So, it's time to replace the cabin filter in my already seen Volkswagen Golf 6. To replace it, I took a carbon filter from Mann CUK 2939, worth 400 rubles.
Rice. 1
The filter is changed quite easily, slowly in 5-10 minutes.
Under the passenger side torpedo, we find two plastic screws with handle-caps. We unscrew them with our hands counterclockwise.
Rice. 2
When the screws are unscrewed, remove the soft upholstery that is around the air ducts. Nothing holds it anymore, it is simply threaded between plastic panels. Therefore, we pull on ourselves and completely pull it out. The piece pulled out is roughly the size of the dining room tray.
Rice. 3
It is very important to completely remove this skin, otherwise, you will not have enough space in the future. Under it we see a rectangular plastic box at the top left. Move the cover at the bottom to the right. It is convenient for this to pull on the rectangular holes at the bottom.
Rice. 4
When the cover is slid to the right, it is possible to pull it down and remove it completely. Pay attention to the “L” -shaped clips: they cling to the holes in the base of the filter.
Rice. 5
Pull the cabin filter straight down. We just do it carefully: we press the latches on the sides so as not to break anything. The filter will be dirty, stuffed with leaves and other rubbish, so remove it carefully so as not to raise dust.
Rice. 6
It seems clean, but there are 1-2 mm of dirt and dust hidden in the folds. And this is after about 10,000 km.
Rice. 7
We take a new cabin filter. It will be located as shown in the photo. Place the beveled corner on the top right. We carefully push it into place.
Rice. eight
Photos and history: vwvortex.com
28.12.2017
Volkswagen Golf is not just a means of transportation on four wheels, but a car that has absorbed an entire era. The famous hatchback ranks second in the world in terms of sales, with more than 40 million units sold in 40 years. The sixth generation of "Golf" is praised by Western experts, saying that the Germans once again hit the target and that the car has practically no weak points. But how things really are with the reliability of this model, now let's try to figure it out.
Specifications
Make and body type - C, hatchback;
Body dimensions (L x W x H), mm - 4204 x 1759 x 1621 (3-door - 4199 x 1779 x 1480);
Wheelbase, mm - 2578;
Ground clearance, mm - 143 (131);
Tire size - 195/65 R15;
Fuel tank volume, l - 55;
Curb weight, kg - 1414;
Full weight, kg - 1940;
Trunk capacity, l - 395 (1450), three-door version 350 (1305);
Options - Trendline, Match, Highline, Style, Comfortline, GTI, GTI Edition.
Common malfunctions of Volkswagen Golf 6 with mileage
Paintwork- Today, in order to save money, many manufacturers use water-based acrylic paint and Volkswagen is no exception. The paint made using this technology is quite soft, in this regard, scratches and chips appear on it very quickly. The most vulnerable spots on the Volkswagen Golf 6 are the bumper, hood, front arches and sills.
Doorways- paint in places of contact with rubber door seals is erased to metal. To permanently solve the problem, you need to glue the protective film.
Body iron- in general, the corrosive coating of the body is at a good level, despite this, it is not worth leaving paint chips for a long time without attention, since the "bugs" will not be long in coming. In cars that often spend the night on the street, rust spots may appear over time on the edges of the doors and floor spars (most often in the area of the rear axle). It is sometimes quite problematic to determine whether a car was involved in an accident, the fact is that the replacement of individual damaged body elements is cheaper than restoration. Therefore, when selecting, check the symmetry of the clearances and the condition of the fastening bolts.
Windshield rather weak, because of this, over the years it becomes covered with a large number of scratches and chips. In order to extend the life of the glass, it is recommended to use soft wiper blades.
central locking- may not work correctly in winter (not all doors open). Repair - replacement of the door lock electric drive.
Fuel filler flap- due to the fact that its fastening is quite fragile, it will not be difficult to break the hatch.
Rear optics fogging- reason: the hose supplying fluid to the rear window washer is cracked.
Front bumper- bumper mount and radiator grill are made of fragile plastic.
Sealant over time, it dries up and cracks, if it is not replaced in a timely manner, foci of corrosion appear on the welding seams (the front glasses of the car are the most problematic place).
Weak points of power units
Volkswagen Golf 6 has an impressive lineup of powertrains. The motors of the German manufacturer have always been famous for a good resource, but it is hard to call them problem-free, however, let's talk about everything in order.
