VR6s and timing chains

[Martin Culen]

Help ! I need to know whether or not this has happened to a fellow Corrado
/ VR6 owner !!

I am the 2nd owner of a '93 Corrado VR6. When I purchased it, it had
91,000 km, and I received all maintenance and service documentation. The
only work done on it was routine oil changes etc.

I've never bagged it and have had three 1000+ km trips this summer.

During the Thanksgiving long weekend, I broke down on the side of the
highway after 1 1/2 hours of driving at approximately 120 km/hr. No
warning, just dead.

Turns out the timing chain *snapped*, bending 6 of 12 valves. The chain
snapped between two pins.

I had a fracture analysis done on the chain and it yielded a brittle
fracture, meaning either the chain material has a defect or its the wrong
material for the application.

Has anyone else had this experience, and if so what course of action was
taken ?

Thanks,

Martin.

[AWE16VR6]

No, that's the first VR6 chain break I've heard of yet. I've seen and repaired
failing chain guides and tensioner, which can ultimately overstress the links
and cause them to break, but there will an audible clacking noise long before
they let go. FYI, I recommend to all double chain VR6 engine owners (up to 96
MY) to have their timing chain system overhauled when having their clutch
replaced and are near or have exceeded 100k miles. The trans has to be dropped
to access all the parts.

Todd
Air & Water
VW Tuning
Philadelphia