Golf Mk5 1.4 GT TSI 170 2006 - Timing chain querie

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Wed 31 Oct 2018 15:06
Golf Mk5 1.4 GT TSI 170 2006 - Timing chain querie - Alan Cawthorn
Recently bought this vehicle. 80,000 miles on clock. Good service history cam timing chain replaced 9000 miles previous by VW specialist garage. Drove well no concerns.

Last week oil warning light came on after 200 metres. Stopped engine for a few minutes and then restarted and drove home. Oil light did not come back on. Left vehicle overnight same problem next morning. Drove it to local garage. They started it a couple of times no oil light but engine management light came on ODB error code P0343 camshaft position sensor A circuit high. Also check with RossTech scanner which shows same fault plus an intermittent engine misfire on cylinder 3 & 4

Serviced the car replacing oil, fitters also removed sump and replaced oil pickup pipe. This seemed ok but replaced anyway. Cleaned and checked plugs.

Engine light still on. Checked camshaft sensor and wiring seemed OK. Checked signal from sensor with scope. Square wave form 2 long 1 shorter. Some research suggests this should be 1short 2 long. Fitted new sensor no change.

Now at a loss as to what to do next. Everything suggests that the camshaft chain has stretched but it was only changed 9k miles ago. It doesn’t seem that noisy either. Although it seems to be using a lot of fuel which suggest timing issues.

Can anyone suggest anything else before I start to strip it down to check chain.
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Wed 31 Oct 2018 16:22
Golf Mk5 1.4 GT TSI 170 2006 - Timing chain querie - elekie&a/c doctor

Is this the twin-charge engine? turbo and suoercharger? I think I would be checking the actual oil pressure before taking on any further repairs. Don't forget ,the timing chain tension system is oil pressure supplied.

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Wed 31 Oct 2018 17:00
Golf Mk5 1.4 GT TSI 170 2006 - Timing chain querie - Alan Cawthorn

Thanks for comment. Not sure if it's twin changed. Although looking up GT TSI suggests it is.

I'll have a look at how I can check oil pressure. I did give the engine a good flush through when I changed oil pickup.

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Wed 31 Oct 2018 17:21
Golf Mk5 1.4 GT TSI 170 2006 - Timing chain querie - skidpan

Not sure if it's twin changed.

The GT TSi 170 is 100% twin charged.

My best advice would be to offload it through an auction.

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Wed 31 Oct 2018 17:58
Golf Mk5 1.4 GT TSI 170 2006 - Timing chain querie - elekie&a/c doctor

My thoughts also. In fact I'm surprised it is still on the road. Most of these have trashed engines ,either from timing chain failure, holed pistons and excessive oil consumption.

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Wed 31 Oct 2018 19:37
Golf Mk5 1.4 GT TSI 170 2006 - Timing chain querie - SLO76
I’ll third that. This was a deeply flawed design of engine, I’m amazed it’s still going and you’re best getting shot of it at auction. The trade won’t touch it but there’s always Joe Public in attendance who hasn’t any idea of this cars issues and only sees a nice high spec Golf. This is a money pit in the making.
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Thu 1 Nov 2018 09:16
Golf Mk5 1.4 GT TSI 170 2006 - Timing chain querie - Alan Cawthorn

Thanks for comments. Tend to agree but would like to think I could find a way of solving current problem without too much expense, then get rid of it.

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Thu 1 Nov 2018 10:16
Golf Mk5 1.4 GT TSI 170 2006 - Timing chain querie - elekie&a/c doctor
Cheap fixes on cars went out with the Cortina.
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Thu 1 Nov 2018 17:25
Golf Mk5 1.4 GT TSI 170 2006 - Timing chain querie - skidpan

Good service history cam timing chain replaced 9000 miles previous by VW specialist garage. Drove well no concerns.

Roughly translated this means that the previous owner had spent loads of money on it, not fixed it and off loaded it before wasting any more.

On a car with the twin charged engine you are going to find out how easy it is to make a small fortune i.e. start with a large one and very soon after throwing money at the car be left with a small one.

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