Went to see a 2013 Fabia Estate (Registered April 2013) with 1.2 TSI 105 engine hoping that it would have the timing chain modified engine given its a 2013 car. Service history is all main dealer and mileage is low. Engine number is CBZ D66 525.  However, from cold start there is a metallic racheting sound for about 2 seconds as if something is grabbing/taking up slack. Then the engine quietens down and sounds fine. Is this normal behaviour or is this a sign of the dreaded stretched timing chain issue? Any advice would be greatly received.

My 2013 Roomster 1.2tsi 105 made a similar noise from cold start.  According to other posts on here, it is caused by oil draining from the hydraulic tappets overnight.  The tappets rattle until oil reaches them again.  On mine, the rattle disappeared after an oil & filter change.  Good luck with your purchase.

Thanks Robjon. Its quite a loud noise for the couple of seconds that it's making it, a bit disconcerting to be honest. I wonder if anyone on here who currently has a 2013 TSI 1.2 can also support Robjon's observation and say that this is normal / experienced this / will go away with an oil & filter change?

Have a look at this thread.  What @Estate Man doesn't know about the 1.2tsi ain't worth knowing!

 

 

@Robjon   He does know about them.  He had the experience of getting the later 1.2TSI when the All New 3rd Generation Fabia came out and since it's engine was so bad Skoda replaced that car.

Just goes to show you never know what you are getting.  As it is now 1.2 TSI that replaced 1.2TSI in MK2's are discontinued.

Thanks for the post :) That's a bit reassuring. Loud strange noise though, did sound metallic and did sound like something was snatching for grip before going quiet. Perhaps I've read too many timing chain posts/too paranoid and jumped to the wrong conclusion too quickly. Trouble is the car isn't for me its for a friend, so don't really want to land her with a lemon! Maybe I need to go back and take another look/listen.

11 minutes ago, Roomster56 said:

 Loud strange noise though, did sound metallic and did sound like something was snatching for grip before going quiet. 

 

The chain tensioner is hydraulic and when parked for a long while it can take a brief second to get up to pressure so can be normal. If the rattle goes on for too long it can be a sign of chain/sprocket/tensioner trouble though.

Hi Bigjohn, you say a brief second, but this was a good 2 seconds before it went quiet? Am I right to be concerned by this length of time before the engines goes quiet?

2 minutes ago, Roomster56 said:

Hi Bigjohn, you say a brief second, but this was a good 2 seconds before it went quiet? Am I right to be concerned by this length of time before the engines goes quiet?

 

It might be normal and I thought by that age the earlier know timing chain issues were sorted. Has it got an original equipent oil filter fitted. The type and fitment of these is important as they have a one way oil valve and a special drain valve for when the filter is removed. If the wrong sort, fitted too tight or with two seals (old one left behind) then you can have issues. If not sure I'd walk away.

 

The newer totally different EA211 1.2tsi engine (cam belt, oil filter at low level) is the best engine to look out for

6 hours ago, Robjon said:

 According to other posts on here, it is caused by oil draining from the hydraulic tappets overnight.  The tappets rattle until oil reaches them again. 

 

Well that's a load of old ******.

 

The OP has given next to no information. Mileage, no of owners, service history and its authenticity. Has it had oil changes a minimum of 10k/1 year intervals. A clip of the noise.

 

It doesnt really matter though as I have the forums magical mystical mind reading crystal ball........and a LOT of experience with the engine.

 

The grrrrrrrrrr is the inverted tooth chain which is either slack, or has wound back (its a uni directional chain) riding up on the top or bottom sprocket and slipping back, until the tensioner restores order. Might be stretched, might be a duff tensioner, might be incorrectly installed oil filter, might be normal, if it isnt too loud.

 

If you are a gambling man and don't mind losing every thing then go ahead, if you prefer to sleep peacefully at night walk away and give this engine a miss.

 

http://chain-guide.com/applications/1-6-3-inverted-tooth-chain.html

 

Edited 28 January, 20197 yr by xman

Thanks Xman. The car in question - 2 owners, has all the service stamps - all Skoda main dealer. Mileage just under 40k. Cannot afford to go for the newer engine - that leaves the only other option is the 1.6 diesel unit. Isn't there a stack load of issues with that? Or is the diesel unit the better option?

Got to say that in this instance, I agree with xman. This could well be a timing chain issue. The post of mine that Robjohn links to is one relating to a slightly different issue. If it was the hydraulic tappets, they make more of a tapping/knocking sound, as does a dry top end ie: camshafts etc. The later 1.2TSI engines from 2015 onwards with the cambelt driven camshafts suffers from oil drainback on it's topend and so it's noisy on startup from hot sometimes and quite often when it's cold too. 

Edited 30 January, 20197 yr by Estate Man

...If replacing the tensioner/chain, etc is the solution, have you thought of pricing the job up, from a main dealer, and then suggesting a lowering of the asking price by this much, plus another £100-£150 for your trouble? 

Then, you will be happy with the price, happy with the new tensioner, etc and have main dealer back up if it fails within its 2 year warranty period! 

Of course, this will be only if that IS the issue! 

 

If the seller drops the price, it would suggest they knew it needed changing but could not be ar$ed to do it. if its from a dealer, you have a warranty anyway but you could tell them you want the issue solved prior to bunging them a hefty wedge of hard-earned!

 

If you still have doubts, don't walk away... RUN!

On 29/01/2019 at 21:17, Roomster56 said:

.... that leaves the only other option is the 1.6 diesel unit. Isn't there a stack load of issues with that? Or is the diesel unit the better option?

 

Plenty of issues with the 1.6CR TDi, just browse the topics here.

 

IMO a revised 1.2TSI is the better choice of the two, just find another.