[s-cars] Re: S-car head repair

[Tom Mullane]

Back (waaay back) when I worked at a VW dealer, one of the techs managed to
bend one of the valves on a Vanagon Diesel during a belt change.  The injury
was not violent (no visible damage to the head or the piston, valve only
slightly bent) and the dealer informed the customer of the issue, showed him
what happened, then replaced the offending valve.  Unfortunately, in an
effort to save some money, an aftermarket valve was substituted for the OEM.
The aftermarket valve only had one slot for the keeper, versus 3 on the OEM.
It took about a week, but the Vanagon eventually sucked the valve.  The van
came back, and the long block was replaced.  I think that VAG was somehow
convinced to bear this cost out of warranty.




Date: Tue, 17 Dec 2002 17:58:00 -0800 (PST)
From: Neil Swanson <neilsphoto at yahoo.com>
To: David Molk <rmolk at cox.net>
Cc: s-car list <s-car-list at audifans.com>
Subject: [s-cars] Re: S-car head repair


David

Removing a belt before loosening pulleys can work.
Having all the timed parts untimed sure doesn't.  Was
the engine just cranked or did they really get it
running out of time/sync?

At cranking speeds yes there may be just 2 bent
valves. But I'd have to stress "may".  Engine really
running?  More than 2 are bent for sure.

 But again anyone who is cutting valve faces (are they
recutting the face of the unreplaced valves?) couldn't
miss valves that are bent. Valves are spun on a lathe
type machine and bent valves are very obvious.  Also
bent valves don't want to slide out of their guides
easily.  Not even a dealer with his head up his ass
would reinstall them.

I just put a whole complete head on a customers A4
1.8T last week.  His t-belt died at 80mph @4k RPM.  20
bent valves on that sucka.  Cheapest way to go was a
reman head from the dealer.  The reman head for your
car last time I did one was @$1700 list complete with
cams and all.

Without seeing a head it will be tough for anyone to
give an accurate idea of how to go about the repair.
The shop I work in would take it apart for a check and
I bet lean towards an Audi reamn head.  Quicker turn
around, 12 month 12k mile warranty from Audi and all
new valves, seals, nice valve seats and fresh cams.
The price of new valves alone will shock you.  I seem
to remember @$700 (a vague guess) for either all 20 or
maybe just the exhaust valves.  Very pricey parts.

It would be very smart for Hoffman to just get a reman
head, remember they won't charge themselves list price
and install it.

Neil