Hi,

 

I just got my first Skoda! It's 1.2 12V  "Sport" (64bhp). The car is from 2006 but has fairly good service history for most of its life. But of course there is no timing chain on the service schedule. In the rich collection of invoices there is literally nothing regarding this. Odo right now is 140k mi, so quite a bit... Are there any people who did a lot of work with these engines?

 

So I wonder if you would replace timing chain just because it was old, or do you normally wait for any signs of it acting up, like rattling noise etc? I understand it's much like timing belt, so when it snaps, it snaps.

 

if I was to get it done right now, I'd have to give it to a nearby garage, otherwise I'll need to drive it for up to 1000mi more before I will have an access to a driveway and a quiet day to learn and do it.

 

Also, which chain is it? Am I right to think the lower HP 1.2 has a very short one and 12V has this one? https://www.motor-doctor.co.uk/products/9929549-timing-chain-kit

 

Thank you,

Luke

 

If it's not rattling, leave it alone. Provided you change the oil regularly (10k miles/ 1 year max) and use good quality full synthetic, the chain will last the lifetime of the car. 

 

Timing chains don't snap, they stretch, more accurately the link pivots wear, which leads to longer effective length. When the tensioner cannot adjust any further to take up the slack, the chain will start to flap on the return side and rattle as it hits the chain guide which is no longer in contact. If it flaps around too much then it can skip over or jump off the sprockets. Pivot wear is directly to related to amount of oil contamination, so the need for regular changes to keep the oil nice and clean.

 

Fortunately for you 2006 motors have roller chains which are less prone to wear than the inverted tooth (aka silent chain) used in facelifted HTP models from 2010 onwards and were involved in the camchain woes on the tsi engines of 2009-2012. Htp engines were not affected to any degree however.

Too much work to justify changing it while it's not misbehaving.

Ours is on 166k miles now and is a year older than yours. I believe it's on the original chain and tensioner, though we've only owned it for the last 68k miles/7years so not able to say for sure.