[Resolved]  Skoda India — Laura 1.8tsi timing chain slipped. Engine needs to be replaced. Service center at fault.

Address: New Delhi, Delhi, 110075

Website: Skoda India

1.8tsi timing chain slipped. Engine needs to be replaced. Service center at fault. I own a 2010 laura tsi which has done 69, 000 km. It has always been serviced at the authorised service center (Giriraj skoda, gurgaon).

Last the car was serviced at 62, 000 km in october 2016 at the same service center. I understand my car pretty well so i requested the service center to change the entire timing kit as it is a well documented fact around the globe that the the timing chain tensioner on the 1.8tsi is a weak link and can cause the timing chain to slip and cause catastrophic damage to the engine since it is an interference kind of an engine. Skoda itself has revised the hydraulic tensioner 3 times globally so there is no question about it not being a weak part.

I called the service manager and asked them to book my car for the timing chain kit replacement in may, 2017 and i was surprised to hear the reply i got from them - i was told that it will be entirely my responsibility if something goes wrong with the car post replacement since the timing chain kit is suppose to last forever and it is nowhere mentioned in their workshop manual that it needs replacement at 68, 000 km. I insisted they replace it but they refused to do the job for me. I tried to explain them how this is causing issues worldwide and since i have maintained my car so well, i wouldn't want the same to happen to my car. I called them thrice in the last month and met the service manager also in person and asked him to get the job done. He again took it very casually and said that the car runs perfect and it is not required.

Yesterday morning the inevitable happened. I was on the highway with my wife and my 2 year old kid in the car. The engine all of a sudden stopped spinning and car came to a halt. I tried to crank it but there was no compression. I just knew what had happened. The timing tensioner failed and the timing chain slipped causing the pistons and valves to collide. Tried calling skoda helpline but there was no response. I then arranged for a flatbed myself for the car and had to tow the car back 140 km, took a total of 14 hours to get back home.

Result? The car needs a new engine. I tried to maintain my car as well as i could and tried as much as i could to get the faulty part replaced. But because of your service manager's casual attitude towards the whole situation a car that was a whole lot of fun to drive 2 days back needs a new engine now. A sorry state of affairs.

When i called to report the situation to the service center they again told me that the timing chain is suppose to last forever. Over the phone i'm telling them that my timing chain has slipped and they are arguing with me that it is suppose to last forever. I just lost hope at that point.

I want skoda india to take a firm action against the service center and the service advisor and take care of the issue that i'm facing. I look forward to hearing from you soon.