Cam Belt failure advice

[Breddo]

So I went to start my Tiguan last night and it turns over but there's nothing. I called the RACQ to come out and have a look but had a feeling it wasn't going to be something they could fix.

The guy comes out and says there's no compression and that it is likely the cam belt. He also said I could be up for some major engine work if its done any damage to valves etc.

I wanted to check what other people thought it could be while Im waiting for places to open again on Monday. I've read that there's issues with the timing chain tensioner but I'm pretty sure mine has a belt not a chain. I also went through the log book and found that the toothed belt (same as the cam belt?) is meant to be replaced at 120,000 or 7 years. Mine has just ticked over 170,000. I've been servicing at the dealer since I bought it so I'm pretty annoyed if it has never been replaced and now I'm potentially up for some major repairs.

The RACQ guy recommended a place called Bavarian Motors at Brendale so I'd be interested in people thoughts on them as well. Though, if the dealer hasn't serviced it according to the log book I'm also tempted to head back there 1 last time and see if they will come to the party with wearing some of the cost

[Transporter]

What test the RACQ mechanic did on your engine or was it just listening to the crank rhythm and assuming that the belt is broken?

When it come to the 105,000km/7years service interval with the timing belt, that service is well over $1000 and from my experiences not many say yes at the time of service especially if unaware of the cost, before the blame game starts are you sure that you weren’t offered to have the timing belt replacement?

Every mechanic and every dealer should give to customer to sign a note that they offered but the offer was declined.

Sorry if that doesn’t help you but that’s how very often things are.

What engine is in your Tiguan and what year?

[tigger73]

Cam Belt failure advice

That’s a hard one. Basically you have an 8 year old car that you’re hoping that the dealer/VW will put their hand in their pockets to help repair.

First off the engine has to be pulled down to find out what has gone wrong and the extent.

It depends on how lucky or how big of an argument/legal battle you want to get in with VW / the dealer.

If you’re not prepared to go into battle to get your car fixed at a dealer take it to an independent workshop. They will have a number of other options available to them to keep $ down other than using genuine brand new parts for the repairs.

Good luck!!!

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[Umai Naa!!]

What engine is in it?

Unless I'm mistaken, all petrol engines in these are chain driven, and all diesel engines are belt driven.

[Breddo]

What engine is in it?

Unless I'm mistaken, all petrol engines in these are chain driven, and all diesel engines are belt driven.

How do I tell what engine is in it? A chain isn't visible to me but there is a large belt on the left of the engine. The belt looks intact to me but I really don't know what I'm looking for

What test the RACQ mechanic did on your engine or was it just listening to the crank rhythm and assuming that the belt is broken?

When it come to the 105,000km/7years service interval with the timing belt, that service is well over $1000 and from my experiences not many say yes at the time of service especially if unaware of the cost, before the blame game starts are you sure that you weren’t offered to have the timing belt replacement?

Every mechanic and every dealer should give to customer to sign a note that they offered but the offer was declined.

Sorry if that doesn’t help you but that’s how very often things are.

What engine is in your Tiguan and what year?

In terms of the tests that the RACQ guy did it was pretty quick. He listened to it crank then while it was cranking checked the exhaust.

In terms of the service, if it had been offered I would have had it done. The only things I have turned down at the dealer have been tyres, brakes and suspension

I realise going back to the dealer is going to be a battle, not sure if it is worth it.

[Transporter]

Ok, from your first post you have 147TSI, which is petrol engine and chain driven.
Don’t trust the road service mechanic, get it properly diagnosed.

[Breddo]

I thought I replied earlier but my post doesn't seem to be here so sorry if it doubles up

Transporter - I don't recall refusing a belt replacement. The main things I have gotten second quotes on and gone away from the dealer for have been brakes, tyres and suspension. That said it is possible I guess. I know going down the dealer path would be a battle and probably not worth it. In terms of the tests by the racq guy it was pretty quick. He listened to it crank and then checked the exhaust while i tried to start it.

Umai - I think I have the CCZA Engine, at least thats whats on the logbook.

I've also found info on this page AustralianCar.Reviews: #1 for Reviews and Used Car Valuations about my model and engine having a failure in the chain tensioner. The symptoms it describes match mine. On the last few starts there has been a rattle from the engine but only for 1-2 seconds.

At this point I'm thinking I'll get it towed to the local VW specialist independent workshop and see what the verdict is from there. I guess I'm hopeful that there won't be major damage since it didn't fail while driving but like you said it will need to be properly investigated to find out exactly whats going on.

[Umai Naa!!]

CCZA is chain-driven, as you're now probably aware.

Tensioner failure is one possible common cause of a loss of compression. The other is excessive carbon build-up on the valves, causing them to no longer seal on the seats.

[Bora Sport]

A mate of mine owns a workshop. A customer got their Skoda Octavia RS towed in about 10 days ago. It has the CCZA engine in it. The diagnosis was the same as above, tensioner and or chain had failed and engine totalled.

[Breddo]

So the word from the mechanic is the chain tensioner has failed. Cost of rebuilding/repairing is only slightly less than a refurbed engine with only a third of the k’s so I’m going for the new engine.

Apparently getting hold of an engine is a challenge since this seems to be a common issue. Not sure why VW isn’t doing anything to at least inform owners that the tensioner may fail

[tigger73]

Sorry to hear, but given symptoms it was a high probability unfortunately.

Not sure how lucky you feel taking it to the dealer to see if VW will come to the party.

They have been a lot more accepting of goodwill repairs in more recent times. They’ll probably want to charge you for diagnosis.

May be worth a call to VW customer care and run the scenario before paying for another tow truck.


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[Roodosutaa]

Just wondering if there is a comprehensive list (there must've been one issued by VAG?) of engine numbers/model years/VINs of affected cars?

If I'm in the market for a used Tiguan I'd be mindful of whether the engine had the older style tensioner and whether it's been replaced.

Cheers

[Suffolk]

So the word from the mechanic is the chain tensioner has failed. Cost of rebuilding/repairing is only slightly less than a refurbed engine with only a third of the k’s so I’m going for the new engine.

Apparently getting hold of an engine is a challenge since this seems to be a common issue. Not sure why VW isn’t doing anything to at least inform owners that the tensioner may fail

I’m having the same problem, I can hear a rattle for a few seconds before oil runs in.

I thought it might be the downpipe because it sounds like it’s coming from that location.
I’m still driving it until Thursday. Chain tensioner will be replaced then. Hope it doesn’t die before then.

[Breddo]

Picked up my Big today. Job was done a few days quicker than I expected and slightly cheaper than quoted so happy all round. The mechanic said he'd just had a caddy come in with the same issue. It had done 70,000k so the owner was going back to VW Australia to try and get some joy.

If your car has just started my advice would be to drive it as little as possible till you get it into the mechanic. I think I had the rattle for less than a week before it failed completely. Once it fails it gets very expensive, good luck!

[Suffolk]

Picked up my Big today. Job was done a few days quicker than I expected and slightly cheaper than quoted so happy all round. The mechanic said he'd just had a caddy come in with the same issue. It had done 70,000k so the owner was going back to VW Australia to try and get some joy.

If your car has just started my advice would be to drive it as little as possible till you get it into the mechanic. I think I had the rattle for less than a week before it failed completely. Once it fails it gets very expensive, good luck!

Didn’t want to risk it and got advice from mechanic not to drive it. Got a loaner car from brother in law. Happy Days