Diesel Sounding Rattle on Warm Tickover

[Juliand]

Please don't shoot me for not searching but can someone advise please on this... I seem to recall reading that it can be the timing chain; or the chain tensioner; or the cam follower........or maybe all three, doh!

My car is 05, 33,000 miles fsh. I have one month remaining on my used car warranty, and I'm wondering if I should attempt to get this done under warranty - but even if approved, I still have to pay half. I would like some guidance on costs too please. Cam belt was done two years ago, prior to my recent purchase.

My situation is that I do no more than 3,000 - 4,000 miles a year. The noise is more of an irritation, as I park it up in the garage, where, of course it sounds much worse, with the sounds bouncing off the wall and floor, in the confined space. That's with the window open, or door open trying to listen for it. On a noise score I would put it at 4/5 out of 10. You can't hear it inside the car, windows closed, so probably not that bad, and I'm being paranoid!  It disappears over 1200 rpm, and can't be heard on the move. I'm hesitating, as i think mechanically it's ok, just a bit of slack on the chain at tickover, but I'm no expert.

Guidance / thoughts very welcome, please

Thnx

[Juliand]

Just to add... have just spotted that there is a chain adjuster aswell as the tensioner - or is that one and the same thing??? Has anyone had any success in actually adjusting the adjuster. Sounds to me like something that could easily snap, while trying to do it!

Just phoned VW in Poole.... Clueless....."bring it in for a diagnostic - £110" kerching! Not aware of that problem. Useless....

I can see the picture unfolding.....£700 later still with the problem unsolved.......

[pablo_the_dogg]

Look for the cam chain guide that Rich83 did recently - to give you an idea of changing the chain and tensioner. Some people don't bother changing the adjustor.

How bad is chain stretch on these engines pal?

[Dan_FR]

Rule out oil pressure. Very quick and easy for a garage to check with a good old fashioned mechanical gauge

[Craig Stanley]

Hi. I know its not much help but I'm in Bournemouth and have the same year car if you want a noise comparison. Failing that Mastertec in Poole are a VW specialist that I've been to a few times and Terry who owns it will probably have a listen. Breeze are tossers to be honest. Main dealer we are king sh*t attitude. :)

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[Craig Stanley]

I haven't got vcds but I do have a pretty useful scanner I got off Amazon if you want to use it. Its picked up faults when there's been no engine management lights on in mine.

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[Craig Stanley]

I agree. I was just trying to offer a bit of initial help.

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[Juliand]

I agree. I was just trying to offer a bit of initial help.

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Craig and others - thanks very much for your suggestions. I am in Bournemouth, so a noise comparison might well be helpful re-assurance Thank you. Also, I will pop over to the specialist suggested in Poole. All good comments - cheers

[Craig Stanley]

Glad to offer help.

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[Craig Stanley]

Just pm me if you want to meet up and I will see what I can do mate.

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[Juliand]

Great, thanks for that kind offer.

Update from Breeze VW who left me a message..... Cam chain and tensioner (they didn't mention anything about adjuster!) it would be £448.10.......not finished....they recommend cambelt (other side of the engine) is done at a further £429.00. "if you'd like to call back we can get that booked in for you"............Yeah, right, nearly £900.

I did call the dealer that I bought from, who has a big turnover of low mileage GTI's and he says it's the injectors that make that noise and with my low mileage the cam chain shouldn't need doing yet.

You do tend to get paranoid reading through some of the posts on here, and with the consequences of a broken cam chain, it's not surprising. It seems a bit Russian Roulette, ha ha

[JamieBiz]

Great, thanks for that kind offer.

Update from Breeze VW who left me a message..... Cam chain and tensioner (they didn't mention anything about adjuster!) it would be £448.10.......not finished....they recommend cambelt (other side of the engine) is done at a further £429.00. "if you'd like to call back we can get that booked in for you"............Yeah, right, nearly £900.

I did call the dealer that I bought from, who has a big turnover of low mileage GTI's and he says it's the injectors that make that noise and with my low mileage the cam chain shouldn't need doing yet.

You do tend to get paranoid reading through some of the posts on here, and with the consequences of a broken cam chain, it's not surprising. It seems a bit Russian Roulette, ha ha

I have an 05 Gti and i took mine to Yeovil dealers and they told me the same, its too lower mileage to be the chain and my induction kit is making the engine sound worse... then sent me on my way.

I have forge twin-takes on mine and the sound must be much worse than before because i never noticed it until i put them on (going back to standard to see what its like soon)

I have a list of part numbers of the bits i need, so i can slowly buy them when i can afford it, then get it done bu someone

chain -      part no. 06D103121B
tensioner - part no. 06F109217A
gasket -    part no. 06D103121B
seal -        part no. 06E127248
gasket -     part no. 06F103483D
Adjuster Bolt - part no. 06D109281D

Adjuster Optional (Not Cheap)
06F109088J

I think this is something that people learn to live with, although im guessing it could be terminal if the chain fails over time 

[JamieBiz]

I had the exact same plan as you Jamie - until my chain snapped nearly killing my engine   

I really don't mean to scare you, and it may not be needed on either of your engines, and it may be the sound you are hearing is not related to cam chain at all but I thought id share my experience.

I'd say the only for sure way is to take it someone who has had experience to listen to. Jamie where abouts in the country are you jamie

I'm from Somerset. about 30 min from Taunton

[JamieBiz]

yea no worries mate, iv sort of come to terms with it for now. if it gets any worse ill be getting it sorted, my main problem is a holiday to Florida coming up that is emptying my pockets at the moment!

Hopefully Julian has someone closer to help diagnose the issue.