Features of all power units:
Leaking coolant- in the cold season, antifreeze leaks appear in the engine cooling system at the connections of the branch pipes (most often in the area of the fuel level sensor). As a rule, after the engine has warmed up, the problem will disappear by itself.
Warming up the engine- in the framework of the struggle "for environmental friendliness" all power units are deprived of the usual warm-up at idle. Even after an hour of idling, the engine is unlikely to warm up to operating temperature.
Knocking and grinding noise after starting the engine- as a rule, unpleasant sounds come from the side of the front passenger's feet. The reason is the peculiarity of the fastening of the fuel line in the front of the car. The problem was so widespread that the manufacturer had to produce special seals. Installing seals solves the problem for years to come.
Disadvantages of the MPI series motors
This type of power unit is well known to fans of the VAG concern and is the most reliable. The main problems: coking of the piston rings, plastic pipes are destroyed over time, after 150,000 km the oil consumption increases significantly (the problem is solved by replacing the valve oil seals), the crankshaft oil seals leak. With proper maintenance, their resource is 350-450 thousand km.
To the disadvantages of the motor 1.4 can be attributed only to its weak power and, if you do not try to squeeze all the juices out of it, this engine will serve 250-300 thousand km without problems.
1.6 liter engine more dynamic, but has capricious fuel equipment - the use of "badyazhny" gasoline increases the likelihood of problems with starting and the stability of the engine. Often, in order to eliminate the ailment, it is necessary to change the injection elements (the seats of the nozzle needles wear out). The throttle valve needs to be cleaned periodically. Symptoms - under load there is a feeling as if the car “chokes”, does not pull, the engine starts and then immediately stalls. If the engine overheats, there is a high probability of block head cracking.
TSI series power units
This type of engine has good dynamic performance with moderate fuel consumption. Common disadvantages include: a small resource of the timing chain (in 2011, a modernized chain with a large resource appeared on sale), "maslozhor", unreliability of fuel equipment (problems in the early stages are practically impossible to diagnose) and injection pump (the pusher and rollers), premature wear of the camshaft cam, plus, to everything, you can add the complexity of diagnostics and repair.
Motor 1.2 I can't even call it a “vegetable”: it has good dynamic performance, moreover, the fuel consumption is no more than 8 liters in the city. In addition to all of the above possible troubles, this power unit may prematurely fail the electromagnetic actuator of the turbine.
Engine volume 1.4, in addition to problems with the timing and fuel equipment, the turbine is not famous for its reliability. The top version of the engine (160 hp) was equipped with a double supercharging (compressor + turbocharger) - the repair of this unit is several times more expensive than usual. Quite often, the problematic part was changed under warranty.
- The phase regulator is another vulnerable spot, if it is defective when starting a cold engine, a strong crack appears. The repair does not guarantee that the problem will not recur after 3-5 thousand kilometers.
- The piston group is the most serious problem that car owners with this power unit may face - coking of the piston ring grooves and the destruction of pistons. Quite often, the problem is aggravated by the contamination of the heat exchanger in the intake manifold with oily slag from the ventilation system. Also, the cause of the destruction of the pistons can be a failed pump (metal clicks, reminiscent of a chain jump, will tell about a pump malfunction) and severe contamination of the engine cooling radiator.
- ECU - can surprise you in the form of software glitches. As a rule, this trouble befell lovers of chip tuning.
Volkswagen Golf 6 with engine 1.8 not a frequent visitor to the secondary market, the fact is that cars with such an engine were produced for a little more than 2 years (from 2009 to 2011). Of the common ailments, only the "oil burner" and the stretching of the timing chain can be noted, unlike other power units, here the chain can jump when the engine is turned off.
Two-liter motor presented in two versions: old - EA113 and new - EA888. The old version of the engine, in contrast to the new one, was equipped with a timing belt drive and is considered quite reliable (there are no problems with the timing belt and the "maslozhor"). The EA888 series engine is the most problematic - the compression rings lie, because of this, the pistons can burn out (to restore the motor, you will have to sharpen the block, fortunately, it is cast iron), there are often problems with the pump and thermostat. Also, the disadvantages include the unsuccessful design of the crankcase ventilation system, oil pump and balance shafts, the limited resource of the high pressure fuel pump (drives are destroyed), the capricious fuel system and the peculiarities of slagging of the valves.
