Author Topic: 96 Golf aaz valve train issues (Read 5386 times)

homerj1 · « **on:** April 20, 2009, 05:55:18 am »

Hello folks,

I am searching for another diesel and I ran across a 96 Golf aaz, 5spd 260,000 km with motor issues.

In an email this is what the owner said- bought car with the headgasket gone I replaced the gasket, timing belt and tensioner water pump and thermostat I had been driving the car and when I went to start it one day it would not start I checked the timing and it appeared to be of 1 tooth, the work was done by me at our school mechanic shop with help from the teacher I have done mechanic work all my life but this was my first diesel experience the car is very solid I'm not sure of the valves as the head has not been taken of but the hydraulic lifters have damage ( 4 of them) don't know about valves.

I'm thinking the timing belt was too loose and skipped a tooth or two?

What kind of damage could I expect - best case and worse case scenario?

Would it be just as easy to just replace the motor ? (I have a running one with fairly new head in 95 Jetta that is suffering from severe rust issues)

Thanks in advance for all your knowledge!

Aivars

homerj1 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 21, 2009, 04:57:44 am »

Thanks for the reply.

This rig is probably not worth my while?

Is there any way to check the crank pulley without removal of stuff? I can't check the wobble as the engine isn't running?

As far as the broken lifters, does this mean valves have hit the pistons therefore maybe bent valves and holes in pistons?

thanks

Aivars

dieselweasel · « **Reply #2 on:** April 21, 2009, 09:34:25 pm »

Yes, the pistons likely hit the valves, causing the lifters to crush. Some of the valves are likely bent...chances are the pistons are ok though. The crank sprocket cannot be checked without removing it unless of course it has completely failed in which case that should be obvious.

If the body is decent and you can get this car cheap you might want to consider it. It would likely be simpler to just swap in the engine from the Jetta. You could then fix the other engine when you have time maybe.

homerj1 · « **Reply #3 on:** April 22, 2009, 08:36:43 am »

Thanks for your advice.

If the body is good it seems a engine swap would be the easiest and best approach since I know the condition of my running engine. Might also be a good time to check the timing belt\water pump etc......

I suspect that I would remove both the engine & trans together?

Am I looking at 1 day to remove, 1 day to install?

thanks

Aivars

jtanguay · « **Reply #4 on:** April 22, 2009, 09:06:02 am »

Quote from: "homerj1"

Thanks for your advice.

If the body is good it seems a engine swap would be the easiest and best approach since I know the condition of my running engine. Might also be a good time to check the timing belt\water pump etc......

I suspect that I would remove both the engine & trans together?

Am I looking at 1 day to remove, 1 day to install?

thanks

Aivars

if you get another engine, don't pay much for it unless it has had some work done to it, especially the TDI crank nose fix. a good time to get that done is while the engine is out anyways, plus you can install a new timing belt (don't trust the seller unless you know them really good...)

homerj1 · « **Reply #5 on:** April 22, 2009, 12:52:01 pm »

I actually have a 94 & 95 Jetta - (aazs) both on the road. So I'll take the one I plan to scrap (before the body falls off) and use that motor - if this Golf checks out.

thanks

Aivars

burn_your_money · « **Reply #6 on:** April 22, 2009, 03:20:53 pm »

definitely take the motor and trans out together.

2 days to do the swap sounds reasonable for your first time. Of course it all depends on how much extra stuff you decide to do. Clutch, t-belt, wp, etc

Vincent Waldon · « **Reply #7 on:** April 22, 2009, 03:41:53 pm »

Yeah, of course it depends on your time and cash flow, but during a swap is the *perfect* time to replace the rear main engine seal, the clutch, and all the clutch side tranny seals (input shaft seal, pilot bushing, pilot seal).

*Way* quick to do it while it's already apart, and man it sucks to be pulling it all apart a month or year later. ;-)

I also look out for motor mounts that are on the edge, dodgy CV joints, loose manifolds, downpipes that are about to rust out.... anything that's so much easier to access with no motor in the engine compartment.

homerj1 · « **Reply #8 on:** April 23, 2009, 04:10:06 am »

Thanks guys - for the great advice and support! Will be checking the car out this aft - will keep you posted.

homerj1 · « **Reply #9 on:** April 26, 2009, 03:18:48 pm »

Just an update - bought the 1996 Golf - it is in great shape, body wise, interior etc. Now it just a matter of changing motors from my rusty old 95 Jetta. But this will have to wait until next week as yard work calls. That when all my questions will probably start.

Aivars

Vincent Waldon · « **Reply #10 on:** April 26, 2009, 04:11:41 pm »

We'll be here. :wink: