VW Golf mk 5 - timing chain

VW 1

Background info, 08 golf 1.4 tsi 140bhp version, 120k km on the clock. I owned it from 1 year old to now, so around 10 years. Regularly serviced, only issue I've had was an issue with a turbo sensor and at the same time the timing chain was done, approx 80k km on the clock.

Sent it in for a service and to have the suspension fixed, needed 3 new springs which cost 600. Garage took it back to run diagnostics as it wasn't running properly, they've now said the timing chain needs to be replaced. Looking at approx another 500.

A friend reckons I should pay for the VW diagnostics check as a second opinion, is this the right course? If vw did the chain, would I be looking at a heap more than 500?

Not sure what the best course of action is here, seems very soon for the chain to be giving hassle (not doubting the garage) and don't want to throw money at that if there's going to be another issue once that is fixed. Any advice appreciated.

I got one done last year in VW naas

Further to your query a price for a timing belt would be €449 which would include Water Pump, Tension Pullies and Coolant Change

Toyotafanboi

The 1.4 TSi is a chain not a belt so the €449 menu price wouldn't apply.

The chains in those are terrible, it wouldn't be unusual to need a chain 20k kms after the last. Its extreme but I've seen it happen a few times.

The issue sometimes can be if the chain and tensioners were changed but there was excessive wear on the cam variator pulley (but it was left in place either because it wasnt noticed or as it's fairly expensive part that someone was willing to take a chance on), then this in turn speeds up the wear on a new chain.

That said, sometimes people can also be too hasty to condemn a chain in these engines as they are so prone to them. You nearly have to accept a little rattle on cold start, if it drives fine after that you'd leave it be if symptoms aren't progressing. Does the garage who's advising the chain now know it was done 20k kms ago?

VW 1

Thanks for the replies. It was done about 40k km ago which I told the garage when on the phone today, after being serviced last week it was fine for 24 hours, but hasnt been driving properly at all since then, very little power and no turbo at all, engine running a little loud.

The garage said it was likely in limp mode prior to getting it back when I described on the phone. It was mentioned the diagnostics today threw up a cam shaft sensor fail.

Is it normal that the chain issue would be missed or overlooked last week when it was being serviced and only became an issue two days later? That's the part im struggling to reconcile, and if I throw money at it now, I'm 1100 in in repairs and potentially not at the end of the issues.

Toyotafanboi

The fault relating to chain failures is usually a camshaft to crankshaft correlation fault, if it's just a fault relating to the cam position sensor I'd double check before jumping to chain replacement.

Chain issues straight after a service is also really really popular with them as oil pressure is lost during the oil change and startup afterwards, the chain has a good opportunity to jump teeth after being restarted and there's not a lot can be done about it. It wouldn't be unusual to see a car driving in running ok to go down immediately after an oil service. They were a nightmare yoke.

How long ago in time was the last chain fitted?

VW 1

I'd estimate probably 4 years ago, although driven regularly, it's not driven more than 10-20k spins very often.

Im kind of in the mindset of dropping it to VW giving no info and getting a diagnostic test, if they give the same advice, get my indy to do it. Worst case scenario, costs extra 80/90 for VW to look at but I get the peace of mind of knowing the issue.

Toyotafanboi

That's not a bad plan tbh.