208 GTI Timing Chain Replacement

[Allyc85]

The timing chain on my 2013, Peugeot 208 GTI, Thp 200 is starting to sound a bit rattly, especially when cold. I've had a quote from my local, independent garage which was around £900, and was wondering if anyone has had it replaced cheaper?

I am in the Exeter area if that's any use.

[tonyb1968]

Is that with a peugeot specialist?
Should be around £5-600 or about 1k from a main dealer.
Keep an eye on your oil level as this is one of the causes of the tensioner prematurely wearing.

[Allyc85]

Nope I was quoted £900 by my usual local indy garage. I'm yet to speak to Peugeot as I've assumed it would be even more than that.

At the moment it barely uses any oil at all. It just sounds a bit rattly. The other day this stopped like a switch after about 30 seconds.

[drewmc]

If it's rattly on start up it's definitely worth getting sorted. I didn't on my 207gti (also the prince engine) and after not too long the tensioner broke which then screwed up the timing, luckily didn't cause any catastrophic damage.

£900 sounds quite steep, mine happened last year and cost slightly less than that from an indy, which also included sorting the mess from the tensioner breaking

[Lukas239]

Did you ever get this sorted in the end? What symptoms were you getting?

[tonyb1968]

Lukas239 said:

Did you ever get this sorted in the end? What symptoms were you getting?

You notice it from cold before the oil has built up pressure, it literally sounds like someone rattling a chain and then it gradually clears after 20-30 seconds because the tensioner works on oil pressure.
If you are in any doubt, take it to a specialist because the more you use it, the greater the chance there is of it failing on you and ending up with a large bill.
Also, people will tend just to replace the tensioner, that isn't a good idea, the guides wear if the tensioner wears and you don't want those failing, hence you replace the full kit.

[Lukas239]

I'm thinking this is my issue. It's only shown up over winter but is getting longer.

Local Peugeot garage quoted £930 and said there isn't a way to 'diagnose' the problem as such, they would just replace it. Haven't found any Indies who would go near it other than a BMW/mini specialist who said they would diagnose.

[stevemcs]

If it’s just started to rattle start by changing the tensioner. The isn’t really much you can do to check them, by the time you have removed bits and checked the timing marks you are 50% of the way there.

[tonyb1968]

stevemcs said:

If it’s just started to rattle start by changing the tensioner. The isn’t really much you can do to check them, by the time you have removed bits and checked the timing marks you are 50% of the way there.

Never just change the tensioner, that is the worst thing you can do, you need to replace the whole kit as the issues relating to the tensioner failing cannot be seen unless the parts are removed (it could be the chain or the guides that are also faulty).