That's a google translation obviously. The "simple rule" is not to leave the car parked in gear.

 

I always parked mine in gear. Is it bad to do so?

It is good to do so, but only if you don't own an engine which can fail because of that

Glad I never do that then.

A car I'm hoping to purchase has had this problem already, about 12k miles ago (currently on 12k).  Apparently the part failed when the engine wasn't running, but when trying to turn the engine over it had damaged inlet valves etc, which have all been replaced at the current owners expense. The newest tensioner and chain were also fitted.  Is there anything else I should check with regards to this?

I would check the paperwork to confirm who did the repair and what was replaced. I would also ask about the car's oil consumption and check to see if there are any obvious signs of blue smoke when driving it.

I would check the paperwork to confirm who did the repair and what was replaced. I would also ask about the car's oil consumption and check to see if there are any obvious signs of blue smoke when driving it.

 

It wasn't Skoda as was out of warranty.  It was a garage called Autobahns in or around Hexham.  They were originally BMW specialists but have experience with VAG stuff, mainly Audi, VW and Mercedes.  

 

http://www.autobahnhexham.co.uk/index.htm

Edited 16 January, 201511 yr by planehazza

That's a google translation obviously. The "simple rule" is not to leave the car parked in gear.

what has the gearbox got to do with a mechanical tensioner that fails due to missing teeth.

Have a read through the thread. All is explained.

what has the gearbox got to do with a mechanical tensioner that fails due to missing teeth.

I believe its more to do with putting strain on the engine when its not running, i.e. if the car rolls slightly, force is put back through the transmission and onto the engine which breaks the ratchet that stops the tensioner retracting when it has no oil pressure, or something along those lines anyway.

what has the gearbox got to do with a mechanical tensioner that fails due to missing teeth.

One thing to note: that particular piece of advice was about the 1.4TSI engine. They state that its tensioner (of initial revision I suppose) does not even have a ratchet. They advised not to leave car in gear as a precaution to exclude the possibility of retraction of the tensioner due to counterclockwise engine rotation.

Think it been written by a Member from Helsinki who's English may not be as good as yours.  No Apes involved

 

I would give you some serious odds on the contrary Auric;)

The two grammatical omissions and additional error in your opening salvo do not bode well! I will let you off the capitalisation though and presume you are an ardent "Planet Of" fan.

Back OT, thank f I do not leave my 1.4 TSI in gear.

Which is fine - but what are you supposed to do on a steep hill - just rely on the super reliable hand-brake ? You should be able to leave a car in-gear with the engine off as a backup to the handbrake, especially as they have been known to slip when the disc and pads cool.

My TSI VRS rolled out of a parking bay last year. So it's always left in gear now when I park on the slightest incline.

I would give you some serious odds on the contrary Auric;)

The two grammatical omissions and additional error in your opening salvo do not bode well! I will let you off the capitalisation though and presume you are an ardent "Planet Of" fan.

Back OT, thank f I do not leave my 1.4 TSI in gear.

 

Apologies, I was just having a joke, and did not realise it was written by a member who's first language was not English.

2009 1.8TSI, 30k miles, owned since new and will be 6yr old in July, trying to decide whether to take the plunge and have the tensioner replaced as want to keep the car for at least another 2 years.  Had a quote from local Skoda main dealer who supplied the car and has serviced it since new, £415 incl VAT and includes 2 year parts/labour warranty which seems a good price. Has anyone reported a failure after having the tensioner replaced? 

2009 1.8TSI, 30k miles, owned since new and will be 6yr old in July, trying to decide whether to take the plunge and have the tensioner replaced as want to keep the car for at least another 2 years. Had a quote from local Skoda main dealer who supplied the car and has serviced it since new, £415 incl VAT and includes 2 year parts/labour warranty which seems a good price. Has anyone reported a failure after having the tensioner replaced?

That's a good price. Cheaper than cambelt replacement at main dealer!

Are VW, Audi and Seat seeing these same failures on their 2 litre tsi's, does anyone know?

 

Of course they are. That is why they issue service bulletins, silent recalls etc - but they only give them to dealers. Of course if you are only a customer well ......

It isn't routinely inspected as there is no way to do this.

That is not true. As far as I have read myself into this subject, there are two possibilities:

1. Check with VCDS if measuring block 93 of the engine is between 0 and -4 degrees. Everything below -4 is considered a problem.

2. Look via the inspection hole at the chain spanner and count the number of visible teeth.

That is not true. As far as I have read myself into this subject, there are two possibilities:

1. Check with VCDS if measuring block 93 of the engine is between 0 and -4 degrees. Everything below -4 is considered a problem.

2. Look via the inspection hole at the chain spanner and count the number of visible teeth.

Still doesn't tell you anything.

2009 1.8TSI, 30k miles, owned since new and will be 6yr old in July, trying to decide whether to take the plunge and have the tensioner replaced as want to keep the car for at least another 2 years.  Had a quote from local Skoda main dealer who supplied the car and has serviced it since new, £415 incl VAT and includes 2 year parts/labour warranty which seems a good price. Has anyone reported a failure after having the tensioner replaced? 

 

Thats a hell of a price from a Skoda dealer, DM Keith in Hull quoted me over £1k

£415 that's just a tensioner nothing else no guides and no chain. I believe

Over a grand sounds like a rip off even if it includes guides and chains

Edited 20 January, 201511 yr by FLAPPERJACK7

£415 that's just a tensioner nothing else no guides and no chain. I believe

Over a grand sounds like a rip off even if it includes guides and chains

Correct, just tensioner, should I be getting chain and guides also? Do these parts also fail?

The chain stretches and the guides wear. The latest timing chain is less prone to stretching. If you have the funds then have the tensioner, timing chain and guides changed.

The chain stretches and the guides wear. The latest timing chain is less prone to stretching. If you have the funds then have the tensioner, timing chain and guides changed.

Ouch!  To include the replacement of chain and guides, that would more than double the cost of labour, so all in £1,000.

Which is fine - but what are you supposed to do on a steep hill - just rely on the super reliable hand-brake ? You should be able to leave a car in-gear with the engine off as a backup to the handbrake, especially as they have been known to slip when the disc and pads cool.

Turn the wheels into the kerb.

Simples as they say :-)

Turn the wheels into the kerb.

Simples as they say :-)

All well and good when in town with curbs - not all roads have curbs [emoji15]