CDAA 1.8 TFSI

Rattle for a second or two on cold start, chain noise from the back of the engine, timing correlation faults, or no start after the car has stood. The early hydraulic tensioner can lose tension and allow the chain to jump. The chain is at the gearbox end of the engine, so access is poor and a failure usually bends valves.

Check: Insist on a stone-cold start and stand at the bulkhead end of the engine. Any rattle beyond the first half-second is this until proven otherwise. Ask for a tensioner receipt with the part number. The revised part is the fix, not the mileage.

Later parts: Revised tensioner part number; fitted from later production

Regular oil top-ups between services, low-oil warnings, oil-fouled plugs and occasional light blue smoke. Low-tension oil-control rings with small drain-back holes coke up and let oil past the pistons, where it burns. A tired crankcase breather can add to it.

Check: Ask the owner's top-up interval, inspect the oil level and the spark-plug colour, and watch for smoke on hard acceleration and over-run.

Later parts: Revised pistons and rings on later EA888 production

Rough cold idle, slow throttle response, misfires, gradual loss of low-end response. Direct injection puts no fuel over the intake valves, so crankcase vapour deposits bake on undisturbed.

Check: Not visible without a borescope. Treat it as a service item that's due unless there's a receipt. It's not a fault, it's an unbudgeted maintenance cost.