So I buy my TT in june of 07 and since then I've paid 7k+ in repairs and recently there's a ticking/rattling sound comming from my car. I thought it was from when a hub cap flew into my car and got sucked under thus loosening something up... a few quick fixes and I thought I'd be scott free but NO!

I took it to the shop and said that it's something to do with timing chain tensioner. Said that the chain wasn't getting enough tension and the chain is binding thus making the rattling sound... now is that what it is? The car only rattles between 1300-2000rpm.

Does anyone have any suggestions on what else it may be? If it's something with the timing chain/tensioner, how much am I looking at in parts and labor? My TT's only got 65k miles on it and it's a 00 FWD... Help! Looks like by the time I'm done fixing my TT, I would've been better off buying a newer model - it would've cost the same in the long run

 

the tensioner is pretty expensive, around 350 i think. not sure if that is it, its not really a common fail part....

 

The timing chain is a likely cause.

 

With the tensioner failing, is it a bit pre-mature to replace the chian as well at 65k? I had a chevy caprice that was an old cop car and I didn't have to replace the timing belt until 110K miles... I guess depending on the damage... what's the minimum I could replace without having to shell out unecessary $$$?

 

The chain tensioner shouldnt be going bad. They do however go bad from time to time w/o any certian milage. You should just get the TB (if you havent yet) and tensioner done together. The nonVVT cars are about 1/4 the cost of the vvt cars. Should be under $1k for a shop to do it with the cost of a new tensioner. Not sure how much of a DIY it is, but if you have some skills, it could be done in a garage in about 1/2 day

 

I just did the timing belt at 62k so that should be alright... The guy at the shop had mentioned a VW at their shop that's in for "the same thing" and his parts alone were at about 800 bucks. Now what would make my situation go to that extreme?

 

that VWwas VVT. The chain tensioner for a nonVVT is $180 from ecs

 

my car did the exact same thing tentioner was bad i replaced my self...purrs lke a kitten now...I wish i did the timing belt my self no idk why but i got lazy and payed the dealer 650 o well...
yea i got the tentioner from ecs your gonna need a camshaft alignment tool too if you diy because you will have to relalign em otherwise your ignition will jump everywhere and get rough idle etc...i think ecs has em for like 25 bucks

 

Okay, so I just did an oil change on my TT (that thing is messy as hell -- there's so much hoses in the way of the oil filter!) The rattling is comming from the right side of the engine - on the timing belt side (standing in front, facing wind shield, left side). I just had the same shop do my timing belt and now it's rattling? What is going on here? what can be wrong on the timing belt side that would cause a rattle between 1300rpm - 2000rpm? Should I stop driving my car for now?

 

The tensioner is on the drivers side. I would take it back to the place that did and make them do it. You should pay for something until it was done RIGHT