Vw golf TSI problems?

finalfurlong

Wondering any posters have met problems with this car.Have an 2011 one which has 40000 miles up.Air con pump needed replacing last year,water pump replaced in june this year and is currently with main dealer for service where I heard yesterday that timing chain needs replacing.Granted ther was a noticeable rattle for last 2 weeks or so.I assumed chain would not need replacing at such mileage given that all the petrol TSIs use these rather than the belt with its supposedly shorter lifespan.Reason I ask if this is widespread is dealer has unprompted got goodwill of 100% labour and 70 % part on water pump in june and timing chain today from VW even though the cars standard vw warranty would have expired in april 2013.Im not complaining as it has taken the heat out of both bills-but are VW unofficially covering these items to avoid a recall?

Roger Mellie Man on the Telly

There is a tsb for this issue. Affects 2.0 and 1.4 tsi units, although in slightly different ways I think.

The tensioner on the camshaft chain tensions by oil pressure. When the car has no or low oil pressure (car stood overnight or during work day) the tensioner falls back on its ratchet to keep tension on the timing chain.
Its the ratchet that fails in the tensioner, therefore releasing tension on the chain. When you go to start the car, the chain is slack as the ratchet has failed.
The chain moves on the sprockets and moves a couple of teeth before oil pressure builds and tensions the chain once again, but sadly in the wrong location as its moved teeth on one or more of the sprockets.
Due to the timing been incorrect the ECU tries to keep the car running by changing the camshaft timing.
As it cannot adjust enough the car either runs poorly or does not start at all.
Due to the timing been incorrect. Engine Pistons meet cylinder head valves etc.

Result=New engine needed or at least a rebuild

Miscreant

The timing chain is a known issue on the TSI engines. I'm guessing you have the 1.2 engine. Friend of mine had the same problem with his timing chain and it was covered under goodwill too.
Very surprising that this has not turned into a recall at this stage TBH. The owners forums are awash with these issues on VAG TSI engines.

finalfurlong

Yes, miscreant, it is the 1.2 85 bhp engine.Tbh the whole experience would put me off the tsi s .Its my wifes car and It is lively on the road whenever I use it-compared to my 1.6 Octavia tdi,anyway-but to have this fault is a worry.Might get an early nct in jan and look to trade in.What way are they valued on trade ins if the problem is known in the trade?Would welcome anybodys experience of this.

John T Carroll

Roger Mellie Man on the Telly wrote: »

There is a tsb for this issue. Affects 2.0 and 1.4 tsi units, although in slightly different ways I think.

The tensioner on the camshaft chain tensions by oil pressure. When the car has no or low oil pressure (car stood overnight or during work day) the tensioner falls back on its ratchet to keep tension on the timing chain.
Its the ratchet that fails in the tensioner, therefore releasing tension on the chain. When you go to start the car, the chain is slack as the ratchet has failed.
The chain moves on the sprockets and moves a couple of teeth before oil pressure builds and tensions the chain once again, but sadly in the wrong location as its moved teeth on one or more of the sprockets.
Due to the timing been incorrect the ECU tries to keep the car running by changing the camshaft timing.
As it cannot adjust enough the car either runs poorly or does not start at all.
Due to the timing been incorrect. Engine Pistons meet cylinder head valves etc.

Result=New engine needed or at least a rebuild

In view of all these issues would it be prudent to get the chain replaced even if no evident problems? My daughter has a 2008 1.4 TSI (125 BHP) Passat from new which she intends to keep for a good few years as she finds it a very comfortable car and suits her needs perfectly. The car has coverd 160,000 Kms since new and hasnt cost a euro in repairs so she wouldnt be too put off paying out a good lump of money to get it done.

Roger Mellie Man on the Telly

The tensioner has been revised a few times and would be around €4-500 to have replaced.

Service Bulletin Number : TB-15-12-01 Date of Bulletin : JUL 23, 2012
NHTSA Item Number : 10045560
Component : ENGINE
Summary :
VOLKSWAGEN: ALL MODELS EXPERIENCE THE TIMING CHAIN SLIPPING, RATTLING NOISES OF THE ENGINE AFTER STARTING, AND ENGINE FAILS TO START. 2008-13 ALL MODELS. *PE

John T Carroll

Roger Mellie Man on the Telly wrote: »

The tensioner has been revised a few times and would be around €4-500 to have replaced.

Service Bulletin Number : TB-15-12-01 Date of Bulletin : JUL 23, 2012
NHTSA Item Number : 10045560
Component : ENGINE
Summary :
VOLKSWAGEN: ALL MODELS EXPERIENCE THE TIMING CHAIN SLIPPING, RATTLING NOISES OF THE ENGINE AFTER STARTING, AND ENGINE FAILS TO START. 2008-13 ALL MODELS. *PE

Thanks for that, it might be money well spent, I will have a word with the main dealer. John

John T Carroll

Roger Mellie Man on the Telly wrote: »

The tensioner has been revised a few times and would be around €4-500 to have replaced.

