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The VW group's small-car segment remains a bestseller in Germany. Whether Polo, Fabia or Ibiza, these cars are popular with new drivers and for city driving.
Unfortunately, a far-reaching problem lies behind the nippy little runabout. In the Polo 6R and 9N, Fox, Ibiza III and IV and Fabia I and II generations, the VAG group relied on small 1.2-litre three-cylinder engines. Engines fitted here included the CGP, AWY, AZQ, BME, BMD, BBM, CHF and BZG.
The Problem: The Timing Chain
The problem lies in how the engine components are driven: by a timing chain, which makes the CGP engine, for example, vulnerable to failure.
Frequent short journeys in particular mean the engine never warms up to operating temperature. As a result, the oil pressure is too high because the oil is still too viscous, and the components are over-supplied. This is fatal for the chain tensioner: it is pushed sharply forward when the engine starts and cannot then retract properly.
The timing chain is therefore no longer guided correctly, and the shape of the chain changes over time. After a certain mileage the point is reached at which the chain is no longer guided on the correct sprockets: your timing chain jumps.
The Chain Reaction Inside the Engine
This triggers a chain reaction: the inlet and exhaust valves no longer open and close at the right moment. They strike the pistons and bend or break off. Either outcome causes catastrophic engine damage, since in the worst case the entire combustion chamber is destroyed.
How Do You Recognise a Faulty Timing Chain?
We recommend having the timing chain checked every 45,000 kilometres. But how can you as a driver tell whether a check may already be too late?
- Rattling after starting the engine is the most obvious sign
- A brief rattle is generally not yet serious – but you should still consider having it checked
- If the engine rattles for several seconds after starting, a check is essential
In individual cases it may be possible to replace only the timing chain. Please also read our article Avoiding Engine Damage.
Further Problems with the 1.2 Three-Cylinder Engine
Have you noticed increased oil consumption on your Polo 9N 1.2 along with a loss of performance? The cylinder liners also suffer from wear: the honing wears away over time, causing increased oil consumption and, eventually, a noticeable loss of power.
What We Can Do for Your Small Car
In the event of engine damage we can supply a fully overhauled replacement engine for the 1.2 three-cylinder units – either fitted in our master workshop including nationwide vehicle collection, or despatched to your own workshop.
Does your Polo, Fabia or Ibiza rattle on starting? Send us the VIN or engine code – we will gladly prepare a quotation.
The Downsizing Debacle: Problems with VW's 1.0, 1.2, 1.4 and 1.5 TSI Engines
Do you drive a VW group vehicle with a small TSI or TFSI engine and have already suffered engine damage after just 100,000 kilometres? Sadly this is no longer a rarity. The causes lie in the technology used in these engines and in the materials themselves.
Engines are being built ever more compact. The reason is the increasingly strict environmental requirements imposed on manufacturers. Your 1.0, 1.2, 1.4 or 1.5 TSI engine from VW is hit particularly hard: turbocharging combined with under-specified components means engine damage can occur early.
What Do 1.0, 1.2, 1.4 and 1.5 TSI Actually Mean?
These are compact three- and four-cylinder engines with a displacement of 999 to 1,498 cc and an output of 86 to 150 bhp.
TSI stands for Turbocharged Stratified Injection, the earlier TFSI for Turbo Fuel Stratified Injection – both VW brand names for the same engine technology. For marketing reasons the designation TSI was later used throughout. What is meant is a combination of direct gasoline injection and turbocharging.
VW uses TSI technology to give smaller-capacity engines an output similar to that of larger ones. The advantage for you as the owner lies in lower fuel consumption and usually cheaper vehicle tax. The manufacturer benefits too: less material is needed, which reduces production costs.
The Cause of the 1.2 and 1.4 TSI Problems: The Timing Chain
On the older engines the problem often lies with the timing chain. It drives the camshafts from the crankshaft. It can wear prematurely for several reasons:
- Manufacturing tolerances in series production
- Worn stamping tools – they punch billions of chain links before being replaced
- Aftermarket chains of inferior quality
As a result the chains stretch until they can jump when the engine is started.
How to Recognise a Stretched Timing Chain
The first sign is an increasingly loud rattle from the chain drive, particularly on a cold start. A brief rattle after the car has stood for a long time is normal and no cause for concern.
In the worst case the timing chain jumps on one of the sprockets. The result is incorrect valve timing, so the engine no longer runs properly. The valves strike the pistons and can, in the worst case, even break off.
Which Vehicles Are Affected?
The small TSI engines were used across the group. Affected models include:
- VW: Golf, Golf Plus, Golf Sportsvan, Polo, Touran, Caddy, Jetta, Beetle
- Škoda: Fabia, Octavia, Rapid
- Seat: Ibiza, Leon
- Audi: A1, A3
Affected engine codes include CBZ, CBZA, CBZB and CBZC as well as BLG, BMY, CAV, CAX and CTH on the 1.4 TSI.
Are There Warning Signs of Impending Engine Damage?
- Rattling on a cold start – the clearest warning sign
- Rough running and loss of performance
- Engine warning light and faults relating to camshaft adjustment
- Increased oil consumption
The Newer Generation: Timing Belt Instead of Chain
The following engine generation, fitted in the Golf 7 among others, reverted to a timing belt. This largely resolved the serious problems with the timing chain.
However, these engines increasingly suffer from high oil consumption. The causes are often worn valve stem seals as well as worn cylinder liners, pistons or piston rings.
You should also bear in mind that the timing belt should be replaced after ten years at the latest – regardless of the mileage covered.
Our Recommendations for Your TSI Engine
- Have the timing chain checked regularly – we recommend around every 60,000 kilometres. Frequent short journeys with many starts wear it out considerably faster
- Change the oil every 15,000 kilometres – extended oil change intervals are extremely harmful to these engines
- If the car is used mainly for short journeys or covers less than 15,000 kilometres a year, change the oil once a year
- Replace the timing belt after ten years at the latest
- If you hear rattling, have the timing chain checked immediately
What We Can Do for Your TSI Engine
For all TSI and TFSI engines we offer not only our replacement engines but also professional timing belt and timing chain replacement in our master workshop. If the chain has stretched but not yet jumped, replacing it is considerably cheaper than fitting a complete engine.
If engine damage has already occurred, we can supply a fully overhauled replacement engine – either fitted in our master workshop including nationwide vehicle collection, or despatched to your own workshop.
Does your TSI rattle on a cold start? Send us the VIN or engine code – we will gladly prepare a quotation free of charge.
