Scirocco Central

Evening all,

I've noticed a weird humming/breathing noise from my engine today whilst driving and when I looked under the bonnet there is a ticking nosie. I've done a bit of research however can't find any answers, any ideas?


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No idea what that is, but as a mechanic if i couldn't easily pinpoint it i would start by removing the auxiliary drive belt and see if the noise goes away - would massively narrow down the causes (coolant pump, alternator, a pulley wheel / tensioner, aircon clutch/pulley etc)

Thanks, it's due first MOT in December so might ask them to have a quick look and see if they can diagnose anything

this will be your timing chain especially in a 1.4, i have a 2010 1.4 160 took it to be looked at by vw specialist and they knew what was wrong straight away, get it looked at asap! if the chain goes your engine will be dead.

i would suggest getting it looked at straight away, i had the same issue, looking at forums, youtube etc.... till i took it to be looked at, had it replaced and its been perfect ever since, set me back about 950£ but i also had the water pump changed at the same time.

Thanks for your help, I've read online that it's supposed to be a lifetime timing belt so that's annoying. It's due a service and MOT in December so will probably book it in for next month, hopefully it will get sorted.

Some people have also said that it may be something to do with oil, and changing the oil fixed it. I am due an oil change in a couple of weeks so will try this first

Good opportunity to check if you also have the latest model chain tensioner.
And if you get a new chain replace it anyway.

sciroccos pre 2011 were fitted with timing chains which they then changed after 2011, a lot of the chains were faulty and ceased up/coroded meaning that they would make a ticking noise and need replacing, snapping of the chain can cause the whole engine to combust, i too had this problem, and also changed the oil and filter at first, but it was not that.

I have a 63 plate scirocco, it almost sounds like something is rubbing. How much was the fix?

The noises i heard in both videos to me don't sound like chain failure and/or a loose chain from chain tensioner failure.

The 1st video you can't really hear anything above the normal sound of the ticking injectors and normal engine idling noise.
The 2nd video doesn't sound like a loose chain - which has a distinct continuous rattling sound as the chain is loose and usually hits the interior of the timing chain cover.

'sciroccos pre 2011 were fitted with timing chains which they then changed after 2011'

Simply not true - the chain is the same as its always been from 2009 to 2012. Same for the tensioner (which was revised in 2014)

What was changed was the camshaft adjuster - this was revised in mid 2010. The previous version would often stick on cold starts as the oil would drain from it overnight.
It would produce a sound that was often mistaken for chain tensioner failure (a very loud rattle/grinding noise on startup that would last a few seconds) - many VW dealerships were replacing chains and tensioners only for the problem to resurface some weeks/months later (it was abated by a fresh oil change that would have been done, but it comes back as the original problem has not been resolved).

Eventually VW delaerships started replacing the adjuster and chain/tensioner together - as they were not skilled enough to identify what sound was the adjuster and what was a loose chain problem.

Thanks blower that makes a lot of sense.

My car is due an oil change in a week or two so hopefully that will fix it. As long as it is nothing serious I will live!!