s2 tappet rattle and odd noise advice needed

[freakytate]

hi,
i have sometimes what im 99% sure is a tappet / lifter rattle. i changed oil and lambda sensor and its been good for a fortnight but came back tonight, its intermittent, any advice? idle stabilisation and fuel economy improved after lambda change!

also if i give it some good throttle or wot at lower rpm as turbo starts to spool or just before i can hear what sound like a rattle / could be mistaken for manifold blow / pinking. its not all time i don't think but its often. only faults on vagcom is idle switch not returning to idle position and idle timing is out at like 18' btdc where vagcom says 8-14 i think....

seemed a little powerless tonight too, not a lot but a little, could be warm weather but didnt feel 270 odd bhp

[SteveH]

I've found that noisy tappets are more evident at idle. If they are rattling they will typically be bad after a good thrashing when the oil is good and hot. What oil do you use and have you checked the oil level again since changing it. There are plenty of items in the bay that can cause taps and rattles. Problem is some are serious and others are nothing bad. What's up with the timing? Has it been checked as it's not hard to move the switch to get it to close at idle.

[freakytate]

I checked timing on vagcom at idle and it was a lot gogher than expected or what vagcom says it should be at Idle. Its a tappet at idle but only 1 of them. I used halfords 5w50. Il check levek today. I bet its gone thos morning.

Im more concernced about the noise i can hear under load before boost, its evident eapecially up narrow streets or under bridges where sound echoes. Ive never been in another aby so dont really knkw whats right and whats not. Also want to fit boost gauge so know whats going on there. Bit by bit.

How do you move the swiitch to close at idle i thought it was within the tps module?

[Costash]

ermmmm halford oil is a no no , least for me. I wouldn t use that eveni if it is for free. after a good trash it is normal to hear a bit of tapet noise only for couple of minutes .

[mike74]

You have to slacken off the TPS unit and rotate it until the switch clicks when throttle is closed
The only time I ever hear my tappets (also ABY) is first thing in the morning for a second or so. If you remove the oil filler cap, is the plastic shield underneath it still in one piece? Also, when was the last time you checked your plugs?

[freakytate]

not done plugs but think lad did 2 year ago. on my list. what best plugs to get?

i beg to differ, i think a lot of halfords oils its spec is api a3 b3 etc top grade, never had problems with it and with my trade card its not badly priced. tried racing oil as thread discussed on here said it was okkk. it was on offer too so snapped one up. i shall do tps now.....cheers for info

[freakytate]

just found cable guide pulley moving slightly. n it up now. by tps module you mean black unit at rear of engine throttle body?

[mike74]

Indeed. IIRC there's two screws which need to be slackened off before the tps can be rotated.
I've got NGK plugs in my homefried ABY and they work fine. Can't remember the exact spec but if you have a rummage on here you'll find 'em no probs. They definitely weren't anything too fancy or exotic anyway...

[freakytate]

switch now making and idle timing now 8.5btdc i think, within spec. il listen for noise see if its helped due to timing issue. ye please get plug info when you get a chance

cheers

[freakytate]

i tightened the cable pull cam wheel wheel and stop screw slightly. making every time now

[mike74]

have a search for "NGK BKR7EIX Iridium plugs"

[macspring]

[QUOTE=Costash;849847

After a good trash it is normal to hear a bit of tapet noise only for couple of minutes .

[/QUOTE]

I'm sure when these engines were new this was not the case. Bur maybe now it is the case with an older higher mileage / less cared for engine.

Not sure if cleaning out the oil pick in an I5 sump is as important as it is on a 1.8T four cylinder engine ?

While the op may not want to go to the expense of buying all new tappets, there is a method of taking apart the existing ones and cleaning them, or the few in the vicinity of the noise.

Haven't got the link that describes how to take part an individual tappet.

Regards.

[Rikki Kitto]

I would think hard before using cheap oil there is so much variation on people's opinions with grades but generally they all use good quality makes, I use Castrol edge which is a decent price with the trade card, can't imagine Halfords own brand is too great to be honest, on the noise front my power steering pump conned me for a while into thinking my engine was on it's way out, just a thought

[freakytate]

my power steering pump is shot, in need of a decent one if anyone can help me out with that?

[Dima ABY]

Hi!
I can help with the PAS pump.Have one for a spare but can let it go cheap.