Timing Tensioner

[DuncS3]

Hi,

I have noticed my car make a sort of rattly noise on startup sometimes, when cold. Mitchell from REVO heard it and said it was my timing belt tensioner (I think thats it) - he said I should take it to a dealer to get it sorted. Well I went to AG Slough, who were quite helpful, but they had a listen but it wasnt making the noise then...anyone know more about this and how major a problem it is? ie should it be my top priority to get it sorted? My car doesn't make the noise all the time but it did just now when I put it in the garage...

Dunc [img]images/graemlins/s3addict.gif[/img]

[Bushy]

No idea what the rattle is, but i wouldnt be too happy about the timing belt tensioner rattling, if the blet isnt kept under tension does this mean it could slip?

Now that could be interesting [img]images/graemlins/confused.gif[/img]

[DuncS3]

dunno...alledgedly if it goes it fooks your valves and stuff...

[s2driver]

It won't slip but could jump a few teeth. One tooth jump would mean that it would probably still run although incredibly badly but any more and your in for a BIG bill. Had this happen on my Golf after £150k miles due to a seazed water pump which started stripping the teeth on the belt. I didn't notice until the camblet jumped about 10 teeth and whacked 2 valves into the pistons. Cheap to fix as a mate with a machine shop worked some magic to return the head to as-new. Luckily my Golf was idling at the time and didn't damage the pistons but on an S3 - No Thanks. It's an interference engine so you don't want to know what kind of damage it could cause, especially at revs. Get it looked at ASAP by someone else. A third opinion if necessary!

I do not know if your cambelt fitter would liable for damages but you could be without a car for months while your solicitors battle it out.

[DuncS3]

I do not know if your cambelt fitter would liable for damages but you could be without a car for months while your solicitors battle it out.

The car is only 7 months old, not had the engine touched yet (well apart from a remap). Thats the worry actually, although the car is under warranty, if something bad happened I am sure the chip would get blamed...

I wonder if I could pay AMD to sort it?

Cheers

Dunc [img]images/graemlins/s3addict.gif[/img]

[Bushy]

[quoteI wonder if I could pay AMD to sort it?

Cheers

Dunc [img]images/graemlins/s3addict.gif[/img] [/quote]

Of course they would do it for you

[Jon]

my last 2 cars were modded s3's and they both did it as well, but only when they had been stood overnight and it was cold, as usual the Audi dealers in leeds couldn't trace the fault and weren't that helpful