My fabia vrs gave up the ghost tonight, after having years of trouble free motoring......I think I know what the problem is, but I want to hear everyone elses opinions....

Gave it some stick in second, this was followed by a loud bang (sounded similar to a boost hose popping off), instant loss of power, the engine cutting out.

There is no oil, no clunking. When I have tried to turn the engine over it sounds like its struggling.

I personally think its the cambelt.....(ironic as its booked in for it doing next week)

what I would like to know is, some of the newer cars have like a "failsafe" to stop this damaging the engine.........if it is suspected its the cambelt, does the fabia have a failsafe?

Help appreciated,

Cheers,

VRSDanny

Edited 6 July, 200916 yr by VRSDanny
(UPDATED)

Might be the hairdryer..........................

but surely there would be a load of black smoke? and that wouldnt have killed the engine instantly would it?

Not necessarily, black smoke is associated with a popped hose.

Cambelt would mean the engine would'nt turn over??

it wont turn over..........it just sounds like its trying to.

ah right, well either way, this isnt sounding good - boohoo :'( lol

When my turbo went it would start and run but give a almighty woooooshing noise.

It could be several things really , you need to have a look and rule out possibilities if your wanting to do it yourself.

Good luck

Could be the cam belt if the engine won't turn over at all, a turbo will just smoke but the engine will run, mine did when it went.

Don't think there is much of a failsafe on the cambelt, the valves will hit on th PD engines if it strips off a few teeth + it will put the injectors out of sync as they are operated by the cam too.

Take off the little cover and have a look if you can, you may be able to see if there are any teeth missing, very rare for the belt to snap.

How many miles has the cam belt done?

Unless there is a blockage in one of the intake pipes stopping the engine breathing causing a vacuum???

I hate to say this, but that sounds EXACTLY to the letter what happened to me, and my turbo sized. Everyone was saying "it would still run" etc, but if its sized, thats it, no gasses can get out. Try turning it over with the oil filler cap off. It it runs, and the gases escape from it, then theres your answer.

Good luck

Matt

I hate to say this, but that sounds EXACTLY to the letter what happened to me, and my turbo sized. Everyone was saying "it would still run" etc, but if its sized, thats it, no gasses can get out. Try turning it over with the oil filler cap off. It it runs, and the gases escape from it, then theres your answer.

Good luck

Matt

same here! when my standard turbo went there was a loud noise like a supercharger after a bang! and then the engine locked itself and it just wouldn't start at all!!

same here! when my standard turbo went there was a loud noise like a supercharger after a bang! and then the engine locked itself and it just wouldn't start at all!!

literally just tried that this second.......no joy....it almost started, then nothingness again, sounded like starter motor was foobarred :(

got some mechanics i know picking it up later, just wondered if anyone had this problem before.

If its the turbo. i think i may bite the bullet and get a big one....

Could be the cam belt if the engine won't turn over at all, a turbo will just smoke but the engine will run, mine did when it went.

Don't think there is much of a failsafe on the cambelt, the valves will hit on th PD engines if it strips off a few teeth + it will put the injectors out of sync as they are operated by the cam too.

Take off the little cover and have a look if you can, you may be able to see if there are any teeth missing, very rare for the belt to snap.

How many miles has the cam belt done?

Unless there is a blockage in one of the intake pipes stopping the engine breathing causing a vacuum???

61k............the strange thing is, none of my engine management lights are on :confused:

if it isn't the cam belt, it is the turbo, so for your sake pray it is the turbo, as valves will be bent if it the cam belt etc etc, i don't think engines are as good if the head has neen off them, if it the cam make sure you put a new water pump on when your at it

if it isn't the cam belt, it is the turbo, so for your sake pray it is the turbo, as valves will be bent if it the cam belt etc etc, i don't think engines are as good if the head has neen off them, if it the cam make sure you put a new water pump on when your at it

spoken to a couple of friends/mechanics over the phone, they said it could also be the immobiliser? and that they've had similar issues before with all VAGS - it does in fairness sound similar to that when its trying to start.

It's not the immobiliser, for a start you'd have the immo light illuminated on the dash, and also the car would start and then cut out a second or two later.

A dead cam belt has a very distinct sound when you're trying to crank the engine, but it doesn't sound like that either. Unless the belt hasn't actually snapped and it has just jumped/shredded a few teeth.

Either way, I wouldn't keep trying to crank it if I were you!

It's not the immobiliser, for a start you'd have the immo light illuminated on the dash, and also the car would start and then cut out a second or two later.

A dead cam belt has a very distinct sound when you're trying to crank the engine, but it doesn't sound like that either. Unless the belt hasn't actually snapped and it has just jumped/shredded a few teeth.

Either way, I wouldn't keep trying to crank it if I were you!

Good advice fella

I've had a few turbos go and that sounds what's wrong with urs everytime it went it cut out and wouldn't start again

Pop open the oil cap - can you see the cam etc through the hole?? If so then look to see if any of that is operating while turning it over (obviously this will need two of you) - if nothing is going on in there then it's the cambelt.

My fabia vrs gave up the ghost tonight, after having years of trouble free motoring......I think I know what the problem is, but I want to hear everyone elses opinions....

Gave it some stick in second, this was followed by a loud bang (sounded similar to a boost hose popping off), instant loss of power, the engine cutting out.

There is no oil, no clunking. When I have tried to turn the engine over it sounds like its struggling.

I personally think its the cambelt.....(ironic as its booked in for it doing next week)

what I would like to know is, some of the newer cars have like a "failsafe" to stop this damaging the engine.........if it is suspected its the cambelt, does the fabia have a failsafe?

Help appreciated,

Cheers,

VRSDanny

The failsafe you talk of is a non interference design such that the valves and heads don't meet under any circumstances

If it's a fabia VRS then it's a diesel and there is no way you can sensibly get the required compression from a non interference design and so if the cambelt has gone you're almost certainly looking at an engine rebuild.

FWIW there are almost no current non interference engines petrol or diesel.

Right - here goes......:(

Had it checked out today.....its cream crackered...

The turbo seals went, emptied itself of oil, and seized up.

I've been advised I can replace the turbo, but there is a risk the engine maybe broke.

So after thinking long and hard im probably going to replace engine with a 1.8T......any opinions welcome....New TDI blocks are a bit expensive....

Same as mine did. However, mine was smashed to lots of tiny bits. For the sake of an hour and a half to take the old one off, check what it looks like, i think you`ll find if you`v been lucky you`ll be able to wack another straight on without problems. Obviously without seeing it, its hard to say, but i`d be willing to bet the risk of engine damage is small. However, im no expert, this is just my exprience last month with mine.

Good luck

Matt

Had it checked out today.....its cream crackered.

Crikey, sorry to hear that. Sounds like this is going to be expensive whatever you do next :(

how my old one looked

Cheers guys............Matt indeed I would rather just get a turbo, and it would be a bigger one if i did, but I dont fancy paying out if its not going to work....I dont think the turbo broke into many bits, but its just the risk of it being either a trouble car or not. Thanks for the opinions though

Think I may be in luck, my friend just offered me a PD150 turbo for £250.....think im gonna risk it...

do it fella! i thought my car was ****ed but it was just the spindle in the tubby had snapped! took the glowplugs out and cranked it over to get the **** out and clean your intercooler and piping out too then whack it on and should be ok! unless the old turbo sent mass ammounts of shards into the engine!

That's better than it could have been!