There are certain parts in your Volkswagen that play a stellar role in the smooth running and better performance of the vehicle and the timing chain is one such critical component. Most of the time drivers ignore the initial symptoms associated with timing chain failure and this manifests in the form of serious trouble for their VW.

Any problems with your timing chain can adversely & immediately impact the functioning of the engine and here in this article, we will discuss the impact of timing chain failure on your VW engine.

Functions of Timing Chain

Most of the time Volkswagen owners aren’t aware of the exact function of their timing chain and that is why they neglect to take remedial action whenever the timing chain encounters problems in functioning. The timing chain is solely responsible for ensuring the camshaft & the crankshaft function in cohesion.

The proper functioning of the camshaft & crankshaft ensures that the intake & exhaust valve opens and closes at the right moment leading to better fuel injection and ignition timing. This ensures that the engine functions without any hitch, however, issues with the timing chain can completely derail the functioning of the engine.

A malfunctioning timing chain affects the functioning of the parts connected to it and this is when you experience various problems with the engine of your VW. That is why it is critical to ensure that the damaged timing chain is replaced when the need arises.

Ways It Affects The Engine

The timing chain failure adversely affects the functioning of the engine in a number of ways. Let us have a look at these factors:

Rough Idle & Misfiring Engine

One of the prominent ways the timing chain failure affects the engine is when you experience rough idling of your Volkswagen while driving. Generally, when you are driving your car under normal circumstances then you aren’t going to feel anything and your drive would be very smooth.

However, with a defective timing chain under the hood of your car, you are going to face rough engine idle and stalling of the engine. In addition to that, you might also come across engine misfiring which indicates something is seriously wrong under the hood of your car & needs to be inspected by a qualified mechanic.

The combined problem is caused due to a defective timing chain in your Volkswagen that needs to be replaced immediately to restore the normal functioning of the engine.

Unusual Noises

Generally, when driving your VW under normal circumstances, you won’t hear anything unusual coming from under the hood of your car other than the roar of the engine. Due to the worn-out timing chain under the hood of your VW, you are going to hear a knocking or a rattling sound coming from your car.

These sounds are heard whenever you are driving and indicate that the timing chain is loose or worn out & needs to be replaced with a new one. In addition to that, you are also going to hear a ticking noise coming from your engine & this is when you must stop driving & get in touch with a professional mechanic to get your vehicle inspected.

These kinds of unusual sounds indicate that the timing chain might be very loose and out of proper alignment.

Illuminated Warning Light

There are a host of warning lights located on the dashboard of your Volkswagen and in case there are some issues with the functioning of the timing chain that impacts the engine negatively then the check engine light is going to flash on the dashboard of your car.

However, the problem with the check engine light is that it can illuminate due to a host of other issues as well and you need to contact a certified mechanic who with the help of an OBD scanner can decipher the error codes correctly to pinpoint the source of the problem in your Volkswagen.

Degraded Performance

Now, when the efficient functioning of the engine depends on the timing, you are going to witness a drop in the performance of your engine when driving with a defective timing chain under the hood. This might not be visible during the initial stages of timing chain failure.

However, when the problem becomes acute, you will see a massive drop in the performance of your Volkswagen.

Your Trusted Garage: Das European Autohaus

At times, Volkswagen owners face challenges in locating a trusted auto repair shop for their cars. If you are troubled with a defective timing chain, then Das European Autohaus is your go-to repair shop in Spring, TX. Our team of certified mechanics uses highly advanced tools & equipment to take care of even the most complex of problems.

Das European Autohaus uses OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) parts in the vehicles coming to our facility for repairs & would be happy to assist you in bringing your VW back on track.