier when it is warm like
20F?

On Feb 3, 1:34 pm, Jim Behning
<jimbehn... (AT) doesthisblockpork (DOT) mindspring.com> wrote:

On 3 Feb 2007 10:17:55 -0800, cwhitm... (AT) austin (DOT) rr.com wrote:

I noticed a rattling noise in the engine area anytime I "give it the
gas". It's worse between 40-50mph. It seems to be worse depending on
how cold it is outside. I drove it 3 hours one day and at the end of
the trip I could barely hear it. I've taken it to VW dealership (they
are worthless) and a friend who owns a car repair place. He said the
only way to find the problem was to tear down the engine and that
would cost $800+. He put in thicker oil which didn't help much.
Any ideas/suggestions?

What octane gas are you using? Does it do it with high test gas? It it
noisier when it is cold like 20C or is it noisier when it is warm like
20F?

I thought it was the gas as well, but I've even gone to different gas
stations and have only been using super unleaded (93). Yes, it seems
to be noiser when it's colder outside (but it still does it whether
it's warm or cold). I noticed it in October when it started to get
cold outside. It doesn't seem to be as loud after a 2+ hour trip. I
thought there might be some carbon loose inside the engine so I've
gunned it a few times to see if I could flush it out, but no luck. If
I'm cruising on the highway at 70+ it doesn't make any noise. It's
only city driving when I notice it.

On 3 Feb 2007 15:19:24 -0800, cwhitmore (AT) austin (DOT) rr.com wrote:

On Feb 3, 1:34 pm, Jim Behning
jimbehn... (AT) doesthisblockpork (DOT) mindspring.com> wrote:
On 3 Feb 2007 10:17:55 -0800, cwhitm... (AT) austin (DOT) rr.com wrote:

I noticed a rattling noise in the engine area anytime I "give it the
gas". It's worse between 40-50mph. It seems to be worse depending on
how cold it is outside. I drove it 3 hours one day and at the end of
the trip I could barely hear it. I've taken it to VW dealership (they
are worthless) and a friend who owns a car repair place. He said the
only way to find the problem was to tear down the engine and that
would cost $800+. He put in thicker oil which didn't help much.
Any ideas/suggestions?

What octane gas are you using? Does it do it with high test gas? It it
noisier when it is cold like 20C or is it noisier when it is warm like
20F?

I thought it was the gas as well, but I've even gone to different gas
stations and have only been using super unleaded (93). Yes, it seems
to be noiser when it's colder outside (but it still does it whether
it's warm or cold). I noticed it in October when it started to get
cold outside. It doesn't seem to be as loud after a 2+ hour trip. I
thought there might be some carbon loose inside the engine so I've
gunned it a few times to see if I could flush it out, but no luck. If
I'm cruising on the highway at 70+ it doesn't make any noise. It's
only city driving when I notice it.

I am going to send the injectors from my truck off for flow testing
and cleaning. The truck pings a lot more than it did 250,000 miles
ago. Relatively fresh valve job, cylinders look good, catalytic
onverter looks ok on either end. There are folks that offer on the car
injector cleaning. I want measured results before I go on to other
troubleshooting efforts.

Your car has a diagnostic port. If somethng is goofing up it should
toss error codes. On my truck which was made before the fancy easy to
read dignostics codes has a knock sensor. If my truck is running too
lean because of a goofed up injector that causes the knock sensor to
roll back timing then that might explain the loss of power.

Another note. My 80-84 Rabbits seemed to eat catalytic converters even
with new injectors. The convertor would rattle like there were marbles
in the convertor. That was until a chunk big enough to cork the
exhaust broke off.

Sometimes belt bearings can make weird noises that get quieter when
they warm up. On the TDI you are supposed to replace all timing belt
idler pulleys when doing a timing belt. My alternator/power steering
belt needs a new tensioner as it is a bit noisy. Sometimes I notice it
and sometimes I do not.

Back to my truck. It was making some weird rattle noises. I finally
replaced the timing chain and its idler rub plates. One of those rub
thngs had disintegrated. Truck was quiet again after that part was
replaced. That is except for the pinging from the too lean injectors.
;-)

Yeah it could be a bad batch of fuel.

I sent a '01 GTi VR6 to the dealership. It had a slight rattle noise and I
think the dealer said that the engine needed work. I believe the noise is
coming from the timing chain area so that is what I think the problem is,
the timing chain. This engine only has 56K miles on it and is still under
warranty for the owner who is the original owner. They have to prove that
the oil changes have been done regularly, so I will see what happens since
they do have proof. Dealer has been nice so far, but quoted the owner $3300
if they could not provide the proof! 8^o

You need to listen to where that rattle noise is coming from. I used an
auto stethoscope to determine it was in the timing chain area.

later,
dave
(One out of many daves)


"Jim Behning" <jimbehning (AT) doesthisblockpork (DOT) mindspring.com> wrote

On 3 Feb 2007 10:17:55 -0800, cwhitmore (AT) austin (DOT) rr.com wrote:

I noticed a rattling noise in the engine area anytime I "give it the
gas". It's worse between 40-50mph. It seems to be worse depending on
how cold it is outside. I drove it 3 hours one day and at the end of
the trip I could barely hear it. I've taken it to VW dealership (they
are worthless) and a friend who owns a car repair place. He said the
only way to find the problem was to tear down the engine and that
would cost $800+. He put in thicker oil which didn't help much.
Any ideas/suggestions?

