VW 02 polo 1.2 s timing chain?

[aeu99217]

Hi,

My polo recently stopped starting. It turns over but doesn't start. After RAC man couldn't start it i got it towed to a local garage. Guy reckoned it was an electrics problem as when he plugged his machine in it was giving a 'mains relay' fault with no error code. He told me he needed to get his friend who worked for vw to bring his machine in to check. I called to day and he now thinks there is valve damage. He said that the timing chain needs to be replaced and while he was there he was going to fix the valves, about £1300 worth of work. He's going to get me a quote on Monday. My brother (who knows a little about cars) has said i need to find out why there is valve damage rather than just fix the valve damage.

Anyone had a similar experience or got any idea about what might be going on, or why the valve was damaged? I thought that timing chains didnt slip?

Thanks in advance for any replies.

 

[wotan]

Timing chains don't usually slip, they break, but even this is a very rare occurence.
To be honest, I think the garage is trying it on, and would suggest you take it somewhere else, as £1300 seems a bit expensive, unless they have positively determined that the chain has broken.

Wotan

 

[aeu99217]

Thanks for the reply.
He's going to give me a price on monday and im going to go and see him after work. he did say timing chain, but i've googled the car etc and from what i can tell it has a belt and not a chain, so maybe he's said chain and meant belt.

I'm also going to phone a vw/audi specialist garage and speak to them. I'm starting to think he was maybe trying to price himself out and i've naievely said ok. I think i will take it for a second opinion.

Cheers

 

[gregers]

surely if the chain has broken when the breakdown guy looked wouldnt he have spotted it,iirc when a m8s rover sdi died on the m25 when he took his oil filler cap off there was evidence of his engine embedded into the cap,
i too think there trying to get your pants down.

 

[aeu99217]

thanks for the reply. it seems as though that's the case. think i'll just tell the guy i'm going for a second opinion and tow the car somewhere else.

thanks again

 

[Burnerman]

There's no Polo's with timing chains...the nearest to that was the Lupo 1 litre engine.
Belts can lose teeth, they can snap, the tensioners can sieze but they don't jump unless damaged - but this is simple to see with the top belt cover off.
John

 

[aeu99217]

thanks for the reply. both the garage guy and the rac guy called it the timing chain. must have meant belt.

thanks for the info.

Cheers

 

[^neo^]

if they think there is a problem with the main electrics, why do they suddenly think its timing belt?
X-Relief relay would stop it starting, which is about 20 quid and would also explain the problem when plugged into the code reader

 

[aeu99217]

not sure. called vw specialist today and he said should cost 500-600 if that's what's wrong with it. said to bring it down and he'll have a look at it for free (presume he means diagnose) so going to take it there.

thanks for the reply though

 

[Burnerman]

Lets know what happens mate - if you get a sensible answer.
John

 

[aeu99217]

will do chief, taking it there sat morning so post then

cheers

 

[davieboy]

some of the polo 1.2s are fitted with chains. they do stretch and ocassionaly jump teeth. the stretched chain gives cam position faults.

probably done half a dozen chain kits in the last year. never had to put valves in one tho. had one thats intake cam had jumped by 4 teeth! how nothing contacted is a miracle.

 

[aeu99217]

thanks for the reply.
yeah the guy said today that it was a chain. the oil was low, although not below the min line, and he theorised it might be that the tensioners which are pressurized by oil that might have caused it to jump. if that doesnt make sense or doesnt sound right it might be me that's not heard him correctly cause he was telling me over the mobile. how much do you think is reasonable to do this job?

 

[davieboy]

perfectly plausible about the oil level. also a known fault according to our local vw specialist

last one i did was 413 quid all in for guidance.

 

[Burnerman]

some of the polo 1.2s are fitted with chains. they do stretch and ocassionaly jump teeth. the stretched chain gives cam position faults.

probably done half a dozen chain kits in the last year. never had to put valves in one tho. had one thats intake cam had jumped by 4 teeth! how nothing contacted is a miracle.

I wonder why Autodata don't list this engine? Thanks for that!
John