Volkswagen 1.4 MPI engine (AXP)

In 1997, Volkswagen motorists introduced the EA111 family of gasoline engines, which have a 20-degree angle of inclination in the installation and the output of the exhaust system from the front side. The 1.6-liter engine has been reviewed earlier, now it’s the turn of the 1.4-liter cylinder displacement motor.

While the cylinder diameter is the same (76.5mm), the stroke is reduced by 11.3mm to 75.6mm, the compression ratio is slightly lower, and the main difference is the transition to an aluminum block instead of heavier cast iron.

Technical specifications

In addition to VW Golf, this power unit can be found on VW Bora and SEAT Toledo, produced between 1998 and 2002. For SEAT Leon this engine remained relevant until the second half of 2005, and on Skoda Octavia it continued to be installed until 2010.

Reliability

Assessments of the reliability indicators of this engine are ambiguous. On the one hand, most of them pass 300 thousand kilometers before “overhaul” without problems, but on the other hand there is a lot of censures to their work, concerning fuel system, EGR, timing.

A gasoline pump

It is not problematic, but not the most reliable. You can understand about the problems in its work by the increase in gasoline consumption and uncertain engine start. The first way to check it is to measure the fuel pressure level. The optimum value is 3 bar. Insufficient saturation of the mixture with fuel negatively affects the spark plugs, whose electrodes begin to cover with light-colored plaque.

The advantages of the pump include its inexpensive repair, it is enough to change the electric motor, and the quality of the unit will be restored.

Crankshaft position sensor

Problems with this element are extremely rare, but when the sensor fails, there are difficulties with starting the engine, it begins to “trochee”, spontaneously stall after stopping the fuel supply. The best way to identify the cause of the problem will be computer diagnostics. In some cases, the sensor remains serviceable, but its wire is broken or contact in the connector is lost due to accumulated dirt.

Throttle valve

There are no claims to the reliability of its work, and cleaning from soot is carried out more “in company” when performing other repair work with the engine. Only after cleaning, it will be necessary to adjust its work with software update.

EGR valve

The EGR of the German engine is controlled by a servo drive. The adaptive valve informs the ECU about its status, requiring firmware in case of its rejection. A simple plugging will result in an error on the dashboard. In comparison, on older models of the 1.4-liter vacuum-controlled EGR motor, plugging was much easier.

The reliability of the valve is average. Some of the problems are caused by mechanical faults, for example, incomplete closure leads to the penetration of gases into the intake system, worsening engine starting, idling, revs rise and hold. This is all caused by low enrichment of the fuel mixture, additionally saturated with exhaust gases.

If the valve is jammed, the potentiometer will not be able to detect its position. In order to eliminate the malfunction, the valve will need to be cleaned from accumulated particles of carbon deposits.

There are also cases of valve failure, which remains in the “Closed” position and is reflected by an error. In this case, repair is not possible and it will be necessary to simply buy a new one. Often the electric motor of the EGR valve breaks down due to contamination/broken contacts, but the difficulty lies in the laboriousness of access to them. To clean it, it will be necessary to completely dismantle the chip, and after the work is completed, carefully reassemble.

Ignition coil

On older variations of the engine with a letter designation starting with “A”, a single coil is used, whose housing over time as a result of wear is subjected to cracking with the occurrence of penetration. Repair in such a case is impractical and the part is better replaced. Epoxy glue can be used, but such a repair can not be recognized as durable and reliable.

Absolute pressure sensor

This is a very reliable element that requires only periodic cleaning. In case of significant accumulation of dirt on the MAP-sensor, the engine start-up may be blocked and the corresponding error may be indicated.

Candles

To this component of its work, the 1.4 MPI engine makes increased demands. For original products it is provided for the presence of three electrodes at once, so when buying analog plugs it is necessary to pay attention to this. Incorrect selection of spark plugs will turn out to overconsumption of fuel, on average by 2 liters for every 100 kilometers.

There are no claims to the wires, so there are no cases of their wear.

Forks

Sensitive to the quality of the fuel used, they in case of contamination do not inject gasoline, but pour it into the cylinder. This manifests itself in problematic engine starting, periodic detonation of fuel, deterioration of the traction characteristics of the car. At a critical level of contamination, ignition skipping is possible.

The process of cleaning injectors is not complicated, and it is recommended to combine pulse voltage with pouring, creating the effect of real working conditions of the engine part.

Cooling temperature sensor

The standard place of installation of the sensor is on the thermostat itself. The degree of its reliability is not very high, it is possible, as a complete breakdown, and the display of incorrect data, for example, heating is normal, but the dashboard reflects information about overheating.

Incorrect engine data at startup leads to the formation of a fuel mixture of suboptimal consistency, complicating startup. For example, on cold in the mixture will be too little fuel, and in a hot motor will be fed more saturated than necessary mixture. Problems with the sensor will be indicated by the presence of an error, and it will be visible during computer diagnostics.

Carter ventilation

Among the problems typical for the Russian operation of engines 1.4 MPI from Volkswagen is the freezing in winter of the tube ventilation of gases in the crankcase. This happens at frosts from -20 degrees and the presence of condensate inside. The formation of the latter is characteristic of short trips, when the motor simply does not have time to warm up to remove the moisture released by the air.

Checking the performance of the VKG is carried out with the engine running and unscrewed oil intake cap. It should minimally jump, and together with pressing the gas pedal, suck on the throat. If with the growth of revolutions the plug actively jumps, there is a large accumulation of gases in the crankcase.

Operation of the car in this state is not recommended, because the pressure will squeeze out the oil seals or the oil will start to squeeze out through the hole for the dipstick.

GDM

The timing mechanism provides for the presence of two belts. The main one is responsible for the rotation of the camshaft on the intake, and the second (short) for the exhaust shaft. Such a design implies many problems, including due to the modest initial quality of manufacture.

Rims on the rollers are made of plastic, so already at a mileage of about 80 thousand kilometers begins their active destruction with the risk of slipping the belt and subsequent problems for the power unit.

On a short belt is often fixed shearing of teeth with the possibility of bending valves on the outlet. The problem is possible as early as 50 thousand mileage, regardless of whether original belts or cheaper analogs are used. Advice from professionals, replacement together with the roller tensioner in 30-40 thousand kilometers, until the trouble came.

Candle wells

The camshafts in the engine are located on top of the cylinder head, and in the event of an oil leak, it is not excluded its flow into the landing wells of the plugs. Most often leaks occur between the camshaft support and the cylinder-head, where the sealant is cracked. Their elimination requires disassembly of the support, removal of belts, the process is very labor-intensive, especially in view of the subsequent assembly.

Oil pump

The oil pump used by German engineers refers to the number of gear-type models, and its work is provided by the drive from the toe of the crankshaft.

Crankshaft supports

The change to an aluminum block has resulted in the crankshaft supports being an integral part of the block itself. Separate replacement of supports is impossible, so car owners who have faced with wear of supports, will have to spend on the purchase of a new block. Similarly, if the crankshaft is damaged, it can only be replaced together with the block.