1.4 TSI engine noise (Video Included)

[mark88]

At the end of the day, there's plenty of chain driven cars and if you go on forums you'll always find people with problems with them, as you do with any other part! People only really go on forums when they have problems! I'm sure they class the 'lifetime' as 100,000 miles. Wouldn't worry about changing it though until you can hear it rattling. It does stretch over time and wear, at the end of the day it is a chain, it won't last forever I can guarantee that! Chains are far superior to belts IMO as atleast you can tell when the chain is worn as it will rattle against the engine casing and it doesn't need changing every 40K miles like a belt!

 

[MJ]

When there's a chain issue it's usually an annoyance more than an impending failure. They only ever seem to go slack and never break or the tensioners fail and cause them to chatter.

 

[J400uk]

I've seen a BMW fail which rattled for a good year or two then the chain jumped a cog and wrecked the engine.

The 1.4 TSI is known to be problematic in this area unfortunately so it is worth keeping an eye on. If the rattle gets worse whilst the cars still got a warranty on it I'd be pushing for the chain to be replaced. Yes it should last the life of the engine but the reality is they seem not to be!

 

[matthab]

Sounds fine to me, my 1.4tsi has always sounded like this and its done 20k now. Once warm it is very quiet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWsmjrqtR68

 

[Davistov]

It's definitely not the life of the car!
My 2010 Cupra is in need of a timing chain, horrible noise coming from the engine!
I would definitely get it checked out now if I were you mate, as you'll only be sorry if it messes up in 3 months time!
It's going to cost me £715 for the pleasure, hopefully it hasn't damaged the engine.... Seat have already mentioned that it may need a new engine... that's going to be a lovely price tag of £4000

 

[MrFwibble]

I thought that all Cupra and Cupra R were the older TFSI (belt, not chain) engine? Don't think a Cupra was ever fitted with a TSI.

 

[MJ]

tfsi has a belt on one end and a chain the other

 

[MrFwibble]

Ah, does that chain have a tensioner?

 

[MJ]

yep. its the vvt unit and they become slack or wear due to poor oil pressure.