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1.4 TSI 160 low compression in one cylinder

Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2017 3:04 pm
by thng
Hello, i bought a used scirocco back in december and after putting a few thousand miles on it the engine light came on with the car going in limp mode, brought it to vw for diagsnosis and they found it has low compression,~ 90 psi in cylinder 1. they say they have to strip the engine to find out whats wrong with it and it could be it needs a new engine alltogether.
At this point i brought the car home saying i'd think about it, because i simply cannot afford a new engine. What is the other best possible course of action? Should i just buy a second hand engine and have it dropped in by a garage?
Thank you in advance

Re: 1.4 TSI 160 low compression in one cylinder

Posted: Tue Feb 28, 2017 4:04 pm
by sadtranz
Sorry to hear your problem, if it were me think I would find a recommended recon engine installer, time and money spent trying to repair your engine that probably needs new pistons ect would probably be much more expensive

Re: 1.4 TSI 160 low compression in one cylinder

Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2017 10:58 am
by Technane
Where did you buy it from? if a garage I would take it back and in the UK again we have rights now buying used cars
https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/e ... h-your-car" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
screw paying for under 3 months of use.

Re: 1.4 TSI 160 low compression in one cylinder

Posted: Wed Mar 01, 2017 12:24 pm
by thng
i bought it from a private seller and im from italy.
i think im going to have the engine rebuilt from a garage, new pistons and head rebored. pistons that will be put in are most likely going to be of better quality than what vw used back in 2008, so they shouldnt crack and i should have an engine i can trust. i dont want to sell the car.

Re: 1.4 TSI 160 low compression in one cylinder

Posted: Sat Mar 11, 2017 6:21 pm
by thng
the pistons are fine, although the valves in cylinder one are burnt. im also having the timing chain and tensioner updated and they're replacing the piston rings as well. i will be given a quote on monday though he said below 2000 euros

Re: 1.4 TSI 160 low compression in one cylinder

Posted: Tue Jun 27, 2017 10:33 pm
by Zanic L3
thng wrote:the pistons are fine, although the valves in cylinder one are burnt. im also having the timing chain and tensioner updated and they're replacing the piston rings as well. i will be given a quote on monday though he said below 2000 euros
So how much did it cost u?

Re: 1.4 TSI 160 low compression in one cylinder

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2017 1:25 pm
by thng
in the end he replaced piston 1 as well because it had a little crack and it ended up being 1900.

Re: 1.4 TSI 160 low compression in one cylinder

Posted: Wed Jun 28, 2017 5:53 pm
by blower
I was about to say, i doubt very much this was down to 'burnt exhaust valves' - that's what every mechanic says when they see the valves on a 1.4 tsi, they are not burn't.
Low compression on this engine, if not the result of valve damage from chain issues, is always a cracked piston.