Disadvantages of diesel engines:
Diesel power units are reliable, the only thing that can shake their "health" is low-quality diesel fuel: nozzles, an EGR valve, a high-pressure fuel pump, a particulate filter are being rented out ahead of schedule. This type of engine has a timing belt drive, the interval for replacing the belt and tensioners every 160-170 thousand km, but "experienced" motorists do not believe in such a belt resource and urge to change it after 120-140 thousand km. You should not tighten up with the replacement and the poly-V-belt, the fact is that if it breaks, it can fall under the timing belt with all the ensuing consequences.
Transmission
Manual Transmission- despite the fact that mechanics look preferable in terms of reliability, it has a couple of weak points:
- Premature bearing wear - the problem was not widespread and, as a rule, was eliminated under warranty.
- Synchronizer clutch for 1st and 2nd gears - in the presence of a malfunction at idle, extraneous noises appear, which disappear when the clutch is pressed (similar symptoms are observed if there are problems with the release bearing). Repair - replacement of the coupling is required.
- SACHS clutch - after 50-70 thousand km it can start to “howl” (rumble) in first gear. It is treated only by replacing the clutch (it is better to give preference to another brand).
Robotic transmission DSG - quite a lot has been said about the reliability of this transmission, unfortunately, most of the reviews are negative.
- The most common malfunction is clutch failure and mechatronics; when operating a car in a metropolis, it can fail after 60,000 thousand km; on cars operated outside large cities, the resource of the box, with timely maintenance, can be 150-170 thousand km. Transmission malfunction symptoms - jerking, jerking when shifting gears.
- Differential - Can also cause serious damage. As a result of its malfunction, the automatic transmission is destroyed.
- Satellites and their gears - in case of untimely maintenance of the gearbox, the wear of their axle accelerates.
Volkswagen Golf 6 suspension reliability
Four types of suspension are available for the Volkswagen Golf 6 - standard, sporty, reinforced and adaptive. As a rule, cars with standard suspension are presented in the secondary market.
Average resource of suspension consumables:
- Stabilizer struts - 50-70 thousand km.
- Hub bearings - front up to 120,000 km, rear ones can start buzzing after 30 thousand km.
- Shock absorbers - 120-150 thousand km.
- Silent blocks - 140-160 thousand km.
- Rear suspension arms - 100-150 thousand km, the peculiarity of the rear suspension is that it does not rattle even in a "killed" state, but quickly finishes off serviceable parts, therefore it is recommended to periodically diagnose and do similar collapse.
Steering- there are no serious complaints about the reliability of the steering, sometimes the owners complain about minor failures in the electronics. The resource of the tips and rods depends on the diameter of the wheels installed: on stock "rollers" - 100-150 thousand km, when using large-diameter discs - 50-80 thousand km.
Brakes- there are no complaints about the brake system either. Pads run 50-70 thousand km, discs wear out after 2-3 sets of pads.
Interior disadvantages
It is worth noting the good quality of the interior finishing materials and noise insulation (the best in this class), but there are still a couple of jambs here - after 3-5 years of operation, crickets appear, under the dimensional drivers (over 90 kg) the foam rubber of the seats is pressed in a couple of years, wears out quickly fabric upholstery. On machines in poor configuration, over time, the mechanisms for adjusting the front seats fail.
Electrical equipment:
Air conditioner condenser- “dies” early enough due to the appearance of corrosion in it. In order to avoid unexpected costs, the condenser must be flushed 1-2 times a year.
Stove fan motor- the weak point here is the resistor; in case of its malfunction, the fan turns on only at maximum speed. Treatment is resistor replacement. Also, the fan motor may fail due to moisture ingress from the melted snow between the glass and the hood.
"Glitches"- From time to time, minor failures are observed in the electronics, as a rule, they are eliminated by restarting the car.
Conclusion:
Due to the fact that the Volkswagen Golf 6 is quite ahead of its competitors in all characteristics, this model is one of the most demanded in its class. But, as the operating experience has shown, such an accelerated "progress" negatively affected the reliability and resource of many nodes. This is not to say that the car is completely unreliable and constantly requires repair, since the above troubles are likely and unlikely to be overwhelmed by the same car. If you are looking for a reliable Volkswagen Golf 6, then the best option for buying would be a car with a naturally aspirated 1.6 engine paired with a mechanic.
