Passat 1.4 TSI - Timing Chain

onmebike

I'm thinking about getting a 08 or 09 Passat 1.4 TSI. I've read a few threads here and on other forums with people talking about timing chain problems on these engines. Some seem to go with no warning and some people talk about them needing to be replaced very early in comparison with other cars.

How big a problem is it? Do I need to ensure that it's been done shortly prior to be buying the car or be prepared to get it done myself in the very near future if it hasn't?

I've always thought of about 70/80k miles being about the standard time a timing belt would need to be replaced. Is this the same for chains in general and, specifically for this car, does it need to be done more often?

I'd appreciate any advice.

kyote00

Not sure about passat, but 1.4 TSI Golf is a mine field...

The chain stretches over time, early warning is check engine light and/or rough idle / poor performance....

08 Golf with 80k kms, full service history cost approx 1700euro to repair in a indy....

No help from VW Ireland (but I believe VW UK do)

Bottom line for me is I'd never buy a TSI engine from that timeframe....

SteelyDanJalapeno

kyote00 wrote: »

Not sure about passat, but 1.4 TSI Golf is a mine field...

The chain stretches over time, early warning is check engine light and/or rough idle / poor performance....

08 Golf with 80k kms, full service history cost approx 1700euro to repair in a indy....

No help from VW Ireland (but I believe VW UK do)

Bottom line for me is I'd never buy a TSI engine from that timeframe....

Your price is a bit off there, got mine done in VW for about 1100-1200

George D mentioned a reputable indy would have it done for 600 - 700, great car really apart from the chain.

George Dalton

The chains give very little trouble on the turbocharged 122bhp engine as fitted to the Passat. It's the twincharged 140/170bhp versions that give all the trouble.

SteelyDanJalapeno

Mine was the 122 tbf, maybe I was very unlucky.

kyote00

VW (MSL) quoted 4200...

There was some valve damage also so not just the chain needed replacing....

TiltedBrain wrote: »

Your price is a bit off there, got mine done in VW for about 1100-1200

George D mentioned a reputable indy would have it done for 600 - 700, great car really apart from the chain.

Stallingrad

Have a 2011 B7 Passat with the 1.4tsi (90k). No issues at all, it's a super engine.

Mental Mickey

I have a 2010 VW Golf TSI with 20 odd kilometres on the clock. Had to get my timing chain replaced recently too in MSL. Cost me over 900 Euro. I had let the oil run down & it stretched the chain on it.

Stallingrad

Mental Mickey wrote: »

I have a 2010 VW Golf TSI with 20 odd kilometres on the clock. Had to get my timing chain replaced recently too in MSL. Cost me over 900 Euro. I had let the oil run down & it stretched the chain on it.

That sucks on a 20km car! You do have to watch the oil in these engines, 1l every 15,000km is typical on mine.

onmebike

Mental Mickey wrote: »

I have a 2010 VW Golf TSI with 20 odd kilometres on the clock. Had to get my timing chain replaced recently too in MSL. Cost me over 900 Euro. I had let the oil run down & it stretched the chain on it.

I think I read this somewhere else. Is noise from the engine on startup the best way to identify if the chain might be on the way out, perhaps due to this happening sometime in the past?

turbostan

Hi All
It's been a bad evening here with the Golf!!
Mines got the 1.4tsi (170bhp) engine and it put on the EML on Saturday.
P3003 camshaft position sensor out of range.
As I had this engine well researched before I bought the car last year I immediately feared the worst but hoped for the best..
Today I replaced the sensor and cleared the fault code but alas the car won't rev past 3000 and the fault returned again, although as it's pending it hasn't put on the EML.
I bought the car last year with 176000km on it.
The car had full vw service history up to 148km, and it's stamped by an independent at 163km.
I carried out the last two oil changes myself, at 177km and again just a few weeks ago at 190km.
I have read some very informative previous posts here on this subject, and now I'm just wondering what's the potential bill I'm facing for the timing chain replacement. I'm in the motor trade so I'll be able to get hold of the kit myself at cost price, but am I still facing a rather substantial bill?
Any help appreciated guys..
Also I'm halfway through writing a letter to Volkswagen Ireland Customer Service to see if they'll offer any help with my problem, I'll let you all know how that pans out.
Thanks in advance for any replies or suggestions.

George Dalton

The majority of the cost of the timing chain job on these is the labour. There isn't huge markup on the parts so you are still looking at a pretty substantial bill for repair. You should get it done ASAP before the timing slips because if that happens you are going to be well into four figure territory to put it right.

turbostan

George Dalton wrote: »

The majority of the cost of the timing chain job on these is the labour. There isn't huge markup on the parts so you are still looking at a pretty substantial bill for repair. You should get it done ASAP before the timing slips because if that happens you are going to be well into four figure territory to put it right.

