I have done a lot of searching and reading about EGR valves but cannot find the answer I'm looking for. My car occasionally makes a short sharp squealing noise on start up. The mechanic I go to said (I think) that it could be the EGR valve (I'm not very technical so it might not have been that that he said but it was certainly similar!!). I've read some bits about cleaning it but everything seems to be in relation to diesels.

Have I got the wrong end of the stick with this or will my 1.8T Elegance have an EGR valve and would it cause this noise?

Secondly I'm currently fearing that my turbo may be on it's last legs. I have a liquid gauge and it showed that my max turbo boost pressure is 1320mbar. Is this low considering my map and K&N induction kit?

Cheers in advance.

Sounds more like slipping alternator

:iagree: - the bad news is that the auxilliary drive belt on these engines is tensioned automatically, which suggests that the tensioner may be close to worn out.

As to the turbo boost pressure question, is that reading on an absolute pressure gauge, or on a relative pressure one (absolute pressure gauge will read about 1_000, relative pressure gauge will read 0 with the engine not running)? It looks low for an absolute pressure, and possibly high for a relative pressure on an unmodified car.

Guessing it must be relative pressure then Ken as I remember seeing it at 30 while I reversed off the drive! It's not unmodified though so it's possible that the boost pressure is ok.

And does my car have an EGR valve?

1320mb relative pressure (about 20PSI) seems reasonable boost for the quoted peak power on a 1.8T.

Cheers Ken. I don't suppose you know the answer to the other question do you? I'm getting conflicting information. Been on MKIV Golf forum and one lad was told his 1.8T doesn't have an EGR valve and that basically it's only diesels that have them.

It might be in Haynes, but it's not something that's ever come up before, and my Haynes is at home.

No problem. Thanks anyway.

I have done a lot of searching and reading about EGR valves but cannot find the answer I'm looking for. My car occasionally makes a short sharp squealing noise on start up. The mechanic I go to said (I think) that it could be the EGR valve (I'm not very technical so it might not have been that that he said but it was certainly similar!!). I've read some bits about cleaning it but everything seems to be in relation to diesels.

Have I got the wrong end of the stick with this or will my 1.8T Elegance have an EGR valve and would it cause this noise?

Secondly I'm currently fearing that my turbo may be on it's last legs. I have a liquid gauge and it showed that my max turbo boost pressure is 1320mbar. Is this low considering my map and K&N induction kit?

Cheers in advance.

Sounds like it's the classic sticky starter motor problem to me. The shaft gets clogged with clutch dust and stops returning after a while, so the flywheel kicks it back and causes a schriek noise. Look it up in the search. Can be cured by cleaning the shaft. I had it.

If it's the auxillary drive belt, then maybe it's just old and hard, so it's slipping a bit. Just replace it, as it's a cheap no-tools job any way. Mine started to squeal before christmas, so I put a fresh belt on in 5mins and the squeal dissapeared. You can pull the tensioner back with a spanner if you want to see how strong it is. Mine was strong as hell, but I am a midget!

The AUQ 1.8T doesn't have EGR, so I'd guess that yours doesn't either, but that's just a guess. Best way to know is to go look at the engine.

Cheers for that Bodge. I'll try cleaning the shaft (or rather I'll have it cleaned) and I'm hoping it is just the belt. The garage has one in so if it's that simple I'll just get it done next time I'm in.

Best way to know is to go look at the engine.

It would appear you have overestimated me. I had thought of doing this but can't find any pictures of an EGR valve on a car and I have no idea where it would be or what it might look like. I'm one of those guys who opens the bonnet then stands and looks at the engine for a while (usually pulling this face :confused:) knowing full well that unless the washer bottle/oil/coolant is running low then I have no idea what I'm looking at!!! Changing the throttle cable on an MGB is my greatest mechanical achievement and that's not much harder than changing your shoe laces.

Any further hints would be appreciated.