A4 B8 Timing chain job P0016

**Abu_boost** · 05-23-2016 05:17 PM

Hey guys,

So for the longest time my car was getting misfires and acting crazy. After about 8 months we finally diagnosed it as a stretched timing chain. I finally got the job done after working on it for quiet a while. I start the car and it runs 100% smooth, no misfires, no shaking, no nothing! I turn it on and off a few times and it feels great. So I decide to put the rest of the car back together. After everything is together I start the car up and let it run for 30 min or so. The car ran great. I turn it off and go to turn it back on and now it won't start. I scan the car and see that it flags a P0016 code (camshaft position sensor). I clear the code and it starts up perfectly fine and is running smooth again. I turn it off and then it won't start again and the same code comes back. Now my question is, what could be causing this code?? It is starting to drive me nuts!!

I read on another forum that there is something you need to do in vagcom after doing a timing job, is this true? They didnt give much details so I'm still kinda lost.

Any help would be really appreciated.

**Allowencer** · 05-23-2016 07:04 PM

Did you replace the timing tensioner with the chain?

**Abu_boost** · 05-23-2016 08:52 PM

Originally Posted by Allowencer

Did you replace the timing tensioner with the chain?

Yes sir

**Allowencer** · 05-23-2016 09:16 PM

I dont think there is anything within VAGCOM for this. If you're getting that code, then usually something is 'off' still.

**Abu_boost** · 05-24-2016 03:15 AM

So I should be going back in to check timing?

**Allowencer** · 05-24-2016 03:58 PM

That's a good place to start for sure. Did you take any pics on the re-installation?

This is what your timing should look like:

Notice the 'marked' links are on each sprocket marking point? This is with cylinder #1 @ TDC too.

Keep in mind, it can take up to 20 some revolutions before the marked links will line up to the corresponding marks, that is, if the timing is setup properly. This is because the sprockets have and odd tooth count between all of them.

Also, how were you able to establish timing? Do you have a pair of cam sprocket locks (one is pictured above in my pic)? If not; how did you rotate the cams slightly to get them into position properly to establish timing?

**Abu_boost** · 05-24-2016 05:02 PM

I didn't have the specific Audi tools but I had a few things I used for other jobs. I was able to get the timing to match up perfectly with the marks on my valve cover and the points on the chain.

**Allowencer** · 05-24-2016 05:10 PM

There aren't any marks on the valve cover for a CAEB motor. The marks are on the sprockets themselves. You have an A4, 2.0 right within 2009-2011 year?

**Abu_boost** · 05-24-2016 05:24 PM

Yes. Mine shows 2 marks on the valve cover. They seem to line up perfectly. Maybe a previous owner did that?

**Allowencer** · 05-24-2016 08:32 PM

Here's a pic of the valve cover in the areas of the sprockets - there's no marks on it at all. On older gen Audi's, the marks used to be on the valve cover, but not on the B8 motors.

To that point, me, personally, I wouldn't trust what someone else did.

I was helping out another forum member and the marks he found were paint marks on the sprockets when the dealership did his stage 2 oil consumption. It's a fast shortcut on getting the timing back on right as you don't have to rotate the motor over several times and the timing chain won't be pulled off of the crank. You can take a lot of shortcuts when other things aren't being replaced. I've seen other forum members here post pictures of it when their car was at the dealership and they let them take pics.

**Abu_boost** · 05-25-2016 03:36 AM

Ya see I was lining the marks on my cams to the chain link marks which lined up perfectly to the valve cover marks. Either way timing must have been done correctly otherwise it wouldn't be running as smooth as it is.

**Allowencer** · 05-25-2016 04:38 AM

How did you torque down the intake magnetic valve? What tool did you use and torque setting?

Do you have a vagcom? Check to see if you get values from the cam position sensor.

**Abu_boost** · 05-25-2016 04:55 AM

Got me there. Can you go into a bit more detail? That may be my error.

**Allowencer** · 05-25-2016 05:59 AM

Did you remove the cam bridge / cam control assembly which is the assembly right in front of both cams. If you did, on the intake cam, there's a valve that requires a special tool to remove.

Also, you can be a link off and the car will still seem to run fine.

