Noise in upper engine

Tiny
WEAVERDAD
  • MEMBER
  • 2002 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 170,000 MILES
I have a 2002 VW Passat 1.8T w/170xxx miles. Car starts great but has a tapping in upper engine. I drive it for about 10-15 seconds and CEL and oil light comes on and it loses power. A coil pack is bad for sure. Can this cause noises and oil lights to come on? And can you have a total loss of oil pressure then regain it later?
Monday, January 3rd, 2011 AT 3:41 PM

10 Replies

Tiny
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  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
The coil pack will not cause low oil pressure, you will have to get the pressure tested with a mechanical gauge to check true pressure, a faulty pressure relief vale can cause this loss and gain in pressure.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Monday, January 3rd, 2011 AT 3:47 PM
Tiny
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Would/could the bad valve be the cause of the noise? Does it possibly need a total new engine?
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Monday, January 3rd, 2011 AT 3:56 PM
Tiny
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Get the pressure tested with a mechanical gauge, the mechanic can normally tell by watching the readings if the relief valve is faulty, get this done first.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Monday, January 3rd, 2011 AT 4:07 PM
Tiny
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What happens is the oil pressure is ok at first then after it warms up a light comes on and says "Low oil pressure stop engine" then after you turn it off it goes off and doesn't come back on until it idles for 10-15 mins. It doesn't lose and gain pressure while driving.
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Monday, January 3rd, 2011 AT 4:18 PM
Tiny
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We need to eliminate any possibility of pump or relief valve problem, with the test as mentioned, second guessing is just not going to help, do the test first.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Monday, January 3rd, 2011 AT 11:16 PM
Tiny
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Ok replaced the coil pack and engine noise is better. Oil light is off now, but traction control light is now on and engine loses power? Haven't tested oil pressure yet
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Thursday, January 6th, 2011 AT 11:09 PM
Tiny
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What fault codes are you getting with a scan?

Mark (mhpautos)
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Friday, January 7th, 2011 AT 1:17 AM
Tiny
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Ok it throwed a code for knocking and misfires. But can punch the traction control button inside car and it runs like a top. It's like it resets itself everytime you turn it off and you have to push it again. Idk crossing fingers that it keeps working!
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Saturday, January 8th, 2011 AT 12:02 AM
Tiny
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Let me know the exact codes if you can.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Saturday, January 8th, 2011 AT 12:06 AM
Tiny
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Throwing no codes now. Still has a tapping in upper engine just not as bad. Tapping speeds up with engine. It runs and when it drives for a bit traction control light comes on and engine bogs down. You can turn traction control off and it runs fine.
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Saturday, January 8th, 2011 AT 8:30 PM

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