2010 VW Polo - Timing chain gone.
Discussion
itcaptainslow said:
What was different about the fella's case who got 95% goodwill?
Dont you just love it when someone posts up half a story. Its like a teaser for a TV programme.Why did one guy get 95%
Anyone got any photos of the failed chains?
In priniple its the same as VW owners finding their timing belts snapped within the 60,000 mile service interval.
If they've moved to chains to avoid that problem, what happens when a chain snaps? If it's a miniscule number of unfortunates wouldnt it be good PR to cover it?
It's not like a worn brake disk or bearing where you just replace it job done, the failure takes out the whole engine
Sheepshanks said:
If you get a car with a belt then they're much more likely to break, and you've got a chunky expense in changing them every 4-5 yrs.
Just be a little more cautious with Polo engine and make sure you don't put load on it while it's not running, or, after starting, until it's running properly. Might even be worth avoiding parking on steep slopes.
Belts seldom break if changed at the correct intervals and far less problematic than chains. That said, I'd guess its a tensioner failure rather than a chain failure on cars of this mileage.Just be a little more cautious with Polo engine and make sure you don't put load on it while it's not running, or, after starting, until it's running properly. Might even be worth avoiding parking on steep slopes.
Edited by Sheepshanks on Thursday 2nd April 12:10
morgrp said:
Belts seldom break if changed at the correct intervals and far less problematic than chains. That said, I'd guess its a tensioner failure rather than a chain failure on cars of this mileage.
Do you mean the chain will still be in one piece - it's just jumped a few cogs?Either way doesnt it count as a catastrophic failure if it takes out the whole engine
ETA Which makes me think
Why isnt it called Polo engine failures - does it matter what tiny thing led to it , it's still an engine failure.
If it was a gearbox failure, would they pin the failure down to something internal or just call it gearbox failure?
Edited by saaby93 on Thursday 20th August 19:29
morgrp said:
Belts seldom break if changed at the correct intervals and far less problematic than chains.
I know it's going back a while but I'm still scarred by a Cavalier rep-mobile I had that broke its belt 3 times - once in stop-start traffic on the M62 so leaving me in lane 3 for 40 minutes during which time the traffic cleared and cars were passing at 70+On one of my old MR2's the belt snapped one day whilst coasting off a dual carriageway. Got recovered to my mechanics where he stuck a new belt on and I was driving the car later that day 
The 3sge engine is a non-interference engine..... why aren't all cars like that? Is it purely due to cost?
The 3sge engine is a non-interference engine..... why aren't all cars like that? Is it purely due to cost?
morgrp said:
Sheepshanks said:
If you get a car with a belt then they're much more likely to break, and you've got a chunky expense in changing them every 4-5 yrs.
Just be a little more cautious with Polo engine and make sure you don't put load on it while it's not running, or, after starting, until it's running properly. Might even be worth avoiding parking on steep slopes.
Belts seldom break if changed at the correct intervals and far less problematic than chains. Just be a little more cautious with Polo engine and make sure you don't put load on it while it's not running, or, after starting, until it's running properly. Might even be worth avoiding parking on steep slopes.
Edited by Sheepshanks on Thursday 2nd April 12:10
Try telling that to an Alfa owner... Correct interval originally specified as 72k miles but Alfa (quietly) changed it to 36k as belts were regularly breaking before the 72k mile interval.
Land Rover 300TDi engines - belts would wear away on the sides and eventually snap and required a redesigned tensioner, pulleys and in some cases cambelt housing.
There is a propensity by manufacturers to run the water pump from the cambelt and a water pump failure will wreck the engine as it causes the belt to jump teeth. Manufacturers are less inclined to run the water pump from a chain (though some like Vauxhall do).
Chains will soldier on for years. Its usually the tensioners and guides that fail and even then there are usually audible warning signs.
Belts on the other hand will just break with no warning.
lostkiwi said:
morgrp said:
Sheepshanks said:
If you get a car with a belt then they're much more likely to break, and you've got a chunky expense in changing them every 4-5 yrs.
Just be a little more cautious with Polo engine and make sure you don't put load on it while it's not running, or, after starting, until it's running properly. Might even be worth avoiding parking on steep slopes.