Thanks for the prompt reply George, I always follow your posts with interest.
Yeah I'll try to arrange something in the next few days, I'm in Mayo/Galway so I'm too far from you unfortunately but I have good contacts in the business so that's a good start.
I'm hoping Vw will reply quickly, just about to send that email now. Do you think I've much hope there?

Jasper79

So, I got an engine warning light, went to get diagnosed and said the error is cam shaft and crank shaft ( I think) misalignment and that is normally caused by the timing chain stretching. Car is 1.4tsi passat with 128k km.

Anybody had one fitted in dublin recently? 2 prices so far one 550ish, wasn't able to confirm, and other 1,200 ( said 2 days work involved ).

I would expect around 600 all in no ? kit itself is between 100-130 for me to buy .

Truckermal

Jasper79 wrote: »

So, I got an engine warning light, went to get diagnosed and said the error is cam shaft and crank shaft ( I think) misalignment and that is normally caused by the timing chain stretching. Car is 1.4tsi passat with 128k km.

Anybody had one fitted in dublin recently? 2 prices so far one 550ish, wasn't able to confirm, and other 1,200 ( said 2 days work involved ).

I would expect around 600 all in no ? kit itself is between 100-130 for me to buy .

Talk to George Dalton here, he has done a good few and not far from Dublin.

George Dalton

We've done one or two alright! I actually spent most of the morning taking the head off a twincharged 170bhp Golf that slipped the timing and bent 8 valves.

The €550 quote probably doesn't include removing the sump, cleaning it out, replacing the oil pump pickup pipe and also replacing the turbo oil feed line. These are recommended preventative measures to be carried out at the same time as replacing the chain.

If the €550 quote includes all of the above then it is a great price. €750 would be about average for the job (excluding main dealer)

Was the €1200 quote from a main dealer or independent?

Jasper79

George Dalton wrote: »

We've done one or two alright! I actually spent most of the morning taking the head off a twincharged 170bhp Golf that slipped the timing and bent 8 valves.

The €550 quote probably doesn't include removing the sump, cleaning it out, replacing the oil pump pickup pipe and also replacing the turbo oil feed line. These are recommended preventative measures to be carried out at the same time as replacing the chain.

If the €550 quote includes all of the above then it is a great price. €750 would be about average for the job (excluding main dealer)

Was the €1200 quote from a main dealer or independent?

Thanks George, I will check with the garage if it includes the extras but somehow doubt it. I'm hoping to change the car this year so maybe okay leaving those ?

The 1200 was from an indy in north dublin that was recommended to me, but not a hope at that price.

George Dalton

Yeah €1200 sounds like a classic case of the old "fcuk off" price :pac:

Stallingrad

As an owner of the same car this is good to know. Can I ask that if that engine light comes on, is that a pull over and don't drive another mile kind of warning, or can the car be driven to a mechanic?

Jasper79

Stallingrad wrote: »

As an owner of the same car this is good to know. Can I ask that if that engine light comes on, is that a pull over and don't drive another mile kind of warning, or can the car be driven to a mechanic?

it was a yellow warning light on mine, the garage said it was stretched but okay to drive for awhile but I'm trying to get it done this week.

I am still driving it and hoping for the best in meantime. He did reckon it would be okay to drive for couple of months but I'm not too sure out about

George Dalton

I wouldn't drive it if I were you. Sometimes the chain can slip without any warning whatsoever. The one we have stripped at the moment slipped the timing on the same day the light came on.

Jasper79

George Dalton wrote: »

I wouldn't drive it if I were you. Sometimes the chain can slip without any warning whatsoever. The one we have stripped at the moment slipped the timing on the same day the light came on.

Thanks for the warning george, will have to get my finger out get it sorted so.

Johnny Storm

My one (Golf GT 2007 170bhp) went from first engine warning light to valve damage in just over 1 week so I would say you should be very cautious.
George Dalton fixed mine and I highly recommend him.

Jasper79

Johnny Storm wrote: »

My one (Golf GT 2007 170bhp) went from first engine warning light to valve damage in just over 1 week so I would say you should be very cautious.
George Dalton fixed mine and I highly recommend him.

Thanks, would def go with George seeing all the recommendations on here, based in North dublin though so not convenient unfortunately. Have it booked in with an Indy for tomorrow so hopefully be sorted then.