1.4 TSI Tensioner ( UPDATE )

[davidscirocco]

Hi all. I would really want your advice about this.
I have a 2009 1.4 tsi scirocco if I'm not mistaken it suppose to be a MY 2010.
Anyway my car has 160k km and last night when i did a cold start my car i heard some rattle in the engine and stopped when the car when to it's normal revs. And because i see many on the forums that have this issue I'm thinking to replace the tensioner. My question is do i only change the tensioner? Or do i completely change the chain and any other part that has to do with the chain? When i ask mechanics they all say to me to change various parts that has to do with the chain. But i see in forums that many only change the tensioner. Can somebody give me an advice what to do?

[darkvisje]

Had the same at 60k. I needed to replace everything and set me back 1700 euros. (Chains/tensioner/rails etcetc)


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[davidscirocco]

Wow... My mechanic told my it will cost about 650 - 700 euro for the same parts and i thought it was expensive...

[davidscirocco]

Btw after you change the chain and tensioner have yoi noticed any difference on cold start up? Have you ever heard any rattle after the installation?

[darkvisje]

My engine light also blinked a few times at that time. Al are gone since that day


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[davidscirocco]

Hm... No engine light blink on me... The thing is.. do i wait untill i see a blinking light or change the tensioner even if all those sounds my car make sometimes has nothing to do about it just to be sure ?

[darkvisje]

Depends of your willing to take the risk of a new motor and that will costs you loads more!


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[davidscirocco]

Hm... I see what you mean.. ok thank you!

[davidscirocco]

Update:

So i took my car to my mechanic to chance the chain and all that is needed to be chance. I told my mechanic that i wanted the parts that will be replaced.
Once my car was finished i went to pick my car and my mechanic told me that my chain was loose and that i made a good decision replacing the chain.
Anyway i wanted to see the tensioner in what contition it was and i noticed that the tensioner that 1.4 tsi have are way different that the 2.0 tsi have.. ive seen many videos on youtube that there is one part on the tensioner that is like ring and when it failes it breaks but it looks like that its for the 2.0
The 1.4L its just a spring pushing the piston and the rail ( sorry but i can find the right words in english to explain as my english is not the best )
My question is how does the tensioner for the 1.4L fail? Because there is nothing that can break ? The only thing i can think is that the spring gets weak and that the chain gets loose but can someone that is more expert can explain me how do the 1.4 tsi tensioners fail?

[blower]

The tensioner on the 1.4tsi does not fail as such - what happens is the spring gets weak overtime, placing less pressure on the chain guide rails when the engine is off.

Nearly all chain related failures on the 1.4 tsi are caused by leaving the car in a forward gear when parked, and it rolling back slightly at some point (like when parked on a hill or steep driveway)
The combination of a stretched chain and a weak tensioner spring means that when the engine is off, if the crankshaft turns in reverse (which would be the case if left in a fwd gear and it rolls backward), then the chain will jump a tooth or 2.

Then when you start the engine, its out of timing and you end up with bent valves/damaged pistons.

Other modes of failure affected the older 1st revision of the 1.4 tsi, primarily found in mk5 golfs. This had a weak chain that would stretch beyond what the tensioner could compensate for and start rattling, hitting the sides of the timing chain housing. Also infrequent oil changes can cause the piston to gum up and stick - making the chain rattle on startup until sufficient oil pressure flows to push it.

Many a time a startup rattle is misdiagnosed as a chain rattle / loose chain. On the 1.4 tsi if the engine is older than a 2011, then the 1st revision of the camshaft adjuster would be fitted and this can stick on startup causing a loud rattle/grinding noise which people think is the chain.

[davidscirocco]

Thanks for your answer! So you suggest to never leave the car in gear when its turned off. I wonder though if my cars battery died and decided to push to start if that also is wrong to do?
If it is the camshaft adjuster that is causing the rattle is it something to be worry about? Does it need to replaced ?