Chain tensioner question

[Hartside]

A lass at work bought an Audi TT 1.8 on an 11 plate and I noticed the other day the dreaded cold start rattle from about 30m away. I told her to get it into the dealer she bought it from to get it checked and logged. The car is a main dealer purchase with only 14k on it although know it's not mileage related. I'm sure it has the same chain driven engine that the 2.0 uses, can anyone confirm this please? She had Audi assist out who told her not to worry, it's a cam belt !

[mikegti77]

From what I know, the 1.8T for a 2011 TT should be the EA888 engine, which is chain driven, not belt. I think the 2.0T TT's up till around 2010 were still using the older belt drive driven engines (golf mk5 gti engine). The easiest way to tell is pop the bonnet and look at the dipstick location, if it is at the front is the older belt driven engine, the 1.8 / 2.0 TSI's have dip stick on the left hand side of the engine.  Google (google images) 2.0 tsi or 1.8 tsi engine, and then golf gti mk5 engine and you'll see what I mean.

Being a 2011 model it will likely have the earlier version of the tensioner, newest version came out circa 2012.

sure someone will correct me if i'm talking rubbish...

[Snoopy]

First or second revision of the tensioner due to age and it been an Audi.
It could be the variable valve timing variator rattling.