If you have experience in operating this car model, please tell us what problems and difficulties you had to face. Perhaps it is your feedback that will help the readers of our site when choosing a car.
In the process of movement of the car, in its units, there is an increased friction of the elements, which contributes to the generation of energy and an increase in temperature. In turn, the temperature regime in the engine and other vehicle mechanisms is regulated by the cooling system. One of the most important components of this system is the coolant, or antifreeze. To increase the vehicle's service life, the refrigerant must be regularly updated.
But how often should you change the coolant in a Volkswagen Golf 6? What factors indicate the need for replacement? What antifreeze is suitable for these purposes? How to properly prepare for changing the coolant in the Volkswagen Golf 6? How is the working off, flushing of the cooling system and filling with fresh antifreeze carried out in the Volkswagen Golf 6? You can find answers to these questions in the current article.
What is the best refrigerant for Volkswagen Golf?
Coolants for Volkswagen Golf 6 can be roughly divided into 2 categories:
- Original antifreeze- substances developed by the Volkswagen concern and suitable for most models of this brand;
- Analog- coolants provided by other manufacturers, but suitable for a number of individual characteristics.
To replace the refrigerant in the Volkswagen Golf 6, the original technical substance is most suitable - antifreeze VAG G13. Coolants G13, moreover, are among the most environmentally friendly, so manufacturers especially insist on this choice.
If it is possible to purchase an original coolant, substances marked G12 and G12 + from the manufacturers FEBI, VAG, Castrol Radicool Si OAT, Frostschutzmittel A, Freecor QR, Freecor DSC, Zerex G and Glysantin G 40 are suitable for filling the Volkswagen Golf system. To replace antifreeze in Volkswagen Golf, you will need 2 cans of refrigerant, 5 liters each.
It is important to consider! Under no circumstances should antifreeze type G12 and G13 be mixed. When changing from one type to another, the Volkswagen Golf cooling system is flushed. Refrigerants G12 and G12 + mix successfully.
Signs of the need to replace antifreeze in a Volkswagen Golf
The recommended frequency of refrigerant replacement in Volkswagen is 7 years, or 100,000 - 200,000 kilometers of active run. However, in practice, situations arise when it becomes necessary to prematurely update the antifreeze. The need to replace the coolant in the Volkswagen Golf cooling system is detected by the following featured:
- Changing the original color of the used coolant to a more rusty one;
- The appearance of an admixture of dirt and metal shavings in the used coolant for Volkswagen Golf;
- Volkswagen Golf engine overheats faster;
- Some time after the vehicle starts moving, the radiator fan turns on;
- Dirty foam forms on the expansion tank cap;
- Puffs of whitish smoke are pouring from the exhaust pipe;
- The homogeneity of the coolant is lost, it becomes less fluid.
However, the cause of engine overheating can be not only poor quality of the coolant, but also a decrease in its volume. You can check the amount of coolant in the Volkswagen Golf system using a dipstick. The meter is placed in antifreeze, then removed to study the measuring scale. If the coolant level fluctuates between the MAX and MIN values, then it is normal. If the level of antifreeze is less than or equal to the minimum level, then additional coolant topping up is required.
Coolant replacement process
Before proceeding with the basic procedures, the motorist should prepare. In particular, it is required to collect the necessary tools. List of tools for replacing the coolant in the Volkswagen Golf 6 is provided below:
- Pliers and screwdrivers;
- Technical keys;
- Waste container. A bucket with a capacity of 10 liters, a basin of the corresponding volume or a canister is suitable as such a container;
- A tool for pouring new antifreeze, which can be a filling syringe, hose or funnel;
- Rags or special towels for wiping parts;
- For hand protection - construction gloves.
The Volkswagen Golf must be located on level ground. It is preferable to use a flyover or garage pit with a heavy lift.
Important safety precautions! Before replacing the coolant in the Volkswagen Golf Plus and other models of the brand in question, it is necessary to cool the engine. The fact is that when the engine warms up to the maximum temperature, the refrigerant also heats up. Hot antifreeze is under high pressure. If you try to unscrew the expansion tank drain plug while the engine is running or hot, the coolant can burn your hands. Therefore, it is recommended that before draining the scrap, turn off the Volkswagen Golf engine and wait until the engine and all technical substances of the vehicle have completely cooled down.
