Are these symptoms likely caused by the timing chaing slipping?

[age]

Hi guys,

My SEAT Ibiza 1.2 S 54 reg has the following symptoms:

1. When I accelerate (particularlly when accelerating harder and going up hills where the engine has to work harder) the engine jumps occasionally as if either the engine is misfiring or a belt/chain is slipping.

2. The engine seems to have less power than before

BTW the car has 80K on the clock.

I suspect that this is the timing belt/chain slipping and it just needs replacing, but I wonder if anyone can confirm that this is the likely cause (obviously I know that you won't know for sure without seeing the car!).

What sort of cost is this to have fixed?

Any help much appreciated!

Cheers
Adrian

 

[bobmcgod]

To be sure. Go get it checked out by someone who know's what they're doing. This could also be a coil pack on it's way out.

 

[age]

Thanks.

I've had 2 of the 3 coil packs go in the past 6 months! So I know it hasn't completely gone, but I guess it could be not working properly. The main issue, is that when my coil packs have gone i feel the engine problems all the time, with this it is when the engine is under more strain and feels like it could be something slipping.

I know I probably need to get a garage to diagnose the problem - but just reluctant too since in the past they rip me off with 1-2 hours diagnosis time at £75+vat labour so even before it is fixed I pay over £150!

Would be nice to have it diagnosed without much cost! Maybe time to find a different garage!

 

[NickyJam]

i get this in mine when going easy at 2k rpm...if i lift off the gas then get back onto it slowly the car judders a little

haven't been bothered to get it into SEAT under warranty as I been there too often in the past 3 months due to bushes and wheel adjustments

 

[attila_tdi]

I really doubt its the chain. If the chain slips even one tooth you'd notice. Anymore teeth and it wouldn't budge.

I think its a misfire, where it could either be electric (spark) or fuel (no getting enough, clogged etc).

One way to check is buy this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/In-Line-Spark...in_3?hash=item587fbd7f0b&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Or similar (you can get pen like things that sit on the outside of the lead) things to see if you get a constant spark.

Anyone with Vag-com could help, where are u based?

 

[age]

Thanks for your reply.

I am based in Chippenham.

 

[NickyJam]

i had my car VAG-Com'd and nothing appears

 

[RUM4MO]

I really doubt its the chain. If the chain slips even one tooth you'd notice. Anymore teeth and it wouldn't budge.

I think its a misfire, where it could either be electric (spark) or fuel (no getting enough, clogged etc).

One way to check is buy this:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/In-Line-Spark...in_3?hash=item587fbd7f0b&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Or similar (you can get pen like things that sit on the outside of the lead) things to see if you get a constant spark.

Anyone with Vag-com could help, where are u based?

I'd give that "old school" spark testing thing a miss - not really best plan with modern electronics on cars, besides, these cars have COPs (Coil On Plug) along with short wiring so if it was okay to use that sort of tool - then it would still be impossible to use. VAG-COM is your friend here, and if that does not show up any logged faults then maybe if your car knowledge is limited its best to turn to the dealer. One thing to remember, if the chain has slipped a tooth then that is all it will have done, it will not continue to run and slip forward and back any more teeth.

BTW when were the spark plugs last examined - and do you use "good" petrol?

 

[RUM4MO]

i had my car VAG-Com'd and nothing appears

I'd think that what you have is a problem that is still within "parameter limit windows" - the 1.2 petrol engine hopefully will have logged an electrical/electronic failure if this is ignition related.

 

[lil3520]

touch wood my wifes motor has none of these problems.

54 reg IBIZA 1.2 sx.

 

[stezo2k]

Mine was exactly the same recently (i've done 80k too)

Did a full service (oil, oil filter, air filter and spark plugs) and it's completely gone away, even when fully accelerating. The car also seems faster too.

I'd personally put it down to that, especially if it hasn't been serviced in a white

 

[scoobsta1990]

could be fuel pressure related possible fuel injector, fuel pump, fuel pressure regulator.
its not likely to jump a tooth on the chain, more likely tensioner knackered if the timings out.
as you've had multiple coilpacks it could even be ecu related.
best bet is to go to the slealer and get it checked out or get yourself a diagnosis tester for 40 quid and have someone test the engine while your driving.

 

[RUM4MO]

I'm not sure about using a "£40 diagnostic tester" - I'd guess you are referring to something like the Gendan VAG one - these tools do not do real time data reading/logging - they only look for stored fault codes.

Also, it seems that there IS a good chance that these 1.2 engines can/will/have "jumped a tooth" - lots of reports of that happening on these VAG forums unfortunately.

Fuel pressure is always a possiblity but that has not been reported - yet!

 

[attila_tdi]

surely one of these :

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VAG-COM-409-1...ment?hash=item230299b424&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

and download this:

http://www.ross-tech.com/vag-com/download/archives.html


That should work won't it?

I don't know what you get with the free version, so you may have to pay $99 licence, but that still turns out cheaper than getting it done in a garage.

 

[scoobsta1990]

I'm not sure about using a "£40 diagnostic tester" - I'd guess you are referring to something like the Gendan VAG one - these tools do not do real time data reading/logging - they only look for stored fault codes.

Also, it seems that there IS a good chance that these 1.2 engines can/will/have "jumped a tooth" - lots of reports of that happening on these VAG forums unfortunately.

Fuel pressure is always a possiblity but that has not been reported - yet!

thats the thing with these cars not everyone has seen the same faults, ive worked at a volkswagen dealer for 2 years and ive only ever seen one 1.2 timing chain jumped, but ive seen many injectors blow and a couple ecu faults, its just the luck of the draw, we get brand new cars with faults on them, if VW had spend £2.50 more on development we wouldn't have all these problems!