View Full Version : Cost of cam chair tensioner replacement?
JDillon15
04-02-2015, 07:48 AM
Any idea of what this would cost? $200 for parts, labor to pull the head? Ball park it.
Also, how urgent is it to get fixed? Ive heard some people have the problem for a year.
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allstock
04-02-2015, 08:08 AM
The head isn't removed.
Do the chain while in there, it tends to strech
JDillon15
04-02-2015, 09:57 AM
Yeah i would do both. Any idea of the cost?
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A-BlacK_MambA-4
04-02-2015, 10:50 AM
If I had to charge someone to do it, it would be a lot lol. That job fucking blows. And yea no need to remove the head. Just take the cam girdle off, life the cams up to slide the chain off. But it is worth it. I can't believe how much quieter my engine is now.
Jake@JHM
04-02-2015, 10:53 AM
We stock them: https://jhmotorsports.com/shop/catalog/tensioner-for-timing-chain-ina-for-b7-a4-20t-and-more-06-09-audi-vw-20t-p-2599.html
The job can also be done without removing the head or cams. [up]
A-BlacK_MambA-4
04-02-2015, 12:54 PM
We stock them: https://jhmotorsports.com/shop/catalog/tensioner-for-timing-chain-ina-for-b7-a4-20t-and-more-06-09-audi-vw-20t-p-2599.html
The job can also be done without removing the head or cams. [up]
^^^^^IF (Big IF) your cam adjuster bolt doesn't strip out on you. Mine stripped out easier than shit. That's after being extremely careful and taking it slow. The bit was seated perfect I used one hand to hold the bit and breaker bar steady and level using the firewall as support and she rounded off quite easily. Fuck that damn bolt lol It didn't budge any.
Jake@JHM
04-02-2015, 01:09 PM
^^^^^IF (Big IF) your cam adjuster bolt doesn't strip out on you. Mine stripped out easier than shit. That's after being extremely careful and taking it slow. The bit was seated perfect I used one hand to hold the bit and breaker bar steady and level using the firewall as support and she rounded off quite easily. Fuck that damn bolt lol It didn't budge any.
Thats a bummer!! Mine came off just fine [confused]
A-BlacK_MambA-4
04-02-2015, 02:07 PM
Thats a bummer!! Mine came off just fine [confused]
I just did mine recently. Car is right at 140k miles. I know I read stories that some either had good luck and the bolt came right out or like me it stripped out. Big change in engine noise and overall performance after I buttoned her all back up though. I still can't believe it honestly lol
JDillon15
04-02-2015, 03:28 PM
I just did mine recently. Car is right at 140k miles. I know I read stories that some either had good luck and the bolt came right out or like me it stripped out. Big change in engine noise and overall performance after I buttoned her all back up though. I still can't believe it honestly lol
What would you rate the difficulty? Personally, I don't have a ton of experience and would almost rather have someone else do it. Unless there were a comprehensive DIY, which I have yet to see. That's why I'm trying to get a price point.
allstock
04-02-2015, 03:49 PM
^^^^^IF (Big IF) your cam adjuster bolt doesn't strip out on you. Mine stripped out easier than shit. That's after being extremely careful and taking it slow. The bit was seated perfect I used one hand to hold the bit and breaker bar steady and level using the firewall as support and she rounded off quite easily. Fuck that damn bolt lol It didn't budge any.
Did you end up taking it to a shop? How did you resolve it?
Thats a bummer!! Mine came off just fine [confused]
Jake, were you using an air wrench and did you do the process engine in?
Jake@JHM
04-02-2015, 03:54 PM
Did you end up taking it to a shop? How did you resolve it?
Jake, were you using an air wrench and did you do the process engine in?
Hand tools and engine in [up]
JDillon15
04-02-2015, 03:54 PM
Did you end up taking it to a shop? How did you resolve it?
Jake, were you using an air wrench and did you do the process engine in?
Looks like I'm not the only one with this issue. ;)
allstock
04-02-2015, 03:57 PM
Not an issue. I like to keep up my motor. There's a thing called planned obsolescence.
Hand tools and engine in [up]
Any pointers or particular fashion that separates from causing a cluster fuck?
vvenom800tt
04-02-2015, 03:57 PM
Did you use the long bit or short bit?
Charles.waite
04-02-2015, 04:10 PM
You want to change your cam adjuster as a preventative step? Are you a masochist?
allstock
04-02-2015, 04:21 PM
Intake shaft as well depending on lobe wear. Don't share that opinion of it as a preventative measure; I consider it all maintenance. There's more difficult procedures that I can think of with this and any motor.
JDillon15
04-02-2015, 05:04 PM
How would you guys rate the difficulty? x/10
king_j
04-03-2015, 12:04 AM
Think I paid around 350 parts/labor.
Independent vw/Audi repair shop.
JDillon15
04-03-2015, 07:12 AM
Think I paid around 350 parts/labor.
Independent vw/Audi repair shop.
Oh wow. Thats managable. How many hours did they charge for?
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A-BlacK_MambA-4
04-03-2015, 07:14 AM
What would you rate the difficulty? Personally, I don't have a ton of experience and would almost rather have someone else do it. Unless there were a comprehensive DIY, which I have yet to see. That's why I'm trying to get a price point.
It's not really difficult per say, just time consuming and prepare to hurt all over. If you don't have a garage I wouldn't do this in your driveway. I have the luxury of another vehicle and a garage so I did a little each day over the course of a few days. If your not scared of fudging up your engine then hop on it. The thing you can screw up when putting it back together is getting it timed right. I just made sure to mark the chain links between the top two points on the exhaust cam sprocket and the intake cam sprocket and then transferred that to the new chain. I think I counted like 13 links in between, but I could always only get 12. After a little finagling I was able to squeeze another link to the top side to get it timed right. Kind of scary, but just triple check everything because you don't want to take it all back apart.
