Timing belt broke on my GTI

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Spicedaddy

Spicedaddy

Platinum Member
Apr 18, 2002
2,305
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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... :D
 
C

cbrsurfr

Golden Member
Jul 15, 2000
1,686
1
81
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.
 
PricklyPete

PricklyPete

Lifer
Sep 17, 2002
14,582
162
106
cbrsurfr said:
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.
Click to expand...

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

basslover1

Golden Member
Aug 4, 2004
1,921
0
76
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

Spicedaddy

Platinum Member
Apr 18, 2002
2,305
77
91
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.
 
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unokitty

Diamond Member
Jan 5, 2012
3,346
1
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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.
Click to expand...

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

Uno
 
C

CraigRT

Lifer
Jun 16, 2000
31,440
5
0
cbrsurfr said:
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.
Click to expand...

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

PottedMeat

Lifer
Apr 17, 2002
12,363
475
126
unokitty said:
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
Click to expand...

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

halik

Lifer
Oct 10, 2000
25,696
1
0
Spicedaddy said:
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... :D
Click to expand...

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

SpatiallyAware

Lifer
Sep 7, 2009
12,960
3
0
NutBucket said:
Chains stretch and break too. Of course, on an LSx that's far less common then an OHC motor running chains.
Click to expand...


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.
 
joutlaw

joutlaw

Golden Member
Feb 18, 2008
1,108
2
81
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.
 
R

Rvenger

Elite Member <br> Super Moderator <br> Video Cards
Apr 6, 2004
6,283
5
81
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.
 
exdeath

exdeath

Lifer
Jan 29, 2004
13,679
10
81
NutBucket said:
Chains stretch and break too. Of course, on an LSx that's far less common then an OHC motor running chains.
Click to expand...

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.
 
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exdeath

exdeath

Lifer
Jan 29, 2004
13,679
10
81
HarryLui said:
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
Click to expand...

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.
 
H

HarryLui

Golden Member
Aug 31, 2001
1,518
33
91
exdeath said:
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.
Click to expand...


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.
 
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J

jaha2000

Senior member
Jul 28, 2008
949
0
0
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.
 
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