1991 Citi Golf Sqweak

[ChrisC20]

Hi guys,

So two problems. First I have sqweak when changing gears, so when the car pulls away theres nothing, but giving clutch...as the body would move forward... Theres a sqweak, and again when body moves back when letting go of the clutch... You know as the weight shifts. Thought it would be shocks, and so I replaced all four (cause the car is only few thousand short of 300 000km, and I don't know what the condition was of the shocks). But sqweak persists. Hi-Q said the shock mounts are still fine.

Second: they had a problem with wheel alignment, because they said the left front lower control arm was too long so camber could not be further adjusted. Left sat at -3°18'. So they found a problem with wrong bolts used... They fit new ones and now left camber sits at -1°54'. Min and max specs are 0°00' and 0°40' as per the spec sheet. Is this okay?

Please any advice on sqweak, its driving me nuts.

Thanx in advance

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[VAG Fan]

The squeak is probably due to worn rubber suspension bushings. In the Citi (Mk 1, type 17) platform, there aren't all that many bushes:
2 in the control arm on each side
2 per side on the stabiliser (sway bar, anti-roll bar), if present.

[Knuckles87]

The squeak (In my experience) is generally your clutch cable.

[ChrisC20]

The squeak (In my experience) is generally your clutch cable.

I could look at that. But it never sqweaks as I pull away from, lets say, a Stop sign... No matter how slow or how fast. Its only noticible when the car is moving and going from 1st to 2nd to 3rd to 4th.

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[VAG Fan]

If it's the clutch cable, you'll hear it while operating the clutch on the stationary car, regardless of weight shift.

If it only occurs during weight shift, look at the suspension. (And possibly also your engine mounts.)

[ChrisC20]

If it's the clutch cable, you'll hear it while operating the clutch on the stationary car, regardless of weight shift.

If it only occurs during weight shift, look at the suspension. (And possibly also your engine mounts.)

Thanx I'll have a look at engine mounts and get back to you. Should I just apply some grease to them?

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[VAG Fan]

No. While it may "solve" the problem for a short while, This will only degrade the rubber further.

Worn bushes and mounts must be replaced. Goldwagen has these parts, and they're not all that expensive.

[panic-mechanic]

Engine mounts most likely - look at the front and rear under the gearbox one. Might be torn.

[ChrisC20]

Engine mounts most likely - look at the front and rear under the gearbox one. Might be torn.

The rear gearbox mount was torn and replaced, so I thought it might be metal on metal that made the noise. Still persisted. I'll have a look at the other.

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[panic-mechanic]

Front one and right of the motor can also make noise. At 300k km I would change them all anyway.

[OettingerTDi]

My Citi has a squeek on occassion, but mine comes from the rear suspension. I have concluded that this originates from the movement of the torsion beam rear axle inside the bushes on the mounting points against the body near the fuel tank. It is most prevalent during the loading of the suspension in between gear changes, mostly first to second and second to third, where there is a pronounced rocking movement of the car's body. Also, in my case, not upon pull off, only during gear changes.

I have wondered how to fix it, but as mine happens occasionally, I have not bothered and learnt to live with it.

[ChrisC20]

About the left lower control arm... Any advice there. Look at OP

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[Wolf Mk2 16V]

Can also be a worn seal between the cup of the manifold and exhaust system or not tightrned properly

[panic-mechanic]

About the left lower control arm... Any advice there. Look at OP

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There are no different lenghts of control arms. What happens on citi golf/mk1 is that the actual chassis can bend becuase of the way that arms section sots where the control arm is mounted. That brace that joins the two bolts at the botoom helps for that.
The solution - either slot the outer side where the ball joint mounts on the control arm or get a panel beater to push the chassis back in place and put the brace in.
Also the chassis sometimes tear on a join a litte back from that, have a good look underneath.

[Supervan II]

Can also be a worn seal between the cup of the manifold and exhaust system or not tightened properly

This was the problem on a 1997 Citi 1600 that I had bought basically brand new (Demo with 5K on the clock).