First step
Drain the old coolant from the Volkswagen Golf 6 tank as follows:
- A utilization tank is placed under the drain hole of the expansion tank of the car;
- The drain plug of the expansion tank of the Volkswagen Golf 6 is unscrewed;
- After all the spent substance is in the waste container, the container should be moved under the cylinder block;
- Remains of antifreeze are released from the cylinder block. To do this, it is necessary to dismantle the bottom panel of the block, unscrew the drain plug and allow the substance to flow smoothly into the prepared container;
- In the same way, the remains of the cooler are drained from the radiator;
- The drain plugs are closed.
After this procedure, you can proceed to flushing the Volkswagen Golf cooling system, or directly to filling in a fresh coolant.
Second phase
Flushing the cooling system when replacing antifreeze in a Volkswagen Golf 6 is mandatory only in the following cases:
- The existing coolant is replaced with an incompatible type of refrigerant;
- The system is heavily clogged;
- A total system repair of the car is being carried out.
You can flush the Volkswagen Golf 6 cooling system yourself only in the following way:
- Connect the filling hose (garden hose can be used) to the pipes leading to the cylinder block;
- Pass distilled water through the pipes;
- Start the engine for 15-20 minutes;
- Drain the working off, and repeat the procedure several times until the drained substance becomes transparent.
It is impossible to completely flush the system with your own hands - this requires specialized equipment. If the system units are too clogged and the drainage channels of the vehicle are clogged, the car owner should contact a Technical Service Station for qualified assistance from auto mechanics.
Third stage
In most cases, after draining the scrap on Golf 6, the replacement of the coolant is completed by filling in fresh refrigerant - without an intermediate stage of flushing the OS. Before filling, it is necessary to check the tightness of all drain holes of the Volkswagen Golf system. After checking, pour a new coolant into the expansion tank of the vehicle.
At the end of the filling, the cap of the expansion tank is tightly closed. An additional sealing washer can be used if necessary. Then the engine is started to remove the air that has entered the system. After 15 minutes, the engine of the Volkswagen Golf 6 is turned off and the level of antifreeze is checked. If it drops, add the missing amount of coolant.
07.10.2017
Volkswagen Golf is the most successful model of the German concern Volkswagen. This model has been presented on the market with an unchanged concept for more than 40 years, thanks to which it does not need an extra introduction. Many of us have even developed an impression about him, they say, Golf is a smart choice and, for the city, that's it. It's a pity there are no such statistics. In general, it would be interesting to count how many times during the discussion of the car the phrase “yes, it would be better if I took a used Golf for this money”. And, here, how justified such a purchase will be, and what problems you will have to face after buying a used Volkswagen Golf 6, now let's try to figure it out.
A bit of history:
Most Volkswagen cars are named after winds or currents, and "Golf" is no exception, this name comes from the name of the warm current - the Gulf Stream (German Golfstrom). The first generation of the model was released back in 1974 and stayed on the market for almost 10 years; it was discontinued in 1983. The main goal of the release of this model was to maintain the status of a reliable public car, as well as to replace the outdated Beetle model, which at one time earned the status of a people's car. The design of the car was developed by the famous Italian designer Giorgetto Giugiaro. The car was produced in four body types - three and five-door hatchback, station wagon, sedan (later called Jetta) and convertible. The second generation of the car was produced from 1983 to 1992. During this time, 6,300,987 hatchbacks and 1,708,390 sedans (Jetta) with various configurations rolled off the assembly line.
The third generation was presented at the Geneva Motor Show in 1991, and already in 1992 it won the title of Car of the Year. Since the spring of 1992, official deliveries of cars to the CIS countries began. This generation lasted on the market until 1997. Volkswagen Golf 4 was produced from 1997 to 2004. The model received a fully galvanized body, a stabilization system and navigation, in addition, such models as the Audi A3, etc., are being built on the basis of the Golf. In total, more than 4,000,000 cars were sold during the production of the model. The Golf IV sedan was created in 1998 and was named Bora in the European market, not the Jetta IV or Vento II as one might expect.
