Timing belt broke on my GTI

[Spicedaddy]

It's a 2007 GTI with the 2.0T FSI engine. I was on the highway when the engine died, I pulled over and it wouldn't start so got it towed to the nearest VW dealer. They put on a new belt and tried to start it, but the engine is damaged apparently. (don't know how bad yet, they hadn't taken the head off when I spoke to them...)

My car is CPO, and the 2 year warranty ends in November. At first they were saying it wasn't under warranty because it should've been checked earlier, but I called VW of Canada and now it's being repaired under warranty. (maintenance schedule says to check the belt at 96k, 128k, 160k and replace at 180k. I bought the car at 103k and it's at 122k now... kilometers btw)

Anyways, driving a powerless 2012 Jetta 2.0L now, can't wait to get my car back. If you have a 2.0T FSI engine in your car, get the timing belt checked early instead of following their stupid maintenance schedule...

 

[cbrsurfr]

Interference engine FTL. I was planning on replacing mine around 80K miles but it was replaced at 40K miles under warranty due to a squeal. Just hit 60K miles so I've got some time before I have to worry about it again.

 

[HarryLui]

Premature belt failure happens. Good thing you'e under warranty.

 

[PricklyPete]

Interference engine FTL. I was planning on replacing mine around 80K miles but it was replaced at 40K miles under warranty due to a squeal. Just hit 60K miles so I've got some time before I have to worry about it again.

Is there a non-interference engine being built these days in a modern automobile application? I'm not aware of any.

 

[AdamK47]

I'm glad all my cars run off of timing chains. Pushrod FTW!

 

[basslover1]

Yea that was pretty common problem on the old 1.8T Passat motors. The manual said to have it replaced at like 105k miles but so many of them broke before 105k they updated to manual to have it say to change it at like 75k miles. I did mine at 75k and I'm at 129,xxx right now and am not looking forward to having to do it again

Luckily for you it was under warranty. If it needs a new head (which it most certainly will) you're looking at $2k+ easy for repairs.

 

[Spicedaddy]

Yeah, they replaced the belt for a chain in the middle of 2008 model year for 2.0T engines.

I was planning on keeping the car one more year after the warranty, but now I'm reconsidering.

 

[unokitty]

Glad that it is under warranty. I had that happen on a Civic SI I had that was out of warranty. Not cheap to fix.

Is there a non-interference engine being built these days in a modern automobile application? I'm not aware of any.

My '93 Miata had a non interference engine. Don't know about the current Miatas.

Uno

 

[Xecuter]

My '99 Miata is non-interference; not sure of 3rd gen Miatas though

 

[NutBucket]

I'm glad all my cars run off of timing chains. Pushrod FTW!

Chains stretch and break too. Of course, on an LSx that's far less common then an OHC motor running chains.

 

[CraigRT]

Interference engine FTL. I was planning on replacing mine around 80K miles but it was replaced at 40K miles under warranty due to a squeal. Just hit 60K miles so I've got some time before I have to worry about it again.

Who cares if an engine is interference. The real issue is the timing belt. I only buy cars with timing chains because a belt change interval is annoying. Timing chains are lifetime when taken care of properly (oil changes)

 

[PottedMeat]

Glad that it is under warranty. I had that happen on a Civic SI I had that was out of warranty. Not cheap to fix.



My '93 Miata had a non interference engine. Don't know about the current Miatas.

Uno

my old corolla had a 4AC that was non interference, i guess they stopped making the engines in 2002.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_A_engine#4A

the timing belt stripped on the highway, took a few hours to change out.

 

[halik]

It's a 2007 GTI with the 2.0T FSI engine. I was on the highway when the engine died, I pulled over and it wouldn't start so got it towed to the nearest VW dealer. They put on a new belt and tried to start it, but the engine is damaged apparently. (don't know how bad yet, they hadn't taken the head off when I spoke to them...)

