Hi guys,

Spoke to you all a while ago after going in to skoda and them telling me that the mapping sensor needed to be changed. This has now been changed and the car has been serviced.

Tuesday night I started the car to go home and lets just say it wouldnt move with some horrible noises. So poor Horace was towed away by the AA. It has since been stuck at skoda waiting to be looked at. Got a call last night to tell me that the timing chain/belt has some off and damage is unknown so today they are taking the front of the engine off to inspect all the damage and they reckon it will cost £500.

Just wondering if this is something that happens very often or if something had been recalled and missed because the car has only done 28000 miles.

Thanks

I'm not sure what engine the Blueline has in it. If it's got a timing belt/cam belt on it, then it's supposed to be replaced every 60,000 miles, or 4 years (whichever happens sooner). They are normally pretty strong, although on rare occasions they can fail early (have seen a < 1 year old GM one try to shred itself) - I think they can shred themselves, snap, or become loose (possibly among other things). If it's got a timing chain, then I think these are supposed to be life of vehicle, although they can go noisy/slack and need replacing..?

To be honest, the timing belt/chain going is not a good thing - you might be lucky and it be a small repair, or it could be a big repair - it just depends on what else went "pop"... :(

Just waiting to hear back from Skoda now. And waiting to hear the inevitable price.

Completely lost without my car though.

He has returned (costing £500!) with a new timing chain.

Is this something that breaks often?

He has returned (costing £500!) with a new timing chain.

Is this something that breaks often?

Chain? no shoudnt fail often. In fact should last a lot longer then a belt.

Sorry to hear about that. Mine works with a timing chain too. I hope it doesnt happen often!

Well I was lucky because the chain didnt damage the engine because it was just starting if I was travelling this could have been a lot worse! Just a word of warning.

What I cant understand is Skoda said it looks like the chain has been messed with!?!?! How is that possible when its in the engine. Apparently the adjuster broke and this caused the problem.

I thought that the chain lasted the life of the car whereas the belt only lasts 60/70k and my car only has 28k on the clock!

Yeah its all a bit suspicious. Perhaps a careless mechanic somewhere along the line? Either way, right pain in the backside.