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CriticalCommonEngine

Holden Barina: A14NET 1.4 Turbo Timing Chain Rattle on Cold Start

A14NET 1.4 Turbo Timing Chain Rattle on Cold Start is a common engine fault on the Holden Barina on the 2011–2018 cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs $1,000 to $2,200 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 17 documented faults on the Holden Barina.

Vehicle
Holden Barina
Engine
1.4L
Years
2011–2018
Fuel
petrol
System
Engine

This page covers the Holden Barina as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Holden Barina faults17 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

The front of a dual overhead camshaft engine with the timing cover removed, exposing the timing chain and sprockets.Example of the part — not this vehicle

The front of a twin-cam engine with the timing cover off — chain, sprockets and guides.

Logansenf · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

What goes wrong

The Opel-sourced A14NET 1.4-litre turbocharged engine fitted to the TM Barina shares its timing chain system with the wider GM/Opel small-engine family. The chain tensioner relies on oil pressure to maintain tension and on cold starts — particularly in cooler NZ climates — the tensioner takes a few seconds to pressurise, allowing the chain to rattle audibly against the guide. Prolonged cold-start rattles indicate tensioner wear or chain elongation and carry risk of the chain jumping timing on the interference engine.

What you would notice

  • Metallic rattling or clattering from the front of the engine for 1–5 seconds on cold start
  • Rattle may be louder in winter or first start of the day
  • Check engine light with timing or camshaft position codes (P0016/P0017)
  • Rough running or misfires after chain has skipped a tooth

How to check it

Where to look. Front of engine, behind the cam cover on the right-hand side of the engine bay

Cold-start the engine and listen immediately for chain rattle at the front of the engine. Do not allow the seller to warm the car before the test drive. Check for any stored fault codes related to camshaft correlation. Ask for evidence of timing chain replacement if high mileage.

Parts involved: Timing chain, Turbocharger.

What it costs to put right

$1,000 to $2,200 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

  • “Has the timing chain or tensioner ever been replaced?”
  • “Has the car ever shown a check engine light related to the engine timing?”
  • “Can I start the car from cold myself before the test drive?”

Now check the Holden Barina you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Holden Barina buyer questions

Is a14net 1.4 turbo timing chain rattle on cold start serious on a Holden Barina?

We rate it critical and common on the Holden Barina. The Opel-sourced A14NET 1.4-litre turbocharged engine fitted to the TM Barina shares its timing chain system with the wider GM/Opel small-engine family. The chain tensioner relies on oil pressure to maintain tension and on cold starts — particularly in cooler NZ climates — the tensioner takes a few seconds to pressurise, allowing the chain to rattle audibly against the guide. Prolonged cold-start rattles indicate tensioner wear or chain elongation and carry risk of the chain jumping timing on the interference engine.

How much does it cost to fix on a Holden Barina?

$1,000 to $2,200 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Holden Barina years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2011–2018 Holden Barina. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Cold-start the engine and listen immediately for chain rattle at the front of the engine. Do not allow the seller to warm the car before the test drive. Check for any stored fault codes related to camshaft correlation. Ask for evidence of timing chain replacement if high mileage. Look here: Front of engine, behind the cam cover on the right-hand side of the engine bay