VW Polo 1.2 2010 Reg - Suspected Timing Chain Issue
Discussion
Hey everyone,
I'm new and looking for some help as I am still really naive in the motoring world.
I bought my first car from Fords of Winsford in 2016. A used VW Polo 1.2 Match SE 3dr. It is a 2010 reg with 17,000 miles on the clock. It now has just under 50,000 miles. I have never had any issues with it and have it serviced every 10,000 miles. I only use it as a runabout getting to work, doing the shopping and very occasionally on longer trips when myself and my partner go to her parents or go on trips camping and stuff. It has a few exterior battle scars one that is my fault where I caught the passenger side door on my dads brick drive post when reversing out a few years ago and a few scuffs on wing mirror tips and my rear bumper where a
holes have clipped me whilst parked on my road and not left a note.
A few months ago, I started getting an intermitent fault light on my dashboard. I had a look at the owners manual and it said that that there was a fault in the lighting system. I checked all my lights internally and externally and I couldn't see any lights that weren't working so I attributed it to a fault in the electrical system which was incorrectly producing the fault light. It would often turn on and off every now and again and whenever it came on I would check the lights inside and out and no issues.
I recently took a second job as a pizza delivery driver to make some extra money and I did my first shift on Saturday. About halfway through my shift, I got the lighting fault light. I checked the lights and no issues. I made my delivery and when I got back to my car, I got a further two warning lights and that is where my engine problems began, like I said, I have never had any issues with it and I had no indication that there was anything wrong prior to the fault lights.
The fault lights were as follows:
Catalytic Converter Light - Never had any indication that there was anything wrong with any of the engine or exhaust systems.
Electronic Stability Programme Disabled - I have a button for this on my dashboard so I tried to renable it by pressing the button but it doesn't switch back on.
At first, I thought it might be a similar electrical fault causing the warnings, but when I started driving I knew instantly that something was wrong as the engine was completely down on power and in limp mode. I managed to finish my shift and got off home. In a panic, I took it to Kwikfit the following day for a free diagnostic scan, they said that they weren't getting any permanent errors showing up. They told me to book it in for an interim service as it was due and call up to add a diagnostic on to it. I couldnt get at Kwikfit booking until today (Thursday) but I had an evening shift and didn't want to run the risk of not having it fixed in time, so I decided I would take it to my local garage who does my MOT so that I could try and get it fixed earlier. I managed to get a slot on Wednesday and was hopeful that it could be fixed in time for my Thursay evening shift.
They did a diagnostic and called me and said that the engine light fault was being caused by a Camshaft sensor and that they would replace it to see if the fault lay with the sensor. They replaced it which cost £130.00 with labour and it didn't fix the fault as it came straight back on when they road tested it. They said that they suspect an issue with the timing chain is causing the fault and didn't mention anything about the stability program.
They offered to book it back in next week to look at the engine timing. I originally accepted it but I have now decided to go to a independent VAG garage on the reccomendation of one the guys from Kwik Fit as I called to cancel my service on account of the car still being faulty.
I just want to know what to expect, the car runs but it is really down on power and the revs drop really low when idling just after ignition. Has anyone had a similar issue with their Polo and had it fixed, what amount should I be expecting?
Would really appreciate some help as I geniunley don't know if I am going to get ripped off as I have never had a mechanical failure with the car. Couldn't even dream of trying to fix it myself either, and would probably make things 10x worse.
I have read online that this engine timing issue could really damage the engine if I drive it so I am reluctant to drive it to the garage next week despite it being less than 10 mins away, should I get it recovered and taken there or will it be ok to drive?
Thanks
I'm new and looking for some help as I am still really naive in the motoring world.
I bought my first car from Fords of Winsford in 2016. A used VW Polo 1.2 Match SE 3dr. It is a 2010 reg with 17,000 miles on the clock. It now has just under 50,000 miles. I have never had any issues with it and have it serviced every 10,000 miles. I only use it as a runabout getting to work, doing the shopping and very occasionally on longer trips when myself and my partner go to her parents or go on trips camping and stuff. It has a few exterior battle scars one that is my fault where I caught the passenger side door on my dads brick drive post when reversing out a few years ago and a few scuffs on wing mirror tips and my rear bumper where a
holes have clipped me whilst parked on my road and not left a note.A few months ago, I started getting an intermitent fault light on my dashboard. I had a look at the owners manual and it said that that there was a fault in the lighting system. I checked all my lights internally and externally and I couldn't see any lights that weren't working so I attributed it to a fault in the electrical system which was incorrectly producing the fault light. It would often turn on and off every now and again and whenever it came on I would check the lights inside and out and no issues.