Belts seldom break if changed at the correct intervals and far less problematic than chains. Just be a little more cautious with Polo engine and make sure you don't put load on it while it's not running, or, after starting, until it's running properly. Might even be worth avoiding parking on steep slopes.
Edited by Sheepshanks on Thursday 2nd April 12:10
Try telling that to an Alfa owner... Correct interval originally specified as 72k miles but Alfa (quietly) changed it to 36k as belts were regularly breaking before the 72k mile interval.
Land Rover 300TDi engines - belts would wear away on the sides and eventually snap and required a redesigned tensioner, pulleys and in some cases cambelt housing.
There is a propensity by manufacturers to run the water pump from the cambelt and a water pump failure will wreck the engine as it causes the belt to jump teeth. Manufacturers are less inclined to run the water pump from a chain (though some like Vauxhall do).
Chains will soldier on for years. Its usually the tensioners and guides that fail and even then there are usually audible warning signs.
Belts on the other hand will just break with no warning.
No goodwill from VW, they offered a free service but we declined. Because VW had already dismantled the engine to 'investigate' we were already committed to a large labour bill..... so had them rebuild and put the engine back together. Total cost was £1900. Invoiced with a 24 month warranty on parts and work.
king thing and move on.lxm said:
No goodwill from VW, they offered a free service but we declined. Because VW had already dismantled the engine to 'investigate' we were already committed to a large labour bill..... so had them rebuild and put the engine back together. Total cost was £1900. Invoiced with a 24 month warranty on parts and work.
Sorry to hear that but have to say you received lots of good advice on here about fitting a good 2nd hand engine for around £600-£800 it was madness to pay those main dealer fee's (they ripped you off from the point they told you it would costs £100's just to take the head off). I would try your best to get some good will from the dealer who did the work and see what they might offer to do otherwise find a good local garage or use a small VW indy.vanwithwindows said:
What's with the "starting to rattle /sound like a tractor on startup AGAIN"? I thought you had no prior warnings /symptoms last time it shat itself?
also it could just be the tensioner worn or loose maybe get a local / small garage to check it for you (stop driving it till its been checked)lxm said:
No goodwill from VW, they offered a free service but we declined. Because VW had already dismantled the engine to 'investigate' we were already committed to a large labour bill..... so had them rebuild and put the engine back together. Total cost was £1900. Invoiced with a 24 month warranty on parts and work.
Why did you turn down a free service?Are these tensioners using oil pressure by any chance? Was quite a common issue on something years ago if you bump started it accidently by having it in gear forwards but rolling backwards = No chain tension & destroyed engine.
I can imagine VW telling to pee off if its a service item, but its not is it
I can imagine VW telling to pee off if its a service item, but its not is it
rallycross said:
lxm said:
No goodwill from VW, they offered a free service but we declined. Because VW had already dismantled the engine to 'investigate' we were already committed to a large labour bill..... so had them rebuild and put the engine back together. Total cost was £1900. Invoiced with a 24 month warranty on parts and work.
Sorry to hear that but have to say you received lots of good advice on here about fitting a good 2nd hand engine for around £600-£800 it was madness to pay those main dealer fee's (they ripped you off from the point they told you it would costs £100's just to take the head off). I would try your best to get some good will from the dealer who did the work and see what they might offer to do otherwise find a good local garage or use a small VW indy.morgrp said:
Sheepshanks said:
If you get a car with a belt then they're much more likely to break, and you've got a chunky expense in changing them every 4-5 yrs.
Just be a little more cautious with Polo engine and make sure you don't put load on it while it's not running, or, after starting, until it's running properly. Might even be worth avoiding parking on steep slopes.
Belts seldom break if changed at the correct intervals and far less problematic than chains. That said, I'd guess its a tensioner failure rather than a chain failure on cars of this mileage.Just be a little more cautious with Polo engine and make sure you don't put load on it while it's not running, or, after starting, until it's running properly. Might even be worth avoiding parking on steep slopes.
Edited by Sheepshanks on Thursday 2nd April 12:10
Never had a chain fail, but worked on a few (mainly fords) with stripped belts, though to be fair they had all missed their service replacement, whereas the chains in my cars have been a fit for life item.
Got one that's almost 30 years old and it don't even rattle
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