The fifth generation of the model was first presented at the Frankfurt Auto Show in 2003. Unlike its predecessors, the novelty was built on the new Volkswagen Group A5 (PQ35) platform. The release of the car lasted until 2009. The Volkswagen Golf 6 debuted in October 2008 at the Paris Auto Show. Due to the fact that the sixth Golf has a common platform with the previous generation, among motorists there is an opinion that the new product is a deep restyling of the fifth generation of the model, but, in fact, this is not the case. Volkswagen Golf 6 is made in a new way and is not a restyled version of the fifth generation. This generation lasted only 5 years on the market, which is the smallest indicator among all representatives of this model. The debut of the seventh generation of cars took place in the fall of 2012 at the Paris Auto Show. The vehicle is assembled in Germany, France, the Netherlands, Great Britain, Spain, Austria, Switzerland, Finland, Japan and the USA
Problem places and disadvantages Volkswagen Golf 6 with mileage.
Like most modern cars, the body paintwork is quite delicate (water-based acrylic paints are used). After a couple of years of intensive use, the body is covered with scuffs, the bottom of the front doors near the front fender suffers most of all. Also, paint can wear off at the contact points of the door seals with the body and at the contact points of the fenders and bumpers. This problem is not critical and can be easily eliminated by gluing a protective film. As for the corrosion resistance of the body, then, in general, it is not bad, but in places where the paint is chipped, rust appears over time. Therefore, in order to avoid serious problems, the condition of the body must be carefully monitored.
For cars that constantly spend the night on the street, after several winters, the thresholds and lower edges of the doors can begin to corrode. Also, when inspecting, it is worth checking the floor spars in the front and near the rear axle for corrosion. Due to the low cost of body parts, it is not always possible to identify damaged elements as a result of an accident (as a rule, a damaged part is not restored, but replaced). When examining, carefully look at the dimensions of the seams, and pay attention to the hidden cavities. The windshield received a lot of criticism - it is soft and scratches quickly enough. To extend the life of the glass, it is recommended to install wipers with softer rubber than the original.
With the onset of severe frosts on some copies, malfunctions of the central locking appear - the front doors do not open from the key fob (most often the driver's door). To eliminate the disadvantage, it is required to replace the lock drive, in some cases it was necessary to change the lock. Another cost item can be the gas tank cap, it is quite fragile and can be broken off without any problems with an awkward movement of the hand. Over time, cracks appear on the hose going to the rear washer; moisture in the rear optics will help identify the problem. With the onset of cold weather, the plastic of the radiator grille installed in the front bumper "dubs" strongly, because of this, even from a minor impact, it breaks to smithereens. Plastic mountings for bumpers are also not famous for their reliability (they break even with a minor accident). The sealant on the front cups loses its elasticity over time and cracks, as a result of which corrosion can appear on the seams.
Power units
A large number of gasoline and diesel power units are available for the Volkswagen Golf 6:
Disadvantages that are common to all motors:
Poor tightness of the cooling system pipes. Most often, the disease manifests itself in the cold season, fluid leakage manifests itself in the area of the temperature sensor. In most cases, the problem disappeared with an increase in temperature. As a result of the struggle "for environmental friendliness", the motors have lost their usual warm-up at idle. You can warm up the engine for an hour, but it is not a fact that it will warm up. The tapping and slight crackling sound on the right side of the engine compartment after starting the engine is due to poor positioning of the fuel pipes. To get rid of annoying sounds, you need to install a special seal.
Atmospheric gasoline engines
The stock 1.4 engine is well known to Volkswagen lovers and will be the best option if you are a calm driver and do not expect vigorous dynamics from the car. The engine is reliable and will not bring unpleasant surprises up to 200-250 thousand km, if you do not try to squeeze out all the juices from it (operation in the "slipper to the floor" mode significantly reduces the resource of this engine). Also, the atmospheric power unit with a volume of 1.6 turned out to be quite successful, this engine is a little "more cheerful" than 1.4. This engine does not tolerate "bad" gasoline, when using low-quality fuel, the engine may run unstable, and there are also problems with starting. With pronounced symptoms, most likely you will have to change the fuel injectors, since the cheaper operation is cleaning the injectors, the engine does not cure. Buying one injector from dealers will cost about $ 100.
Another feature inherent in this motor is increased vibration at idle. Also, difficulties with the throttle valve can be written down to weak points (regular cleaning is required). Common problems that are characteristic of naturally aspirated engines are coking of piston rings, destruction of plastic pipes, increased oil consumption on cars with a mileage of more than 150,000 km (replacement of valve seals is required), oil leakage through hardened crankshaft oil seals. The average service life of engines before overhaul is 300-350 thousand km, with proper care, the engine can last 500,000 km.
