On Fri, 24 Jan 1997, Beth Young wrote:

> On Fri, 24 Jan 1997, Austin wrote:
> 
> > I'm in a bit of a panic/bind;  my son is at college in Arizona, & called
> > this PM to tell me he's hearing sounds 'coming from the engine-sounds like
> > marbles in a tin can' ('92 VW Golf-8valve engine).
> 
> "Marbles in a tin can" is the classic sound of an engine pinging.  Have 
> him fill the tank with a good high-octane gas and it may cure itself.  
> Sorry, I don't know any AZ vw mechanics, but it may not be necessary.
> 
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> Tom Young               young@sherlock.SIMS.Berkeley.EDU
> Lafayette, CA  94549    '81 Vanagon
> ---------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> 

Sounds like pinging to me too.  If it is a GTi then it has knock sensors
that should retard the timing to prevent such early detonation.  I'm not
sure if a normal Golf would have knock sensors...I think they have a lower
compression ratio.  Sooo, I'd suggest having your son A) buy a Bentley
($35), and B) use it to check the knock sensors, if equipped.  Of course
this isn't what you were asking about, but I'm afraid I don't know any VW
mechanics in AZ:(

Cory
'86 Westfalia