Golf 1.4 170PS Stretched Cam Chain - new engine needed?

[neosenate]

Hi,


I own a 2007 VW Golf GT 1.4 (170PS). It's done about 70k miles and is obviously out of warranty. Towards the end of last year the yellow check-engine light came on and I took it into the VW garage. After taking an initial look at the car, the garage told me that they think the chain has slipped and stretched and I'll need a new engine.


After looking online I found that VW Germany have acknowledged that this engine has a problem and in some circumstances they'll pay for the repair even though the car is out of warranty. I got in touch with VW customer services and they said that since the car is out of warranty they don't have to do anything but I might be able to get something back from goodwill after the car had been fully diagnosed.


So, after paying the VW garage £500 to get the engine stripped and diagnosed, they've come back to me today to tell me that the cylinder head is broken because the cam chain has stretched. The engine has no compression and isn't holding it's pressure. They've said that I need a brand new engine and it's going to cost £6000. I'm at an absolute loss of what to do - the car is only worth £6k! I'm furious that this could happen as one of the main reasons I bought the car was because of the chain drive and my (obviously misplaced) belief that they're more reliable.


Could someone with more technical knowledge than I please explain what the exact problem is? Does it sound like I need a new engine or is a cheaper repair possible? I know the garage would be able to explain in more detail but I'd like to have some pre-knowledge before I go in to see them.


Thanks

[Igloo]

See about good will?

Where did you buy the car from?

Did you go to main dealer for the diagnosis?

[neosenate]

I'm going to contact VW customer services tomorrow to see what they say. As I said, it does appear to be a common problem and VW Germany have accepted that it is an issue. *fingers crossed*

I bought the car from a non VW dealer in Newcastle, but I did go to a main dealer for diagnostics.

[-M-]

Normally when the chain stretches the timing goes out and the eml comes on. When this happened did it run ok or did it feel like it had a misfire ?

I have had from experience the exact same fault with a customer at the EML stage and they ignored the warning to get a new chain fitted. Ended up coming back on a tow truck as non start etc but fitted new upgraded chain, tensioner, guides etc and it run totally fine. No new engine needed.

If there was no compression on any cylinders then it would be hard to drive or not start etc. Compression loss would be down to piston ring damage or valve seating in the head. Is there any info from the garage about any other damage to piston rings or cylinder walls ?

It may be worth having a look yourself or get an independant inspection done as something sounds not right tbh. When you took it to the dealer for diagnosis, did it drive there ?

[neosenate]

Normally when the chain stretches the timing goes out and the eml comes on. When this happened did it run ok or did it feel like it had a misfire ?

I have had from experience the exact same fault with a customer at the EML stage and they ignored the warning to get a new chain fitted. Ended up coming back on a tow truck as non start etc but fitted new upgraded chain, tensioner, guides etc and it run totally fine. No new engine needed.

If there was no compression on any cylinders then it would be hard to drive or not start etc. Compression loss would be down to piston ring damage or valve seating in the head. Is there any info from the garage about any other damage to piston rings or cylinder walls ?

It may be worth having a look yourself or get an independant inspection done as something sounds not right tbh. When you took it to the dealer for diagnosis, did it drive there ?

I drove the car in with the EML on. It drove ok, but did feel like there was a loss of power. This is what I can't understand - if I drove the car in there, how is it possible that I need a completely new engine?? The service manager at the garage said that there was damage to a piston ring, and that I could get it replaced but it would just go again.

[-M-]

Ask for pictures to be taken or ask to see it for yourself - if its just the piston rings at fault then it may be possible to have a short motor fitted rather than a long motor as suggested.

A long motor is a complete built up engine - a short motor is just the block with pistons etc but needs to be built up using the original cylinder head.

It normally is the case that if new pistons and rings are fitted then from experience it will go again as 170 ps TSi motors are prone to this type of failure and VW aknowledges this.

Also see if goodwill will kick in something as well now.