Hi guys. I was hoping someone could help. My car starts sometimes with a tractor noise and one garage told me that it sounds like the timing chain. However, I took the car to Skoda service, but they couldn’t hear the noise, so couldn’t advise. I don’t want to change the chain if it’s not yet needed, as it’s expensive. My car is 1.2 engine with turbo and does the noise for couple of months now (not always when start the engine). Could it be the throttle valve that makes that noise?

I have the same noise on a 2014 1.2TSI despite VERY frequent oil changes (like, every 4000 miles).

I'd be interested in finding out what is advised here.

Mine is also 2014. How long yours has been doing the weird and loud tractor noise?

@briscaF1 Just being nosy but do you only do around 4,000 miles a year or how many do you do?

1 hour ago, Ootohere said:

@briscaF1 Just being nosy but do you only do around 4,000 miles a year or how many do you do?

The car does about 8000 miles a year at most but I change the oil myself about every 6 months cos I can change the oil in 2 cars, every 6 months, for about the same money as 1 car every 12 months at the dealer. Plus, this car does lots of short journeys.

15 hours ago, Kristina said:

Mine is also 2014. How long yours has been doing the weird and loud tractor noise?

It only does it occasionally, mostly after standing for a few days / oil changes so I imagined it was related to a tensioner and/or something draining of oil.

There's about 80k miles on the engine and it has been doing it for about 6 months.

Is yours making the noise every time? How many miles on it?

It's worrying because, if the chain is not tensioned properly, it can skip teeth and cause engine damage.

How much did they quote to change the chain and why do you think it could be the throttle valve?

I only have the car two years and only done about 20k miles, so I’ve changed oil maybe 3 times since I have it. So not as often as you, but I only have 53k miles on my engine at the moment. It would be really frustrating if my timing chain would need replacement. Mine is ocassionally doing the noise. There are days that it’s not doing it at all, but there are days that it’s noisy every time when I turn on the engine for couple of seconds, than stops. I was thinking it might be the throttle valve or maybe the “starter” (I have no idea how’s that called in English). Have you seen a garage with the issue you are experiencing?

2 hours ago, Kristina said:

I only have the car two years and only done about 20k miles, so I’ve changed oil maybe 3 times since I have it. So not as often as you, but I only have 53k miles on my engine at the moment. It would be really frustrating if my timing chain would need replacement. Mine is ocassionally doing the noise. There are days that it’s not doing it at all, but there are days that it’s noisy every time when I turn on the engine for couple of seconds, than stops. I was thinking it might be the throttle valve or maybe the “starter” (I have no idea how’s that called in English). Have you seen a garage with the issue you are experiencing?

Hi,

No, I've not been to the garage with it yet.

If we're talking about the same noise, I do not think it is the starter on our car as it sounds like it is from the top of the engine and it always does it when I've just changed the oil; I don't see the link between an oil change and the starter motor. I don't know if the chain tensioner is hydraulic (I would have thought not), though.

I'm not sure what a throttle valve that is faulty sounds like - are you talking about the air valve (butterfly) ?

Just out of interest, do you also hear a slight, short "whoop whoop" when increasing the throttle slightly from idle? I wonder if the noises are related to some wear.

Can you get a recording of the noise? I will try to do the same.

Yes a Hydraulic chain tensioner.

So you drain the oil and do not keep it draining for 'Long time mister' and end up with issues.

Two things to check (if haven't done so already):

1. The correct oil filter has been fitted

2. There's no extra seals in the oil filter housing

I had this same issue twice - the first time I'd left the old rubber seal in the housing and I had this rickety sound at idle. Didn't think much of it and left it but when I came to the next oil change I noticed it - removed the extra seal and the noise was gone.

The second time the dealer gave me the wrong oil filter by accident, I had the same sound but also low oil pressure warnings. Switched the filter to the correct one over and noise gone.

Some more info here: https://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/519087-low-oil-pressure-after-oil-change-suspicious-mechanic/.

Hope this helps

Edited 19 May19 May by DunDunFather

well that sucks