TDI BHC engine rattle when cold

marshy98

Member
Hi all

The last Couple of weeks I have noticed when started from cold there’s a little chain like rattle coming from the bottom of the engine drivers side, lasts less than a minute then disasters, cars has done 150k miles and been serviced regularly.

Any ideas ?

Regards

Paul
 
Yep at 150k miles it’s due - as per threads on this subject on here. Do it as part of a cambelt and water pump change whilst it’s all apart.
 
Hi had the same problem I replaced chain and guides with febi 47354 as all sprockets were still in good order and cambelt I replaced at the time as it has to be removed to gain access to the chain advise you get it done asap as should the chain break it could destroy the engine not a difficult job just time consuming. Sump has to be removed and the crankshaft bolt will need a dedicated locking tool and take care to getting the balance shaft in the correct position on reassembly
 
Hi all

The last Couple of weeks I have noticed when started from cold there’s a little chain like rattle coming from the bottom of the engine drivers side, lasts less than a minute then disasters, cars has done 150k miles and been serviced regularly.

Any ideas ?

Regards

Paul
That is potentially the most predictive typo I've ever seen ? If not dealt with as per above advise, disasters will indeed surely follow.

Good luck with getting it all resolved ?
 
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Hi

Thanks all for your repies, definitely time to change the chain, tensioner, sprockets, can You please recommend a garage to carry out this work as I think it’s a little beyond me.

Regards

Paul
 
Hi

Thanks all for your repies, definitely time to change the chain, tensioner, sprockets, can You please recommend a garage to carry out this work as I think it’s a little beyond me.

Regards

Paul
I see you are located in Littleport. I use an independent garage in St Ives. (Cambs) called Quattro Tech they have serviced my A2 for the last 4 or 5 years and have done a brilliant job. They were set up by ex VAG service staff and whilst the A2 was a bit of a novelty to them to begin with they know them pretty well now!
 
@steve_c may be able to recommend someone, he's not far from you.

I'm not that close, since I live in Norwich, but it's not that far away either.

I have my A2 looked after by an independent VAG specialist just south of the city who I can recommend without hesitation. Yelverton Garage, on the A146 just south of Thurton. Their website is here:

That website is somewhat out of date, and it's best to email them on [email protected] if you want them to give you a quote.

They have courtesy cars available providing you request one when arranging a date for the work.

We are lucky here with more than one local specialist who know their way round the A2.

Two established VAG specialists somewhat closer to you - VW Technics in Willingham http://www.vwspecialistcambridge.co.uk/ and audi-specialists.co.uk in Burwell https://www.audi-specialists.co.uk/ have both been going for some while and are likely to be familiar with the A2. However I have no experience of either, so can't speak for either their pricing or the quality of their work.
 
Slight thread hijack, sorry :p The ever going talk of oil pump/balance shaft chains is making me anxious, I plan to have the timing belt on my 160k tdi replaced soon however the quote to do the chain too basically doubled the expense (once I found a garage who would do it). I am wondering if there are any other symptoms for this? I have always thought that my engine wobbles around quite a lot in the engine bay, but I have no chain rattle (at least to my untrained ears). The car has new engine mounts but still wobbles around a fair bit (not the best gauge but I am comparing to a the engine in an UP! which basically doesn't move at idle even though it's still a 3cyl)
 
Slight thread hijack, sorry :p The ever going talk of oil pump/balance shaft chains is making me anxious, I plan to have the timing belt on my 160k tdi replaced soon however the quote to do the chain too basically doubled the expense (once I found a garage who would do it). I am wondering if there are any other symptoms for this? I have always thought that my engine wobbles around quite a lot in the engine bay, but I have no chain rattle (at least to my untrained ears). The car has new engine mounts but still wobbles around a fair bit (not the best gauge but I am comparing to a the engine in an UP! which basically doesn't move at idle even though it's still a 3cyl)
It shouldn't double the quote, half the work to do the chain and tensioner is already being done when you do a cambelt change - I would seriously look at DS Motorsport as per @Leopard680 's post above - they also did mine!
 
1st quote in, supply & replace cambelt,tensioner, water pump, oil chain, sprocket, tensioner, stretch bolts, oil and filter
£770 + vat
 
1st quote in, supply & replace cambelt,tensioner, water pump, oil chain, sprocket, tensioner, stretch bolts, oil and filter
£770 + vat
This is similar to what I was quoted for the lot up from around ~£400 for just the timing belt, water pump etc
 
I’m beginning to think keep a look out for a low ish mileage BHC engine to stick in the garage and just run it, we only do about 6k miles a year, could last another few years, could last another few days!, £924 is a big spend on a car thats only worth about £1500, I really like my A2 and it’s in great condition but you have to be realistic.
 
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