GreelineJon

Thanks for the information Matt. The chain (driving the contra-rotating balance shaft and the the oil pump) is not serviceable - hence my understanding is that it is a 'lifetime of Engine' component. The design of the component should (IMHO) take this into account. Fatigue cycles; out of balance forces; pulsating loads and stretching of the chain should all have been factored into the design calculations for this system. If this is the case then it would seem that either: a) The VAG designer got his sums wrong or I'm very unlucky or c) The VAG designer calculations assumed a 'lifetime of Engine' of around 95,000 miles. I note also that you say it is a known problem with a 'small number' of TDI's; and is deemed 'not fit for recall'. Bad luck on the 'small number of owners' that purchased these vehicles - wouldn't you say ? Best regards. John.

Hello Matt. I note that you actually work for the Volkswagen Audi group I've been very interested in the 'good quality oil' debate - the inference being that (somehow) the problem was caused by poor servicing. Would you think the oil supplied by a Skoda dealership (after being given the service booklet for the vehicle) would be of sufficient quality to minimize the possibility of catastrophic failure ? Best regards. John.

Hi. So - all down to chance; winners and losers (I'm in the second category) Oil, oil filters (and oil drain nuts) purchased from the dealership with details from the service blooklet - so I think we can strike that one out. No unusual noises at all from the Engine prior to the failure (that's apart from the usual noise generated by a Diesel Engine) No grating or grinding at all. The car was recently with the dealership to have the Cam Belt changed - they didn't spot anything untowards. Well, at least they didn't tell me if they had noticed 'unusual' noises that would require further investigation. Seems as if the 'life of the Engine' under these set of circumstances is constrained to the life of this chain. That's unless the owner is lucky enough to have a low speed failure of the chain and is able to stop the Engine before catastrophic failure occurs. Judging from the reaction of the dealership - I think we'll have to let the legal people rule on this one. Thank you for your response.

Hello. I have experienced the same problem albeit the car has lasted 95k miles (from new). The chain that drives the oil pump and the contra rotating balance shaft has snapped - managed to wrap itself round the crankshaft and has taken the engine out. Car was purchased in 2010; warranty expired in 2013. There is no service interval (that I can see) for the inspection/replacement of the chain. All chains stretch, particularly those that are having to withstand out of balance rotating located on a rotating shaft. I would have expected a service inspection/replacement around the period of the cam belt change - it's (the cam belt service interval) also convenient because the cam belt gear must be removed before there is any possibility of removing and replacing stretched chain close to breaking. Would suggest you use the Sale of Goods act 1979. Due to the design of the driver for the contra rotating shaft (and the oil pump) there is every reason to expect that chain will stretch and potentially cause a catastrophic failure. VAG/Skoda have provided no mechanism for an inspection/service of this critical part and have not informed the customers that this component may well fail in a period that is far less than that expected for a regularly/well serviced Diesel Engine. In my case, I bought the car from new - I'll (under the Sale of Goods Act 1979) suggest that the dealership is reponsible for a pretty reasonable portion of the £5000 for the new engine and fitting. It's worth a go - I think

Hello. I also have a 1.4 TDI with the 'AMF' Engine. I've had the car from new (2010) - it completed 95,000 miles without problem. I've performed routine servicing myself (oil changes/filters etc) - a cam belt change was completed by the retailer/dealer. About two weeks ago, the car had to be pulled up on the motorway - all the symptoms of an oil pressure problem. AA called who recovered the car to the dealer/retailer. Dealer confirmed that this was an 'oil pump' problem - further investigation (sump removal) found the chain wrapped around the crankshaft. End result - new Engine source and install - cost around £5100. Took a look at the service booklet and noticed that there does not seem to be a service interval on this critical (to the useful life of the Engine) component. The chain will wear and stretch since that's what chains do - particularly when they are used to drive contra rotating balance shafts and oil pumps. I'm a biker (and Engineer) - I know lots about chains and looking after/replacing them. If I had known that the VAG Engine had this design, I'd have paid the extra at the cam-belt change and asked them to check out and replace (if necessary) the worn critical part of the Engine. Unfortunately I had no idea that the VAG Engineers and designers had decided to use this mechanism - stupidly I put my trust in good mechanical Engineering design usually coming from VAG (so the brochures tell me). Bought the car (Fabia 'Greenline' 1.4 TDI) on the basis of an expectation of 200k miles + on a well maintained Diesel Engine (I've owned Peugeots prior to the purchase of this horrible vehicle and regularly got over 220K miles from the XUD series Engines). This Engine has failed with only 95k miles on the clock. Dealership has talked with Skoda UK with regards a 'goodwill payment'; I'll leave you to guess what they said/offered No goodwill (so far) from the dealership ! I'm thinking of 'not fit for purpose' by reason of system (chain drive of oil pump and contra rotating balance shaft) design and the lack of a proper service regime procedure that would guard against catastrophic failure of the chain and a destroyed Engine. In the meantime I'd suggest that potential buyers leave vehicles (new and second-hand) that use this Engine off of their list for consideration. Since it's a VAG Engine this could (please check) encompass models in the Skoda, Audi , Vokswagen and Seat range - there could be many more vehicle manufacturers that use this power plant.