Guest smoking buddha Posted December 4, 2005 Report Share Posted December 4, 2005 I notice that this issue has been run before..but I'd be grateful of any advice from you guys...I have a 1997 Golf VR6, regularly maintained by Caffyns. It has done about 65,000 and is generally in very good condition as I have owned it for the last 10 years. However, Nov03 the head gasket failed and Caffyns fitted another for a wonderful Link to post Share on other sites
28v6r 0 Posted December 4, 2005 Report Share Posted December 4, 2005 The head should have been skimmed as a matter of course before refit, how you would prove that Caffyns had done that I don't know, It would be the most logical step then look for a racing gasket (heard of this but I'm not sure of it) seemingly metal and thicker than the norm, and theres yer cheap fix..... !shy Link to post Share on other sites
mtopple 0 Posted December 4, 2005 Report Share Posted December 4, 2005 mate, never heard of this before a head shouoldn't go in that incredibily short space of time, dependant on where you live get another opinion, I take mine to Storm Developments in Berkshire and have heard excellent revirews from The Phirm both are VR6 specialists.I had my engine rebuilt, new head gasket, rebuild cylinder, larger valves, timing chains and large cone air filter done for Link to post Share on other sites
Nerih 0 Posted December 4, 2005 Report Share Posted December 4, 2005 i would be surprised if a head gasket failed within a year or replacement, unless there is something else wrong with your engine..one of the most experienced companies in the vr6 arena is stealth racing in warickshire (i know its far but hear me out ), they really do know everything thats worth knowing about the vr6 give them a call.The head gaskget will fail its not sealed properly, if the bolts arent done up to correct specs, if the internal temperature becomes too high, if the internal pressure becomes too great, sometimes the water passages can become blocked and the water forces itself damages the headgasket.of course gasket failure leads to water ingress into the cylinders, causing white smoke, it can hydrolock your engine and bend conrods and so on....just be weary.i would give stealth a ring, although driving your golf up to them is probably not a good idea in its current state, i wouldnt drive it anywhere.the problem is dealers are equipped to maintain new cars, which dont really need very much and are quickly confused by problems caused by other vehicles....the sledge hammer approach is to replace the engine....the logical approach for me is to find out what caused the failure...it cant of been old age...it couldve been a cheap gasket, though i doubt a dealer would use a non VW generic gaskget.....rather bizzare im afraid! Link to post Share on other sites
RIX 0 Posted December 4, 2005 Report Share Posted December 4, 2005 i would do as either nerih ore mt,i would never go to the stealers(only in germany) in denmark we only have a hand fuld off specelists,so we have to travel alot for maintens over here in the small denmark,but in gb i hear you have alot off specalists,with any older vag car you need too go where they care ore a have a genuen interest i cars,if you want quallaty service(i can be cehaper also but not always) i have min an hours drive,but i do most my self. Link to post Share on other sites
stockers 1 Posted December 4, 2005 Report Share Posted December 4, 2005 i'm now slightly worried about my head gasket being replaced, i couldn't choose where to get my head fitted as it is still under warranty and had to go to the dealers workshop. also slightly worrying is they had to go and buy special tools to do the job so obviousely they havn't done a vr head gasket before.is there any way of knowing if the head has been skimmed by them or do you just have to take their word for it? Link to post Share on other sites
matth76 1 Posted December 5, 2005 Report Share Posted December 5, 2005 I'm personally never taking my VR back to Caffyns. Very bad experience. I recently found out following one of their 'full' services each one of my spark plugs was loose ..each one. I took it to The Phirm (a VR6 specialist) who were excellent and diagnosed and fixed the problem in no time ...all for free. Prior to that I was suffering lots of juddering etc. Caffyns use young lads and let them loose on your car in order to train them...as opposed to experienced mechanics... like those at a VR specialist. My advice... take it to a local specialist asap. You can have a new engine fittted for Link to post Share on other sites
stockers 1 Posted December 5, 2005 Report Share Posted December 5, 2005 ugh garages! i used to go to a so called 'specialist' garage in st albans, i saw one of the mechanics getting stoned at lunch time then when i went to pick my car up he was standing on the cill of my car and swinging on the door! Link to post Share on other sites
jezmoz 0 Posted December 5, 2005 Report Share Posted December 5, 2005 i had a tailgate fitted by a 'garage' and when i went to pick it up, it wasn't flush, pointed it out and he proceeded to try and twist the whole tailgate into place, I literally shouted STOP!!!, i thought the tailgate glass was going to crack. I told his gaffer and got him to sort the tailgate out properly, a week later someone ran into the back of me , so it didn't matter anyway !!! Now on tailgate number 3? Link to post Share on other sites