DIY I referenced:
https://theprojectguyblog.wordpress.com/2014/02/08/cam-chain-tensioner-from-hell/
Did you end up taking it to a shop? How did you resolve it?
Jake, were you using an air wrench and did you do the process engine in?
I just left the cam adjuster bolt alone. It didn't budge so I don't foresee it being an issue. Just have to eventually get it drilled out. I had a replacement bolt ready, but that bitch wasn't coming out
Did you use the long bit or short bit?
I assume you're talking to me or jake lol I bought a VW/Audi 2.0L cam timing tool kit and the bit was a 1/2" drive short bit and I used a 1/2" drive 2 ft breaker bar. No extensions or anything.
allstock
04-03-2015, 08:36 AM
@A-BlacK_MambA-4: How were you able to get the tensioner out without removing the cam adjuster then??
A-BlacK_MambA-4
04-03-2015, 09:37 AM
@A-BlacK_MambA-4: How were you able to get the tensioner out without removing the cam adjuster then??
I removed the cam girdle and lifted the cams up and pulled them together to create slack in the chain. Then I could remove the chain to swap out the chain and tensioner. (had the intake cam out after I got the chain off) The chain has little to no slack in it so the cams , chain and tensioner pretty much have to be put in together. An extra pair of hands would help, but I managed it by myself.
Charles.waite
04-03-2015, 10:31 AM
The cam girdle is EASILY the worst part. That OEM sealant is the devil.
A-BlacK_MambA-4
04-03-2015, 11:04 AM
The cam girdle is EASILY the worst part. That OEM sealant is the devil.
Maybe I got lucky because mine was pretty much hardened and turned to dust when I started scraping it off lol But I was able to just use a pick tool I had and clean the grooves out rather easily. I can see if the sealant had any type of stickiness left how big of a pain it could be.
JDillon15
04-05-2015, 06:50 AM
Hand tools and engine in [up]
Looking for the cam adjuster bolt... is that the one on the end of the exhaust cam?
Another DIY with torque specs (http://www.audiforums.com/forum/diy-do-yourself-55/cam-tensioner-diy-101338/)
vvenom800tt
04-05-2015, 07:42 AM
The cam girdle is EASILY the worst part. That OEM sealant is the devil.
Since i work for Acura i have unlimited access to hondabond, will that suffice as sealant? Or what does Audi recommend?
DannyDeez
04-05-2015, 10:54 AM
Any idea of what this would cost? $200 for parts, labor to pull the head? Ball park it.
Also, how urgent is it to get fixed? Ive heard some people have the problem for a year.
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I had my cam chain and tensioner replaced back in october just as preventive maintenance since it started making a little noise. Ive heard horror stories of the chain breaking and then slamming the valves into the pistons. Not something I wanted to deal with in the future. I was billed 3 hours labor plus parts. So it wound up costing over $500 but totally worth the piece of mind IMO.
JDillon15
04-05-2015, 10:58 AM
I had my cam chain and tensioner replaced back in october just as preventive maintenance since it started making a little noise. Ive heard horror stories of the chain breaking and then slamming the valves into the pistons. Not something I wanted to deal with in the future. I was billed 3 hours labor plus parts. So it wound up costing over $500 but totally worth the piece of mind IMO.
Thank you for that. I had it replaced on my last car and JUST picked up a new one with the same problem. It will be one of my first purchases this summer. I almost wonder if I could do it myself. I've read the DIY about 6x. Seems the hardest part would be buying all of the tools that I don't have. Could probably borrow them, though.
Yeah, if that chain snaps, your engine is going to be in trouble.
vvenom800tt
04-05-2015, 10:59 AM
I just ordered all the stuff needed to replace the tensioner as well as a new chain.
Did you guys use the pry bar looking tool T10020 ? at all. Should i pick this up as well?
DannyDeez
04-05-2015, 11:21 AM
Thank you for that. I had it replaced on my last car and JUST picked up a new one with the same problem. It will be one of my first purchases this summer. I almost wonder if I could do it myself. I've read the DIY about 6x. Seems the hardest part would be buying all of the tools that I don't have. Could probably borrow them, though.
Yeah, if that chain snaps, your engine is going to be in trouble.
No prob man. Im not sure how hard it is. I'm no mechanic so I don't even attempt to touch anything mechanical on this car. Wait, you picked up another one already? lol I just remember reading your thread that it was totaled. That was quick [up]
JDillon15
04-05-2015, 11:37 AM
No prob man. Im not sure how hard it is. I'm no mechanic so I don't even attempt to touch anything mechanical on this car. Wait, you picked up another one already? lol I just remember reading your thread that it was totaled. That was quick [up]
Yeah. I like learning about it. I'll probably get a quote and go from there.
As soon as it was hit I started looking. Found a car before I knew for sure it was going to be totaled out. Got the totaled check Monday, flew out to look at it last Wednesday, and drove it 13 hours home. I need to throw some pictures up of it. =D
DannyDeez
04-05-2015, 11:40 AM
Yeah. I like learning about it. I'll probably get a quote and go from there.
As soon as it was hit I started looking. Found a car before I knew for sure it was going to be totaled out. Got the totaled check Monday, flew out to look at it last Wednesday, and drove it 13 hours home. I need to throw some pictures up of it. =D
Haha nice man! Definitely throw up a couple pics!