I recently took a second job as a pizza delivery driver to make some extra money and I did my first shift on Saturday. About halfway through my shift, I got the lighting fault light. I checked the lights and no issues. I made my delivery and when I got back to my car, I got a further two warning lights and that is where my engine problems began, like I said, I have never had any issues with it and I had no indication that there was anything wrong prior to the fault lights.
The fault lights were as follows:
Catalytic Converter Light - Never had any indication that there was anything wrong with any of the engine or exhaust systems.
Electronic Stability Programme Disabled - I have a button for this on my dashboard so I tried to renable it by pressing the button but it doesn't switch back on.
At first, I thought it might be a similar electrical fault causing the warnings, but when I started driving I knew instantly that something was wrong as the engine was completely down on power and in limp mode. I managed to finish my shift and got off home. In a panic, I took it to Kwikfit the following day for a free diagnostic scan, they said that they weren't getting any permanent errors showing up. They told me to book it in for an interim service as it was due and call up to add a diagnostic on to it. I couldnt get at Kwikfit booking until today (Thursday) but I had an evening shift and didn't want to run the risk of not having it fixed in time, so I decided I would take it to my local garage who does my MOT so that I could try and get it fixed earlier. I managed to get a slot on Wednesday and was hopeful that it could be fixed in time for my Thursay evening shift.
They did a diagnostic and called me and said that the engine light fault was being caused by a Camshaft sensor and that they would replace it to see if the fault lay with the sensor. They replaced it which cost £130.00 with labour and it didn't fix the fault as it came straight back on when they road tested it. They said that they suspect an issue with the timing chain is causing the fault and didn't mention anything about the stability program.
They offered to book it back in next week to look at the engine timing. I originally accepted it but I have now decided to go to a independent VAG garage on the reccomendation of one the guys from Kwik Fit as I called to cancel my service on account of the car still being faulty.
I just want to know what to expect, the car runs but it is really down on power and the revs drop really low when idling just after ignition. Has anyone had a similar issue with their Polo and had it fixed, what amount should I be expecting?
Would really appreciate some help as I geniunley don't know if I am going to get ripped off as I have never had a mechanical failure with the car. Couldn't even dream of trying to fix it myself either, and would probably make things 10x worse.
I have read online that this engine timing issue could really damage the engine if I drive it so I am reluctant to drive it to the garage next week despite it being less than 10 mins away, should I get it recovered and taken there or will it be ok to drive?
Thanks
Edited by joelthemole on Thursday 25th February 17:11
These suffer from both exhaust valve issues and timing chains, if the fault code is something like camshaft correlation then there is a chance its the chain stretch. What's the service history like, is it no more than 12 months or 10k - whichever comes first ?
Price wise, i'd be budgeting £600-£750 if its just the chain and doing it properly. If its also the exhaust valve, head off new vales around £1100 including the chain.
Price wise, i'd be budgeting £600-£750 if its just the chain and doing it properly. If its also the exhaust valve, head off new vales around £1100 including the chain.
Hi, thanks for the response.
My last service was about a year and half ago as due to the pandemic I have probably done 1/10th of the driving I would usually do.
Like I said I am really new to the motoring world. I have a service book in the car but have never read through it.
I will go grab it and read through it and get back to you on that. Thanks for the estimate on the prices. I won't lie, the thought of paying £1,100 makes my male parts curl up as that is nearly half what the car is worth.
May just part ex it and get a newer model on finance.
Will get back to you with the service history.
My last service was about a year and half ago as due to the pandemic I have probably done 1/10th of the driving I would usually do.
Like I said I am really new to the motoring world. I have a service book in the car but have never read through it.
I will go grab it and read through it and get back to you on that. Thanks for the estimate on the prices. I won't lie, the thought of paying £1,100 makes my male parts curl up as that is nearly half what the car is worth.
May just part ex it and get a newer model on finance.
Will get back to you with the service history.
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