So my beloved clubbie is sick. I had a coolant hose break and overheated it last week. Now it looks like its time for some head work. I have done similar work on other vehicles of mine in the past and I intend to do this myself. Until I get the head off I wont truly know if its just the head gasket or if the head itself is damaged. In either case I intend to have the head serviced while off of course and am just curious what other parts and/or components I should repair/replace while in the process. I purchased the car used and still owe nearly two years of payments and therefore plan on driving it for at least that long. (at which point I may upgrade to the new clubbie...but that's a whole different thread entirely!)

I am open to any advice anyone is willing to share!

 

Make sure you have the cam locking tools, or you'll never get the engine in time!

 

I certainly will, thanks!!

No other bits of advice out there?

 

"---intend to have the head serviced ---" if the fuel injectors have to removed, be sure to have new seals put on BEFORE you get it home and start re-assembly. There's another special tool for removing / installing these seals. New seals are part of the gasket set for the head.

 

This job will get more in depth than most expect really quick. As was already said there is specialty tools for the timing cassette, injector seals, torque wrenches capable of torque + angle measurements, a Bentley manual, as well as all required hardware and gaskets.

Depending on how hot the head got you'll be decking it, possibly replacing valve seats, bent valves due to seats being unset, valve guides & seals.

 

I definitely plan on decking the head for sure and I'll have to go through it and make certain there is no collateral damage as well. I will completely clean the valve train of all carbon buildup as well. I only want to take it apart once hopefully!

 

So I have completed the head gasket job along with the timing set. The head was warped nearly .010" at the center and needed to be machined and subsequently pressure tested. All pertinent gaskets/seals were replaced and now that it is all together and running again I am having boost/turbo issues. The car runs and drives smoothly without any issue other than if I get into the throttle heavy where it would normally use the turbo is goes into half engine power mode. I brought it back to the local shop that diagnosed the head gasket issue to begin with and they are having a hard time finding anything specifically wrong. There is appropriate vacuum to operate the waste gate, the turbo spins freely and is not stuck. There doesn't seem to be excessive play in the shaft. They intend to use a remote camera to look through the 02 sensor hole in the manifold to check the exhaust side of the turbo for issues. I will ask them in the morning if they smoke tested everything to look for any leaks. Is there anything other than mentioned to look for?

 

What are the codes being stored?

Are you 100% timing is on par?

 

There are no specific fault codes stored that I could read with a standard OBDII scanner as there was no CEL. I will have to check to see if their scanner pulled up any other codes. With regard to timing I am certain it is good. I installed everything with the timing tools in place, removed them and rotated the engine manually four full revolutions, reinstalled the tools, and everything went right back into place. Furthermore after having the turbo issue I took the valve cover back off and triple checked by installing the tools again to make sure and everything was right on.

 

Start with getting the codes read by someone with a quality tool, that will help out greatly.

 

I just spoke with the shop before lunch, there was a 2885 code (boost pressure control deviation) when it came in with the "reduced engine power mode"

 

Could be a boost leak.

Is the wastegate vacuum source attached to the diaphragm? And is all of the vacuum routing from the vacuum pump to the solenoid under the intake manifold, to the wastegate intact and properly connected?

Could also need the control solenoid under the intake manifold.

I have had cars that had minimal bearing play in the turbo, but the wastegate was unable to perform adequately causing underboost issues, which requires turbo replacement.

 

Did you also use the chain tensioner tool, as described in the Bentley manual?

I live with P2885 and P2884 because my turbo isn't spooling up when the ECU expects it. As nkfry suggests, check all the WG hoses, valve connector, and even the WG itself. Maybe find a hand operated vacuum pump and test the WG operation manually --- watch it open / close smoothly.