MajorCommonEngine

Holden Trax: A14NET 1.4T Timing Chain Tensioner Wear

A14NET 1.4T Timing Chain Tensioner Wear is a common engine fault on the Holden Trax on the 2013–2020 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $850 to $3,200 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 7 documented faults on the Holden Trax.

Vehicle: Holden Trax
Engine: 1.4L
Years: 2013–2020
Fuel: petrol
System: Engine

This page covers the Holden Trax 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 Trax faults7 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

What goes wrong

The GM A14NET 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol DOHC engine fitted to the Trax TJ uses a plastic-guided timing chain with a hydraulic tensioner that is documented to wear at higher odometer readings. As plastic chain guides deteriorate and the tensioner loses the ability to maintain chain tension, a cold-start rattle develops from the cam cover area. The fault typically presents beyond 100,000 km. Prolonged neglect allows the chain to jump a tooth, causing incorrect cam-crank correlation, progressive misfires, rough running, and potential valve-to-piston contact. The fault is shared with the Opel Mokka and Chevrolet Trax sold in other markets using the same engine family and has been the subject of technical service bulletin activity.

What you would notice

Rattling or ticking noise from top of engine on cold start
Noise may reduce as oil pressure builds after 15-30 seconds
Misfires or rough running if chain has jumped a tooth
Check engine light with P0008, P0016, or P0017 cam-crank codes

How to check it

Where to look. Top of engine, timing chain and tensioner assembly behind the cam cover

Cold-start the engine and listen immediately from the cam cover area for chain rattle. Risk increases significantly beyond 100,000 km so verify odometer against service records. Scan for camshaft position correlation fault codes. Review service history for evidence of regular oil changes using the correct 5W-30 full synthetic specification, as oil condition directly affects tensioner performance.

Parts involved: Timing chain.

What it costs to put right

$850 to $3,200 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 been inspected or replaced?”
“Does the engine make any rattling or ticking noise when first started cold?”
“What is the odometer reading and has the oil been changed at the correct intervals with the right specification?”

Now check the Holden Trax 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 Trax buyer questions

Is a14net 1.4t timing chain tensioner wear serious on a Holden Trax?

We rate it major and common on the Holden Trax. The GM A14NET 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol DOHC engine fitted to the Trax TJ uses a plastic-guided timing chain with a hydraulic tensioner that is documented to wear at higher odometer readings. As plastic chain guides deteriorate and the tensioner loses the ability to maintain chain tension, a cold-start rattle develops from the cam cover area. The fault typically presents beyond 100,000 km. Prolonged neglect allows the chain to jump a tooth, causing incorrect cam-crank correlation, progressive misfires, rough running, and potential valve-to-piston contact. The fault is shared with the Opel Mokka and Chevrolet Trax sold in other markets using the same engine family and has been the subject of technical service bulletin activity.

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

$850 to $3,200 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 Trax years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2013–2020 Holden Trax. 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.