Turbocharged powertrains
The turbocharged engines of the TSI family have good dynamics with a fairly low fuel consumption, but not everything is so smooth with their reliability. At the weakest motor 1.2, the timing chain drive is not famous for its reliability. The diesel rumble and increased noise at startup will tell you about the need to immediately visit the service. In most of the copies presented on the secondary market, the chain has been changed to a modernized one. Also, along with the chain, the front cover of the engine was also changed, it differs in that the lower gear has lugs that prevent the chain from slipping at the slightest slackness. Since 2011, a modernized timing belt with a completely new design of the chain and gears began to be installed on the motors. Another common problem is turbine electromagnetic actuator failure. At the same time, the turbine itself is capable of serving 120-150 thousand km.
Many owners complain about the increased oil consumption on practically new cars, but there are also those who, even after 100-120 thousand km, have practically no oil consumption. Not infrequently, the cause of the headache of the owners is the injection pump (the pusher and the roller wear out) and the wear of the camshaft cam. Also, the weak point of this power unit is the direct injection fuel equipment, the problem is aggravated by the complexity of diagnostics. If you “miss out on this ailment when buying, then you will have to pay dearly for it in the future. Of the advantages of the engine, a decent piston resource, reliability of the cylinder head and low fuel consumption on the highway can be noted - about 4 liters per hundred.
Motor 1.4, like a weaker power unit, is not without problems with the timing chain, increased oil consumption and fuel equipment. In addition, there are problems with the reliability of the turbine. The most powerful version is equipped with a double supercharging - a compressor plus a turbocharger, which significantly increases the cost of repairs. For the sake of fairness, it should be noted that on many copies the problematic part was changed to a modernized one under warranty. The phase regulator often bothers, the symptoms - in the first seconds of starting a cold engine, a strong crack is heard from under the hood. Elimination of the problem does not guarantee that it will not happen again after a couple of thousand kilometers.
Also, piston failure is a common problem. The reasons are the poor design of the piston rings and the pistons themselves, plus the liquid intercooler inadequately cools the charge air due to contamination of the heat exchanger in the intake manifold (clogged with oil sludge from the ventilation system). Also, the problem can be provoked by insufficient engine cooling due to the failure of the electric pump (the breakdown is accompanied by extraneous sounds in the engine compartment, similar to the timing chain jumping, the coolant level decreases, the Check Engine lights up) or a dirty radiator. Rarely enough, but, nevertheless, there are sensor failures and malfunctions of the engine control unit. Most often, this trouble befalls the owners who like to experiment with firmware.
When using low-quality fuel, the ignition coils wear out prematurely. The most powerful motor has 160 hp. there are frequent cases of failure of the crankshaft liners, due to the heavy load they wear out quickly. To save the engine from most troubles, change the plugs, ignition modules in a timely manner, monitor the condition of the cooling system, clean the intercooler twice a year, monitor the condition of the timing chain and refuel only at proven gas stations.
Engine 1.8, like the above-mentioned motors, has problems with the "oil burner" and the timing chain, but, unlike weaker motors, here the chain can jump when the motor is turned off. The 2.0 power unit is presented in two types: the old EA113 series unit with a timing belt drive and the new EA888 with a chain. Old motors are quite reliable and devoid of timing problems and increased oil consumption. And, here, the engines of the new model do not have the best reputation. Traditionally, for TSI series engines, there are problems with the reliability of the timing chain (on average, the chain starts to bother after 100,000 km), ignition and injection control systems. Also, it is worth noting oil leaks, fogging of the intake manifold flaps and higher maintenance and repair costs compared to less powerful motors.
Diesel
Despite the fact that diesel engines have established themselves as reliable units, they cannot be called problem-free. In most cases, low-quality diesel fuel becomes the culprit for expensive engine repairs. Due to poor fuel, the injectors, the EGR valve (sometimes the valve control electronics fail), the injection pump and the particulate filter do not deplete their resource. Replacing any of these elements is expensive. Diesel units are equipped with a timing belt drive, the manufacturer recommends changing the belt with tensioners every 160-180 thousand km, but many owners claim that it is better to replace the belt every 120-150 thousand km. Simultaneously with the timing belt, it is advisable to replace the poly-V-belt, since there have been cases when, after a break, it fell under the timing belt, as a result of which the pistons met with the valves.
