polo timing chain

[POLO12]

Anyone with experience of 2003 polo timing chain jumping a tooth or how to check valve timing as no marks or inspection cover visible?
Started badly few days ago but settled down, drove home 20 miles carefully no faults indicated but no guts either.
Coil pack failed 3months ago time similar symptoms then, so i got another coil pack tried in all cylinders no improvement. Picked up various comments about timing chain issues with these, its done 80K, dealers say chain not serviceable item only change when problem. They also admit when I prompted that tensioner can cause chain to jump. Just want to be sure before its stripped as its a bit of a job.
Apparently the chain lasts the life of the engine but I guess if theres a failure thats the end of the engines life.

[VAGMAN54]

is that the three cylinder engine ? if it is the timing marks for the cams are in the back of the cam cover (2 black plugs) you need a tool to keep them in line but there is a new type hydraulic tensioner for these engines and its common to change the oil and the timing jump when you start them up,if its the four cylinder engine i have not had any probs with that engine but that doesnt mean it doesnt happen .

[POLO12]

I've done some further workand established the cams are not aligned and dealers want £600+ to do the job, independants not much better so its back to me.
Sourced the cam locking tools, timing case cover held on by 5mm hex bits but also 7mm and 9mm spline sockets not sure if these are XZN or multispline tools any ideas?

[zollaf]

you can buy a set from sealey etc that contains all the torx and spline bits for not much money. it may be easier to do that than to buy individual bits, as you always end up needing the one you didnt buy.

[VAGMAN54]

if memory serves me correct(which it doesnt all ways)the are multispline,are you putting a new type hydraulic tensioner in ??

[POLO12]

Thanks I've picked up a set of Sealey spline, torx tools for £20, cam locking tools on order. I intend to replace the tensioner as I guess thats where part of the problem lies, I assume those lovely people at VW will only sell me the new type, do you now how to tell?

[VAGMAN54]

i would think the amount of problems they have had with them you wont be able to get the old type anymore and you normally get a replacement kit and thats what my advise would be - fit the kit - after that you wont get anymore probs with a timing jump,did it damage any valves?..

[Crasher]

It is a major issue with this engine especially just after an oil change. When we service one we bring the oil pressure up plugs out very carefully and when we start them up we don’t rev them until warm. I have never had one jump on me but friends in the trade have and it all gets very unpleasant. In fact we turned a service away not long back on one of these as the customer was obviously seriously skint and extremely worried about the cost and the car was massivly overdue a service and we could just see the trouble coming and wanted nothing to do with it.We always warn the customer before we start that if they go pop it is not our problem, we do that for no other engine.

[VAGMAN54]

i agree with crasher 100% if anyone has got that engine be very carefull if you dont know its history as it can very soon make a big hole on your bank account !!

[POLO12]

Well there,s my Saturday gone dismantling the casing main problem really was the Sealey tools fine with the spline & torx tools but made the mistake of using the hex keys and rounded the first 2 timing casing bolts. Did the rest with a decent allen key set and all ok, the sealey ones are a little rounder edged. I've had to drill the other 2 out aaag!!!!!! Bit slow as I had to make a few bits, crank tool and engine support but kept reminding myself of the £700 quote I got. The saga continues.