Timing belt broken: Causes and repair

Hello everyone,
I was on a trip this weekend. On the way back, the car broke down; the oil warning light was flashing and beeping. Diagnosis: the timing belt broke on a 1.9L TDI engine with 125,000 km. The timing belt was replaced at 90,000 km. The car is currently at a VAG workshop, 100 km from here. The car had a complete service history. Does anyone know how VW handles warranty claims? It can't be right that this thing breaks after only 35,000 km! I'll find out exactly what's broken today or tomorrow. Hopefully, the pistons and valves haven't suffered too much damage. Mysteriously, the car has had trouble starting 2-3 times in the last few weeks when it was warm. The battery is okay. What could that be? The fuel injection pump? Surely that has nothing to do with it? It all seems illogical, or does it?

Kaddy.

Hello,

I can't comment on the generosity, but things always look bad when it comes to distances exceeding 100 kilometers.

If the timing belt breaks after only 35,000 kilometers, it looks very much like a workshop-related issue to me.
Was changed regarding the tensioning roller?
Is it still spinning? Are the wheels okay?
If no other errors can be identified, then something must have happened during the assembly process that the timing belt (ZR) is not tolerating.

What does the belt look like?
Worn on the side?
Polished on the outside?
Expired from the inside (like mine)?
Photos?

Regarding your engine: please look for a suitable replacement.
'Check the cylinder head and a piston with rings, as piston damage may not always be visible when the engine is installed.'

Whatever it was, and whatever you do now, definitely...

Good luck with the workshop.

Hello...

What is the engine code?

I have a one-bedroom apartment.
The KW screw was loose on my car, which is why I was having trouble starting it (because the valve timing was then no longer correct).

You can only hope that VW will do something as a gesture of goodwill.

Best regards, Mike.


Hello everyone,
I was on a trip this weekend. On the way back, the car broke down; the oil warning light was flashing and beeping. Diagnosis: the timing belt broke on a 1.9L TDI engine with 125,000 km. The timing belt was replaced at 90,000 km. The car is currently at a VAG workshop, 100 km from here. The car had a complete service history. Does anyone know how VW handles warranty claims? It can't be right that this thing breaks after only 35,000 km! I'll find out exactly what's broken today or tomorrow. Hopefully, the pistons and valves haven't suffered too much damage. Mysteriously, the car has had trouble starting 2-3 times in the last few weeks when it was warm. The battery is okay. What could that be? The fuel injection pump? Surely that has nothing to do with it? It all seems illogical, or does it?

Kaddy

Hello,

First of all, thank you for the quick response. Unfortunately, I can't provide any more information at the moment. My car is 100 km away at a VAG workshop, and I can't access it – it's making me very sick. However, I will keep you updated and will have a list of all the replaced parts.

Currently, I'm negotiating a quote to avoid having a thousand additional charges later. So far, the work includes replacing the tensioner, belt, spark plug head (including valves). It's costing around €1500. I won't receive the specific offer until tonight.

See you then.
Kaddy.

Hi Steinchen,

Search here for posts about cracked timing chains and subsequent engine problems. As far as I remember, there are at least two cases where the pistons were damaged, and the engine consumed oil like it was diesel.

The assumption was that the impact caused the rings to become jammed.

I've already had to deal with two broken valves, and in both cases, the piston was completely damaged. (BMW Boxer and MB 280E).

The impact that occurs there is really quite harsh on the engine.

Hi there,

I also think that it COULD be a serious problem, but it doesn't necessarily have to be.
"I also had a belt failure on my Audi, at a rather high speed of 4100 rpm. Three valves were damaged, along with everything associated with them. Fortunately, the piston was undamaged."
"The village mechanic I trust repaired the head, and it's been running perfectly ever since. That's been for about 40,000 kilometers. And the engine has to work a bit harder in my car than it would in a Golf, as it has to move about 2.2 - 2.5 tons."

I think it was worth a try.

greetings
dieter (T3 Syncro 16 AFN)

The best of the three broken valves:
http://users.etech.haw-hamburg.de/users/gelab/dh/pic/bus/ventil1.jpg