A3 2.0 FSI Timing Chain

[Tom Mills]

Hi Guys, new to the forum and not that mechanically knowledgeable so sorry in advance if i'm asking daft questions or something that has been covered before.

I have an A3 2.0 FSI on a 04 plate. The car is currently in an Audi dealership having suffered what they tell me is an timing chain failure meaning it needs a new head, rails, gaskets etc and have quoted me £3,700!! including a goodwill reduction in labour charges.

The car has done 68k miles and had a new cambelt 6 months (and 6k miles) ago.

They tell me the chain is not a service item i.e it never needs changing but they can fail, they don't know why it happended in this case and basically i got unlucky. I currently speaking to an independent garage for a quote as really don't want to pay £3,700.

I was wondering if:

1. Anyone has had anything similar happen and have any advice?
2. If so how much they reckon would be a good price to get fixed?
3. Would i have any recourse to Audi for a part failing which is not a service item?
4. Any good independent garages to speak to in Sussex for a quote?
5. Any other ideas/info much appreciated.

Thanks in advance

 

[Khufu]

Its not a thing I've read before. I know chains can stretch - the corsa uses a chain rather than a belt & if the oil is not changed regularly it can cause it to stretch, some Mazda's can too.

The FSi engine has a belt for the timing between the crankshaft & one of the camshafts. The other camshaft is timed to this camshaft on the oppposite side of the engine using a chain.

Has yours actually snapped or just stretched?

 

[Tom Mills]

Its actually snapped, there were no warning noises previously which other from threads i've read seem to indicate it being stretched. It just failed when i started the car at a petrol station after filing up. I guess as it actually snapped thats why its caused so much damage?

 

[moag]

I'd consider contacting Audi Uk. Your right in saying its a non service item, they are designed to last. I've heard plenty of stories of chains stretching in corsas as khufu said but never heard of one snapping completely.

Shop around other garages and see if theres a vw/audi specialist in the area. Did it state what audi's labour charge was?

 

[Tom Mills]

I believe that they charge over £100/hour plus VAT so hopefully a VAG specialist will be cheaper. I guess I'll still owe the dealer for the 4 odd hours striping it down so far though!

Interesting that nobody has heard of the chain snapping before, perhaps i'll drop Audi UK an email.

 

[Ads]

£3700 worth of repairs into an 04 FSi That's pretty much a write-off, isn't it?

How much is an 2004 - 2.0fsi worth now days??? I'm sure I've seen them going for £4000-£5000??

If you can't get the repair done for significantly less than £3700 I'd seriously consider selling the car as a non-runner. As long as you get about £1000 for it you'll probably be no worse off.

Its extreme I know, but for a repair which could be 75-90% of your car's value I'd be looking at it as an excuse to upgrade to something a bit newer etc, if funds permitted.

 

[audicruiser]

Would of thought the 2.0FSi would of have a belt line my 2.0TFSi...

 

[Graham89]

I'd just rip the engine out and put a new one in (turbo one at that)

There's a 2.0 FSI on eBay at the mo for £800 + £45 delivery. Independent garage to fit would be pretty cheap in comparison.

 

[Ads]

Would of thought the 2.0FSi would of have a belt line my 2.0TFSi...

They do have a belt... well at least the one I had did. Its the 1.6 and 3.2 that have chains.
But apparently, according to somewhere above, there's a chain on the other side of the engine??

 

[Khufu]

I'd go 2nd hand engine too, they generally are reliable engines so a 2nd hand one wont be too much of a risk.

Turbo engine would be a more fun upgrade but its not as simple or cheap LOL.

 

[Tom Mills]

Hadn't actually considered a 2nd hand engine as figured that would be more expensive. Thanks guys something to consider

 

[Digger1]

I had this happen,, the chain is very small it links the two cams together at the back of the head,, mine also broke on start-up cost me £650 because it happened on start-up there was no valve piston contact, get yours checked before writing the engine-off !

 

[O_2022]

cost you 650 from where dealer or independent and what exactly did you have replaced was it timing chain , timing cam belt, water pump etc.. if you go to my thread i have put up videos with the engine noises which may indicate stretched timing