Hi I have a 2009 scoda fabia. 1.2. Only 35,000 miles on the clock. Xmas week an engine management  fault light appeared. I took it to the garage they said some oil was on the cam sensor so they cleaned it off reset the engine management light and I drove home. Next day engine management light back on went back and they said they would order a new cam sensor and replace it. On the third day car wouldn't start. Got AA to take it to the garage and they said that the cam chain would need replacing now and they don't know what other work until they look at it and I would be looking at £1400. I told them not to continue. Xmas has passed and everyone is telling me that the garage is at fault for sending me home twice and not advising me to drive the car and that ultimately they have caused the serious problem and I should complain and get them to fix it. What do you guys think? 

@Meljac - Well, I think the garage you're using is guessing!

 

I don't know what the fault(s) are, but a faulty cam position sensor would not wear the cam chain. Is/was the engine VERY LOUD AND RATTLY when last run? If not, then I'm very dubious about needing a new cam chain.

I think they were hoping it would be a faulty cam sensor that was causing the engine management light to come on, hence a cheaper outcome for me. It wasn't until the third day that as you said a very loud and rattly noise appeared and the car wouldn't start ...it was trying to but couldn't start. Is there anyway they could of eradicated this from happening upon first inspection when I first took it to the garage?

Is this 1.2 tsi (4 cyl) or 1.2htp (3 cyl)???

A cam sensor is not affected by oil, its a magnetic device. Did they run a diagnostic? What were the code(s)?

 

If they ran a diagnostic and analysed the fault code might have been indicating  a cam timing problem (eg chain has stretched excessively or jumped).

 

Abnormal loud rattly chain noise on startup (if that's what you really heard) can be a loose chain scrabbling up on one of the sprockets and it may have then jumped a tooth or two or even come off completely. High probability of consequential and expensive damage in that case (pistons hitting open valves). But you said the engine didnt start, so I'm sceptical about what you heard.

 

You would usually have had plenty of warning loud rattling especially when starting from cold in the preceding weeks. Chains rarely fail suddenly, but stretch over several months, usually when oil changes have been neglected.

 

On the other hand, implausible cam sensor output may be preventing it from starting. And there may be no damage if its an electrical rather than a mechanical fault.

 

Don't take AA's word for granted either. How did they decide the camchain was kaput? You cant just change a camchain after such a failure, there may be terminal damage and a detailed expert  examination needed to determine if its worthwhile fixing.

 

A new cam chain costs £400 to £800 to get done but if the chain has skipped or failed, subsequent damage could easily run to a replacement engine. After checking the chain etc and timing, resetting it if its out, then compression tests need to be done and if those fail the head needs to be stripped off for a full head/ piston exam.

 

Get someone good who knows what they are doing to fault find.

@xmanThanks for your info. The car is a 3 cylinder. So the fact that I went to the garage twice and the engine fault light was reset would not impact on the car failing to start and sound like a bag of nails on the third day?   Is it just bad luck or are the garage at fault for sending me on my way to drive the car home. 

 

Just reread the thread and realised the AA just towed the car to the garage.

 

So what I am saying is there does not seem to have been any proper diagnosis done by this "garage" , just a wet finger in the air jobby. 

 

Oil on a cam sensor is NOT a fault. Now they say your camchain needs replacing????  

 

Cam chain failures on a 2009 3cyl htp fabia (on 35k) are very very rare, unless the oil has never been changed. (But common on the 4cyl 1.2tsi because of design faults, thats why I asked).

 

I smell something fishy. You're not by any chance female and this garage working a flanker on you?

 

By far the most common failure associated with this engine are failed ignition coilpaks, when they sound like a bag of nails with virtually nil power very rough running and constant stalling, and the epc light will be on.

 

Get a second opinion from someone trusted who knows what they are doing.

 

This forum can't analyse a fault simply based on "it wont start" and "it sounds like a bag of nails".

 

BTW if it wont start then how is it sounding like a bag of nails?

@xman thanks for your detailed advice really helpful.