My car is CPO, and the 2 year warranty ends in November. At first they were saying it wasn't under warranty because it should've been checked earlier, but I called VW of Canada and now it's being repaired under warranty. (maintenance schedule says to check the belt at 96k, 128k, 160k and replace at 180k. I bought the car at 103k and it's at 122k now... kilometers btw)

Anyways, driving a powerless 2012 Jetta 2.0L now, can't wait to get my car back. If you have a 2.0T FSI engine in your car, get the timing belt checked early instead of following their stupid maintenance schedule...

Nice! They'll probably swap the whole motor out, since valves tend to dent the pistons when the timing is off.

My brother just picked up an 09 A4, first year of the A4 with chained 2.0T motors.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

Chains stretch and break too. Of course, on an LSx that's far less common then an OHC motor running chains.

The big thing I like about chains is that they almost always give you some warning... Chain guides rattling, skipping 1 tooth, something...

Belts are fine until the very moment they snap, and at that point all of the damage is done.

 

[HarryLui]

Timing chains are lifetime when taken care of properly (oil changes)

Change AND check oil level regularly.

Many people don't bother checking their oil or even know how.

For example, if this owner check his oil level any time in his 900 miles road trip, he'd know he has a problem and would have saved his engine.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2253685

 

[joutlaw]

I will never own another vehicle with a timing belt. It's one of the reasons we went with the I4 versus the V6 in our 2010 Accord.

 

[Rvenger]

Wow, I am surprised it wasn't a cam follower that failed. FSI 2.0 is a terrible motor. Maybe they will swap it with the revised 2.0 TSI.

 

[NutBucket]

HA! That will happen the day VAG leads the industry in reliability!

 

[AdamK47]

Change AND check oil level regularly.

Many people don't bother checking their oil or even know how.

For example, if this owner check his oil level any time in his 900 miles road trip, he'd know he has a problem and would have saved his engine.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2253685

Pushing buttons. Push push push.

 

[Rifter]

I'm glad all my cars run off of timing chains. Pushrod FTW!

Exactly, you will never break a good double roller.

 

[exdeath]

Chains stretch and break too. Of course, on an LSx that's far less common then an OHC motor running chains.

On OHC you have the added pleasure of dealing with a dozen guides and tensioners... a common failure mode in many modern chain driven OHC engines.

KLACKLACKKLKLKLKLKLKLKLKLKLLKLKLKLKLKLKLKLKLKLKLKLKLKLKLK at idle. Hmm what the only thing that makes a noise that is 100 times the RPM of the engine? The linear movement of 100 timing chain links passing over broken metal in 1 revolution. Well not that many but you get the idea.

 

[exdeath]

Change AND check oil level regularly.

Many people don't bother checking their oil or even know how.

For example, if this owner check his oil level any time in his 900 miles road trip, he'd know he has a problem and would have saved his engine.

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2253685

Right, because you should really have to check the oil every 25 miles on a nearly brand new car that never had oil issues on any previous oil change. Shit happens.

 

[HarryLui]

Right, because you should really have to check the oil every 25 miles on a nearly brand new car that never had oil issues on any previous oil change. Shit happens.

GM recommends checking oil, coolant, and windshield wiper fluid level at every fuel fill up.
Page 6-8
http://www.gmpartshouse.com/downloads/manuals/gto/2005gto.pdf

Also, the point of install an oil catch can is to catch oil that would otherwise going into the intake. The oil level inside the catch can needs to be checked because the can needs to be empty once in a while.

Shit happens, I agree, which is another reason to check things over instead of assuming things will always work fine.

 

[Howard]

I'm glad all my cars run off of timing chains. Pushrod FTW!

Timing chains don't always last forever, either.

 

[jaha2000]

I broke the timing set in my first car. 1969 Pontiac Grand Prix.

Of course that was one of the "hey lets see if we can use plastic timing gears and see if that will work car".

The belts are nice and quiet, quite frankly as long as you take care of it, its not really an issue.