Transmission
In the secondary market, you can find a Volkswagen Golf 6 with mechanics and a 6 and 7-speed DSG robotic transmission. A lot has already been said about the disadvantages of DSG, therefore, in this article I will list only the most common. A small resource of clutch and mechatronics (70-100 thousand km, when operating in a metropolis, repairs may be required much earlier). In both cases, you will have to pay more than 1000 USD for repairs. Twitching, jumping in gears are symptoms of the presence of one of the ailments. Also, a weak differential can be noted, the failure of which often leads to the destruction of the automatic transmission. In case of untimely maintenance of the box, the wear of the pinion axle and their gears is accelerated.
The mechanics are reliable but not perfect. One of the main disadvantages is premature bearing wear (the problem was not widespread and in most cases was eliminated under warranty). Failure of the 1st and 2nd gear synchronizer clutch, this ailment is manifested by increased noise at idle, when the clutch pedal is pressed, the noise disappears (the same symptoms appear if the release bearing is faulty). Treatment - replacement of the coupling. Over time, the Sachs clutch starts to "howl" (rattle) in 1st gear. This nuisance is a feature of the part and is eliminated only by replacing the clutch. Not often, but still, in the secondary market you can find a Volkswagen Golf 6 with all-wheel drive. All-wheel drive is implemented using the Haldex 4 electromagnetic clutch, which is installed on most crossovers and has proven itself well.
Weaknesses of the Volkswagen Golf 6 chassis
Volkswagen Golf 6 has four suspension versions - standard, reinforced, sporty and adaptive. Most often, cars with a standard independent suspension are presented on the market: in the front - MacPherson strut, in the back - a multi-link. Bushings and stabilizer struts are the first to become unusable, on average, their resource is 50-70. Hub bearings are capable of lasting 100-130 thousand km, but there have been cases when the replacement of the rear bearings was required after 30,000 km. Silent blocks and ball joints live a little longer, up to 150,000 km. Original shock absorbers, with careful operation, take care of 120-150 thousand km. The rear suspension does not require investments more often than once every 100,000 km, despite this, it is recommended to do diagnostics and wheel alignment once a year.
The fact is that the "killed" suspension, in most cases, does not rattle, but, on the other hand, quickly finishes off the serviceable components. The steering system is reliable and can be blamed for minor electrical problems. Steering tips and rods, on average, run about 100-150 thousand km, when using larger wheels, their resource rarely exceeds 50-70 thousand km. The brake system is traditionally reliable, one set of brake pads is enough for 40-50 thousand km, discs are enough for 2-3 sets of pads.
Salon
The interior of the Volkswagen Golf 6 is simple and laconic, but, at the same time, it is made of fairly good materials. As for noise insulation, it is one of the best in the class, only the presence of crickets in the cabin is upsetting (they appear in cars with a mileage of more than 70,000 km). For drivers with a weight of 90 kg or more, after a couple of years of operation, foam rubber is pressed through on the seat and the adjustment mechanisms fail (it is important for cars with a cheap configuration). Also, there are complaints about the durability of the fabric upholstery of the chairs, so if you want to keep their presentation, be sure to use covers.
Among the disadvantages of the cabin equipment, it is possible to note the tendency of the air conditioner condenser to form corrosion; in order to avoid problems, it must be washed a couple of times a year. Often, the stove fan becomes an additional expense item, most often the cause of fan breakdown is the ingress of moisture from melted snow between the hood and the windshield. If the heater fan only turns on at high speed, the resistor must be replaced. Rarely, but, nevertheless, there are cases of failure of the compressor of the Delphi air conditioner. Electronics are generally reliable, but can catch glitches; in most cases, it is treated by restarting the system.
Outcome:
Volkswagen Golf 6 is a good car for its price, even despite a number of shortcomings in TSI engines and a small resource of the DSG box. The modern version of the model has long lost its status of a reliable German car, despite this, you are unlikely to be able to find a person who, after a few years of owning the sixth Golf, will say that this is a bad car.
If you are the owner of this car model, please describe the problems that you had to face during the operation of the car. Perhaps it is your feedback that will help the readers of our site when choosing a car.
Best regards, editors AutoAvenu