Nerih 0 Posted December 5, 2005 Report Share Posted December 5, 2005 its hard to find a good garage, stealth is great, and the local garage that has done my families cars for years is good too, tbh its about experience, most cars are of similar design, if they have any level of professionalism they wont swing off your doors or bend things into place! Link to post Share on other sites
mtopple 0 Posted December 5, 2005 Report Share Posted December 5, 2005 mate just read your message again and that is really expensive 90 notes for a head gasket change as I go mine done and front wheel bearings done for 500 quid.If the VW garage are not wil ing to fix it, sue the Ba@tards, as 900 quid is a lot of money. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest smoking buddha Posted December 5, 2005 Report Share Posted December 5, 2005 Thanks guys for all your help and advice, I am getting a second opinion and I have found a second hand engine that can be fitted for Link to post Share on other sites
matth76 1 Posted December 5, 2005 Report Share Posted December 5, 2005 I think the sales of goods act says you can claim a refund or replacement if goods / services provided are not up to a "reasonable" standard and are not of a "satisfactory quality" - I believe the time limit to claim is 6 years...my memory is a bit fuzzy on the details. I would say you have some kind of case here IF you can get another local garage to prove (if possible) there is nothing wrong with your car (that may be the difficult bit)- however if it's only the head gasket that has failed then that would lead to the possibility it was not fitted correctly as they should not fail so soon. Trading Standards may have more info on the details mate. Worth a look into considering the expense Caffyns have caused you. They may (or rather SHOULD) fix it all for free if you get TS on their back (not least to avoid negative publicity)... let us know how it goes.Check the following link or do a search on Google:http://www.dti.gov.uk/ccp/topics1/saleandsupply.htm Link to post Share on other sites
stockers 1 Posted December 6, 2005 Report Share Posted December 6, 2005 when you go back to the dealer/garage that did the orriginal work, ask them to show you the bill they got for having the head skimmed as they would have had to send it away to a specialist to be skimmed. as NO garage will have the facility to skim a head.if they can't show you that bill you can pretty much presume they never had it done. and as having the head skimmed is part of the work involved in having the head gasket replaced you can show the citizens advice bureau or trading standards that the garage did not do a satisfactory job. Link to post Share on other sites
Guest smoking buddha Posted December 9, 2005 Report Share Posted December 9, 2005 Further update for you guys... Have had a conversation with Tim from the Phirm and really confirmed all of your suspicions. I've also now had a second opinion (one man band VW specialist) who said there is no need for a new engine.. the 'slight' pitting that exists would be symptomatic of that type engine (ie: apparently one side does wear slightly more than the other and there is no damage near the cylinders or around where the bolts go..) he is going to get an opinion on whether it has been ever skimmed before.. but currently it looks like just a gasket job..Guess what, Caffyns even asked me to pay Link to post Share on other sites
stockers 1 Posted December 9, 2005 Report Share Posted December 9, 2005 form what i know and everyone i have spoken to the head should be skimmed when the head gasket is changed, mine is being done at the moment so i will be asking for a copy of the skimming bill.if you want to speak to someone that will know for sure speak to Vince at stealth racing, he will be happy to have a little chat with you 01926 812259. Link to post Share on other sites
andy 0 Posted December 9, 2005 Report Share Posted December 9, 2005 Skimming is not routine practice, it depends on the condition of the head. I have had two VR6 heads off and skimmed them both....but...its not always necessary. Each car is different. There is a widespread school of thought that says you shouldn't skim a VR6 head. I think that if its for the right reason and its only minimal then its fine. Mine both had four thou removed which is very minimal but tidied up the head a lot. Link to post Share on other sites
matth76 1 Posted December 10, 2005 Report Share Posted December 10, 2005 Storm Developments have just quoted me Link to post Share on other sites
stockers 1 Posted December 10, 2005 Report Share Posted December 10, 2005 that is a great price mathh!do they have a rolling road ? i would always want to get it rolling road tuned after chains were replaced, get it nice and smooth. Link to post Share on other sites
matth76 1 Posted December 11, 2005 Report Share Posted December 11, 2005 Hi I asked them that today and they said they don't but have access to one at a local place. However I'll probably take mine to Stealth as they charged me Link to post Share on other sites
NickRStorm 0 Posted December 11, 2005 Report Share Posted December 11, 2005 You mean you've never seen the Red Devil in action?Go here & enjoy: [link]http://w005e88f.dd3418.kasserver.com/carpi/open/RedDevil_Part3.wmv Link to post Share on other sites
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