Mk4 Golf giving trouble

Mnemonic

Hello all. I have a 2003 golf gt tdi 130 engine code asz. She has been well cared for but has recently given a lot of grief in one go. Hopefully someone here can either confirm my thoughts or send me another direction.

First issue is a knock or click in my front passenger wheel. This only happens when turning right at a certain angle (not full lock more like half) and only with your foot on the throttle so torque related....? First thoughts were cv joint but it doesnt fail the cv joint test in a mechanics eye. Basically if i lock the wheel and reverse theres no sound. Also if im driving in top gear at 55 mph and go to overtake or accelerate hard its like the whole passenger wheel starts vibrating and rattling. Is it possibly the inner cv joint? Wheels have been balanced only last week.

Second problem is a minor oil leak. Its coming from the front of the drivers wheel arch just behind the front bumper. The intercooler is right there i know. I dont see any play in the jubilee clips on the pipes etc however there is a build up of oil around the connection and the bottom end of the intercooler. The car has also lost some power - boost leak through intercooler? The turbo was replaced 2k ago so with this one i think il just go ahead with replacement intercooler and pipes. Should drive well after!

Third issue is a pool of water coming from underneath the car. It seems to be coming from close to the middle, maybe a bit closer to passenger side at the back of the engine bay. Air con unit hasnt been used all summer but has been used a good bit the last week or two. Im thinking possible condensation build up as i drive 40 miles to work and 40 home each day. I just dont remember seeing it like this before.... so any ideas.....?

When i get her patched up this time i think its time for the 18's and lowering springs to go. Look the part but i think ive outgrown the looks over practicality stage now lol.

Thanks for looking people

Bearcat

Sent it to geo, he'll sort all those snags in a heart beat.

ljpg

Mnemonic wrote: »

Hello all. I have a 2003 golf gt tdi 130 engine code asz. She has been well cared for but has recently given a lot of grief in one go. Hopefully someone here can either confirm my thoughts or send me another direction.

First issue is a knock or click in my front passenger wheel. This only happens when turning right at a certain angle (not full lock more like half) and only with your foot on the throttle so torque related....? First thoughts were cv joint but it doesnt fail the cv joint test in a mechanics eye. Basically if i lock the wheel and reverse theres no sound. Also if im driving in top gear at 55 mph and go to overtake or accelerate hard its like the whole passenger wheel starts vibrating and rattling. Is it possibly the inner cv joint? Wheels have been balanced only last week.

Second problem is a minor oil leak. Its coming from the front of the drivers wheel arch just behind the front bumper. The intercooler is right there i know. I dont see any play in the jubilee clips on the pipes etc however there is a build up of oil around the connection and the bottom end of the intercooler. The car has also lost some power - boost leak through intercooler? The turbo was replaced 2k ago so with this one i think il just go ahead with replacement intercooler and pipes. Should drive well after!

Third issue is a pool of water coming from underneath the car. It seems to be coming from close to the middle, maybe a bit closer to passenger side at the back of the engine bay. Air con unit hasnt been used all summer but has been used a good bit the last week or two. Im thinking possible condensation build up as i drive 40 miles to work and 40 home each day. I just dont remember seeing it like this before.... so any ideas.....?

When i get her patched up this time i think its time for the 18's and lowering springs to go. Look the part but i think ive outgrown the looks over practicality stage now lol.

Thanks for looking people

your first issue could be wheel bearing related,maybe theres something loose or your tyre is twisted or distorted,that would cause vibration at speed,does it only happen in top gear?? if so i'd be looking at the gearbox,your second issue you've answered yourself,third issue,has the pool of water got coolant in it(coloured red or green),park it on clean concrete and check to see,if its clear it could be something simple like washer bottle leaking

Mnemonic

Thanks for the replies. I only put 2 new tyres on the front 2 weeks ago so surely its not those. The vibration happens when turning right and sometimes left at any speed. It will happen everytime coming off a roundabout or turning into a parking space for instance. At all times during acceleration you can hear the clicking sound through the gears. If i am driving 55mph and i drop to 5th to overtake i hear the sound but dont get much vibration. If i dont drop and put the foot down in top gear i get a bit of lag say and then the vibration is bad until i pick up a bit of speed then it eases a bit when the revs go up. It really does feel like something in the drivetrain as it stops altogether if i ease off the throttle.

As for the puddle. It seems to be just clear water with no smell dried up on my driveway in an hour and left no stain or mark. I had as good a look as i could until i get it on a lift but something is dripping down onto the steering rack and then onto the ground. I got just the one puddle too and it stopped and hasnt happened again even after driving. Strange

leeomurchu

The puddle is just from the aircon they all seem to do this it's fairly normal afaik.

Air conditioning system operation tips
• If the vehicle has been parked in direct
sunlight during hot weather, open the
windows for a short time to let the hot
air inside the vehicle escape.
• To help reduce moisture inside of the
windows on rainy or humid days,
decrease the humidity inside the vehicle
by operating the air conditioning
system.
• During air conditioning system operation,
you may occasionally notice a
slight change in engine speed as the
air conditioning compressor cycles.
This is a normal system operation
characteristic.
• Use the air conditioning system every
month only for a few minutes to ensure
maximum system performance.

************************************
• When using the air conditioning system,
you may notice clear water dripping
(or even puddling) on the ground
under the passenger side of the vehicle.
This is a normal system operation
characteristic.
************************************
Is the a constant noise coming from the wheel usually when a wheel bearings on it's way out you'll have a constant noise like bad tyre roar. It might be something to do with the steering rack broken clamp??

Sounds like you've answered the second fault yourself intercooler may be bunged up or maybe a stones gone through it some where?

Mnemonic

If that is an issue with the air con then thats where the puddle came from as i got the seats cleaned on friday and used the air con to try dry them - it took longer than i thought. probably a load of condensation in there with nowhere to go only out. Hopefully thats the first of my 3 problems solved.

With the intercooler and oil leak - When i bought the car i bought it cheap and am fixing it up bit by bit. What i did notice is that the power steering fluid was full to the neck and there was a river of oil in it. I emptied both and filled them to the correct level. However i dont know how long that extra oil was in there - prob a litre or more too much no exaggerating. So im thinking its possible all that extra pressure in the system found a weak spot and blew it. I had the turbo replaced so the new turbo prob didnt help if the intercooler was weakened already. I am loosing boost - there is a noticeable difference in the power.

The steering rack and power steering pump have been replaced in the last 4 months so i doubt its that. Its now a constant whine like a bearing would make its a click or knock when turning and accelerating and is even worse when accelerating up hill.......?