If you’ve ever heard an engine knock, you know that it can be a serious problem. A knocking sound is caused when the valves in your engine fail to close at the right time. This can happen for a number of reasons, but if you suspect it’s due to your timing chain failing or wearing out prematurely, there are steps you can take to diagnose and fix the problem.
Engine sounds
Loud noises: If you hear loud noises coming from the engine, it could be a sign of timing chain problems. These can include clunking, rumbling and rattling.
Smoking: Another symptom of timing chains failing is smoke coming out of the tailpipe or undercarriage. This may be caused by oil leaking onto hot exhaust components, which causes them to burn off (similar to how an excess amount of oil can cause overheating).
Stalling: If your vehicle has stalled unexpectedly while driving or at low speeds (such as when turning), this could be because your engine’s timing chain broke or slipped off its sprockets.
Poor engine performance
If you notice that your car is not performing as it should, this could be a sign that the timing chain has failed. If your engine is misfiring or running rough, stalling unexpectedly and overheating more often than normal, it could be time to take your car in for service.If you are experiencing any of these problems with the performance of your car, have the mechanic take a look at the timing chain. If they find signs of damage or wear on any parts of this system (including its gaskets), then it’s likely time for replacement work on those parts.
Check engine light
The check engine light is a warning sign. It means that something is wrong with your car, but not necessarily that you need to stop driving. The check engine light can be caused by many different issues, from a bad gas cap to a faulty oxygen sensor to timing chain failure. Even though the cause may seem like an easy fix—replace the cap or replace the oxygen sensor—once you’ve fixed one thing and cleared the code for it, another problem will pop up soon after.Timing chains don’t just break on their own; they have specific problems associated with them. If you notice any of these signs in your Volkswagen’s engine bay when diagnosing problems, consider having a German car specialist (Like Apex Euro) take a closer look at your timing chain.
If you suspect that your timing chain is failing, bring your car in for a checkup.
If you suspect that your timing chain is failing, bring your car in for a checkup. We can inspect the chain and confirm whether or not it needs to be replaced. If your timing chain is worn out, it might cause some warning signs in your vehicle:
You may hear strange noises coming from inside the engine compartment when you accelerate or decelerate quickly.
Your car may lose power at higher RPMs (revolutions per minute) than normal, which could be due to a misalignment between the camshaft and crankshaft sprockets. This problem can also cause an engine light to come on.
