Mk4 heat shield rattle

[Calm Chris]

This is a public information post

Car has been rattling from the lower front engine area for a week or two. Finally got it on a ramp yesterday and as Dr Watson suggested (many thanks for making it so easy to find) the Mk4 R32 has a heat shield that wraps around the area that joins the manifold to the main exhaust pipe section.

The heat shield is held on via a couple of blobs of weld.

The tech mentioned that he has had a few to do recently, mostly on 03 cars. So if on start up and when moving you hear a light rattling from the lower engine area, just to the rear of the front tyres (and centred between them) now you know what the problem is

Cost me £10 to fix at a local garage and that was after VW had a quick look and the service staff telling me to take it somewhere where welding wouldn't be over priced.

Mines over the warranty period, hence why they wouldn't do it FOC. They tried to suggest it might have been knocked via a sleeping police bump, since it had no marks or scratches I think it was more likely that it is simple fatigue.

Another one for the final (out goes warranty) check list

[apye]

Thanks for the info Chris

One to look out for before the warranty runs out!!

[Dr_Watson]

Great news!

Still think a slight rub with a high spot on a farm track road started mine off, not 100% sure though.

Local garage was 20Sfr (£8) to fix it in about 40 secs.

Happy as Larry again.

[Calm Chris]

Thanks again for the advice, they were very impressed that I'd found an answer on the net