Service Bulletin Number : TB-15-12-01 Date of Bulletin : JUL 23, 2012
NHTSA Item Number : 10045560
Component : ENGINE
Summary :
VOLKSWAGEN: ALL MODELS EXPERIENCE THE TIMING CHAIN SLIPPING, RATTLING NOISES OF THE ENGINE AFTER STARTING, AND ENGINE FAILS TO START. 2008-13 ALL MODELS. *PE

I spoke to the main dealer service manager today and he said that you will generally get a warning with a rattling noise on a cold start up, he also said that of the two or three catastrophic failures that he's seen have been as a result of the owners ignoring these signs. He also said that it is not a problem on engines where the oil (with the correct spec) has been changed
at the recommended intervals and finally said that they always replace the timing chain with tensioner etc.
Overall, he certainly gave me the impression that people are not replacing the tensioner/chain as a form of "Preventative Maintenance" but I am still very mindful of the service bulletin, above.

finalfurlong

Strange co incidence there ,john, i put up the original post about my wifes 1.2 tsi but my previous car was a 1.4 tsi passat highline 2008 which ,like yours, drove faultlessly for the 3 years i had it.Id tend to leave well enough alone as you would have had problems by now if there was an issue-using the castrol edge oil and following service intervals meant passat was trouble free.If the chain is going ,you will notice it-unfortunately i rarely drove the golf but apparently rattle had been getting worse.Thankfully,vw did total job including tensioners and car is as new now.

John T Carroll

finalfurlong wrote: »

Strange co incidence there ,john, i put up the original post about my wifes 1.2 tsi but my previous car was a 1.4 tsi passat highline 2008 which ,like yours, drove faultlessly for the 3 years i had it.Id tend to leave well enough alone as you would have had problems by now if there was an issue-using the castrol edge oil and following service intervals meant passat was trouble free.If the chain is going ,you will notice it-unfortunately i rarely drove the golf but apparently rattle had been getting worse.Thankfully,vw did total job including tensioners and car is as new now.

Yes, I think I'll advice my daughter to leave well enough alone and just keep an ear out for any strange noises, I only drive the passat occasionally as well, thanks.

joujoujou

Lads, friend of mine has 08 passat with aforementioned 1.4 TSI engine, currently approx. 90 000 km done.

Visited me today. Heard loud rattle when started it after 2-3 hours.

Car's been bought off VAG dealer 2 months ago, friend got 1 year warranty on it.

Where does he stand? Can he demand repair/timing chain tensioner replacement under a warranty he got?

MuppetCheck

The warranties VAG dealers tend to offer are decent, I wouldn't overly worry about it being put right.

I claimed about 5k through multiple visits on one particular car, no quibble ever with the dealer.

joujoujou

So what? Go there and ask, right?

MuppetCheck

joujoujou wrote: »

So what? Go there and ask, right?

Just book it in, explain the symptoms, let them look at it and go from there.

joujoujou

Thank you very much indeed!

finalfurlong

Think you should be able to push that case jou jou.As i said with the 11 golf,goodwill covered 90% of bill.All vw dealers are only too aware of problem and between them and vw ireland i d say you will be spared the worst.that low mileage and fact that only 2 months into year warranty should strengthen case.let us know how you get on!

MuppetCheck

finalfurlong wrote: »

Think you should be able to push that case jou jou.As i said with the 11 golf,goodwill covered 90% of bill.All vw dealers are only too aware of problem and between them and vw ireland i d say you will be spared the worst.that low mileage and fact that only 2 months into year warranty should strengthen case.let us know how you get on!

What case - there's nothing to strengthen IF they find a fault. It's warrantied therefore should be fully covered.

joujoujou

I won't be pushing anything. Not my car, not my problem.

onlyme23

Roger Mellie Man on the Telly wrote: »

The tensioner has been revised a few times and would be around €4-500 to have replaced.

Service Bulletin Number : TB-15-12-01 Date of Bulletin : JUL 23, 2012
NHTSA Item Number : 10045560
Component : ENGINE
Summary :
VOLKSWAGEN: ALL MODELS EXPERIENCE THE TIMING CHAIN SLIPPING, RATTLING NOISES OF THE ENGINE AFTER STARTING, AND ENGINE FAILS TO START. 2008-13 ALL MODELS. *PE

Hello,
I have been trawling through various posts re VW GOLF PROBLEMS. is any of the above relevant to a CSU problem which has occurred in my VW. Car cut out without warning and failed restart. garage had problem initially diagnosing problem but eventually decided it's the CSU. car out of warranty, any advice/suggestions welcome.