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Ran the engine today 1.2 3 cylinder,and i have a sound which is like lots of small ball bearings,coming from the rrear of the cylinder head on the right side below the rocker cover as you look under the bonnet.You can only just hear it but quite loud when you take a closer look.It has a aprox 3" plastic cap with some pipes and is bolted to the head,a electric connector which is pointing to the winscreen.I have looked in the Haynes manual but could not see it illustrated.I have had the engine running on idle before but never have noticed this before.Thought it could be the fuel pump but not sure.Anybody know what this component is, the car runs fine and idles ok

Are you sure that it is bolted to the head, it sounds a bit like the oil separator but that is bolted onto the side of the block made of plastic with pipes and an electrical connection.

Just had another closer look after a journey it does not seem to be so noisy it looks like it is fitted to the manifold with a alloy pipe running underneath with a sharp left bend held with two bolts fitted just behind and lower than the component.

I think i have found out what it could be the EGR valve or throttle body,but is it supose to rattle like lot of small ball bearings?

Please take a photo and post it up showing the part in question

Hear is a photo

That looks like the Throttle Body though it could be the EGR and no it should not rattle

Thanks for that info,thought it might be EGR but wanted to make sure.The car has been running ok and it passed the MOT last November ,i do not know how long it has been sounding like that and if it only happens now and again.If it was like that during MOT time i would of thought if the EGR was faulty in any way it would not of passed the MOT emmisions test,could be wrong.i do not know what is inside them only a valve of somekind which can get dirty and needs cleaning now and then. I will keep an eye on it to see if it gets worse,Thanks Alex.

It’s just a solenoid that opens and closes the valve. The EGR doesn’t operate all the time. The MOT emissions test wouldn’t make it operate

Thanks for that info regarding the EGR at MOT.If it is not suppose to rattle it could be the valve then and it might be worn but will take it to my local VW franchise garage to see what they say.Depending what they say might have to repair it.

Take it to a decent local VW specialist. The dealership will charge you the earth to replace either the EGR or throttle body

If i can find out if it is that then i would rather buy one myself and fit it.Will do a search for VW specialist in my area

Apparently that is the throttle housing and the EGR is on the right front of engine .I have booked it in for a Diagnastic (has not had a full blown diag for few years)to find out why it is running bit rough on idle ,took air cleaner off and it was clean (suprised) so have to see what comes up in the test.The egr in the front might need cleaning so will wait for the test results.

Hum, now that you have said "throttle body" I can see that it is exactly that, prior to that I was thinking "that is not the EGR valve" - but no more than that.

In my experience of EGR valves in VW petrol engines, they normally stay clean - so that means that they do not suffer the horrible life that TDI engine EGR valves suffer - if that helps at all.

Hopefully the test on Wedsday will reveal what is causing the rough ide ,the air cleaner vibrates or seems to more than a few months ago.but idle revs are norm and pulls ok .I had a oil change about 2 months ago i am hoping it is not that it has jumped on the sprocket and put timing out slightly but then iam sure it would be different symtoms to what i seem to be getting.