What octane gas are you using? Does it do it with high test gas? It it
noisier when it is cold like 20C or is it noisier when it is warm like
20F?

It sounds like they need to take their proof in before they allow the dealer
start the work. Otherwise I see a $3300 bill coming. If they decide their
proof isn't good enough.
"dave AKA vwdoc1" <vwdoc1 (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote

Yeah it could be a bad batch of fuel.

I sent a '01 GTi VR6 to the dealership. It had a slight rattle noise and
I think the dealer said that the engine needed work. I believe the noise
is coming from the timing chain area so that is what I think the problem
is, the timing chain. This engine only has 56K miles on it and is still
under warranty for the owner who is the original owner. They have to
prove that the oil changes have been done regularly, so I will see what
happens since they do have proof. Dealer has been nice so far, but quoted
the owner $3300 if they could not provide the proof! 8^o

You need to listen to where that rattle noise is coming from. I used an
auto stethoscope to determine it was in the timing chain area.

later,
dave
(One out of many daves)


"Jim Behning" <jimbehning (AT) doesthisblockpork (DOT) mindspring.com> wrote in
message newsoo9s2941cg3co55sbt801g7si4bd47rqf (AT) 4ax (DOT) com...
On 3 Feb 2007 10:17:55 -0800, cwhitmore (AT) austin (DOT) rr.com wrote:

I noticed a rattling noise in the engine area anytime I "give it the
gas". It's worse between 40-50mph. It seems to be worse depending on
how cold it is outside. I drove it 3 hours one day and at the end of
the trip I could barely hear it. I've taken it to VW dealership (they
are worthless) and a friend who owns a car repair place. He said the
only way to find the problem was to tear down the engine and that
would cost $800+. He put in thicker oil which didn't help much.
Any ideas/suggestions?

What octane gas are you using? Does it do it with high test gas? It it
noisier when it is cold like 20C or is it noisier when it is warm like
20F?

On Feb 3, 5:37 pm, "dave AKA vwdoc1" <vwd... (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote:

Yeah it could be a bad batch of fuel.

I sent a '01 GTi VR6 to the dealership. It had a slight rattle noise and I
think the dealer said that the engine needed work. I believe the noise is
coming from the timing chain area so that is what I think the problem is,
the timing chain. This engine only has 56K miles on it and is still under
warranty for the owner who is the original owner. They have to prove that
the oil changes have been done regularly, so I will see what happens since
they do have proof. Dealer has been nice so far, but quoted the owner $3300
if they could not provide the proof! 8^o

You need to listen to where that rattle noise is coming from. I used an
auto stethoscope to determine it was in the timing chain area.

later,
dave
(One out of many daves)

How would I use the stethoscope if the noise only happens when I'm
going 40-50mph?

On 4 Feb 2007 08:40:35 -0800, cwhitmore (AT) austin (DOT) rr.com wrote:

On Feb 3, 5:37 pm, "dave AKA vwdoc1" <vwd... (AT) hotmail (DOT) com> wrote:
Yeah it could be a bad batch of fuel.

I sent a '01 GTi VR6 to the dealership. It had a slight rattle noise and I
think the dealer said that the engine needed work. I believe the noise is
coming from the timing chain area so that is what I think the problem is,
the timing chain. This engine only has 56K miles on it and is still under
warranty for the owner who is the original owner. They have to prove that
the oil changes have been done regularly, so I will see what happens since
they do have proof. Dealer has been nice so far, but quoted the owner $3300
if they could not provide the proof! 8^o

You need to listen to where that rattle noise is coming from. I used an
auto stethoscope to determine it was in the timing chain area.

later,
dave
(One out of many daves)

How would I use the stethoscope if the noise only happens when I'm
going 40-50mph?
Well obviously you would have to remove the hood, get someone else to

drive while you straddle things as your co-driver gets up to speed.
Well that sounds dangerous. Just go to the dyno shop, pay $100 or
whatever their dyno fee is, put the car in drive and have someone rev
it up to 45.

Not game for the dyno? With a stethoscope you can hear stuff even at
idle or off idle in neutral that you might not hear normally.

In rec.autos.makers.vw.watercooled, dave AKA vwdoc1 wrote:

I sent a '01 GTi VR6 to the dealership. It had a slight rattle noise and I
think the dealer said that the engine needed work. I believe the noise is
coming from the timing chain area so that is what I think the problem is,
the timing chain.

Didn't that year VR6 have a timing belt?

The '01 Passat V6 engines had timing belts, but the VR6 engines had timing
chains in '01.

"Tom's VR6" <no (AT) mail (DOT) please> wrote

In rec.autos.makers.vw.watercooled, dave AKA vwdoc1 wrote:

I sent a '01 GTi VR6 to the dealership. It had a slight rattle noise and
I
think the dealer said that the engine needed work. I believe the noise is
coming from the timing chain area so that is what I think the problem is,
the timing chain.

Didn't that year VR6 have a timing belt?