**Abu_boost** · 05-25-2016 05:18 PM

Yes I had that tool. I was able to take that out fine. It needs to be torqued when you put it back in?

**Allowencer** · 05-25-2016 06:41 PM

Absolutely it does! It's a key critical component. That valve is left hand threaded and should be torqued to 35 Nm / 26 fl lbs

Any drivetrain, valvetrain, drive line component should always be properly torqued. These are the most critical fasteners within an engine.

I find it odd that you did all of that work and didn't take any pictures.

**Abu_boost** · 05-25-2016 06:53 PM

I guess I'll be taking off the front cover and torquing it. I noticed it was reverse threaded when I went to take it off.

Haha ya I usually don't take pictures of anything. I should probably get in the habit of it.

**Allowencer** · 05-25-2016 07:30 PM

I'd triple check your timing too. Ensure the 'marked' links match up to the markings in the sprockets, not the pseudo marking in your valve cover; the crank pulley's notch needs to match up to the mark on the timing cover too.

**Abu_boost** · 05-25-2016 07:51 PM

Will do. Thanks for all the help so far.

**fthzzz** · 05-26-2016 12:13 AM

Hi Abu_boost , I ran into the same issue as you do. I have tote same P0016 code , after timing repair job. Can you let me know how you fix the issue at last?

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**Abu_boost** · 05-26-2016 04:44 AM

Will do!

**Abu_boost** · 05-30-2016 02:34 PM

I triple checked timing and it's on the money. I took it apart and realigned it. Any other ideas?

**Allowencer** · 05-30-2016 03:16 PM

How far off was your timing when the chain jumped? Did you check this before tearing it apart?

Did you have any other damage? Is your intake cam's lobes all in good condition?

Have you removed your intake cam sensor and cleaned it off? It's possible it has picked up magnetic debris and having a hard time picking up the reluctor wheel on the intake cam.

I'm also concerned that you might have overtorqued / damaged the INA valve on the intake.

**Abu_boost** · 05-30-2016 03:58 PM

The timing chain was hardly off but it was stretched enough. No other noticeable damage. Everything looks good. Inspected all the valves as well.

I'm gonna try and change the camshaft position sensor and see if it makes a difference. The thing is the car didn't throw a code until we let it run at idle for 30 min.

I haven't driven the car yet at all. I'm going to change the sensor then try and take it for a drive. The car sounds good. Isn't shaking or acting up. I even read it with a scanner. There is absolutely no misfires now at all.

**Allowencer** · 05-30-2016 04:16 PM

What you say 'hardly off at all'; what does that mean? 1 link? 2 links?

**Abu_boost** · 05-30-2016 04:22 PM

Not even a full link. The car was still running smooth, it was just throwing misfires at start up after it was warmed up.

**Allowencer** · 05-30-2016 04:26 PM

That doesn't make sense. Either it's a link off or it's not... It's not possible to be half a link off.

**Abu_boost** · 05-30-2016 04:38 PM

I'm doing the work with a friend who is a bit more well versed. I'll find out exactly from him. Last he told me it was stretched out enough to make a difference but wasn't far off.

**Allowencer** · 05-30-2016 06:59 PM

I wouldn't think a stretched chain would cause this as it would have to stretch significantly to cause an out of timing condition. If it actually stretched that much, it would break in my opinion.

I thought you were doing this, now it makes sense based on the gap of information. No offence, I'd be questioning how 'well' your friend knows how to work on VAG motors.

**Abu_boost** · 05-31-2016 02:47 AM

We are doing the work together. He's a good mechanic, but working on this car was definitely a learning experience.

**Abu_boost** · 05-31-2016 04:28 PM

I stopped by my local audi parts to pick up a cam position sensor.. I was talking to one of the mechanics, he told me after doing a major job like that they might have to reprogram the computer. Whats your thoughts on that?

**Allowencer** · 05-31-2016 05:30 PM

It's not stating in the service manual at all. Some cars use specific harmonics in order to determine cam timing and may require what is called a 'case learn'. I have not run across this on the Audi's.

**Abu_boost** · 05-31-2016 07:43 PM

I changed the camshaft position sensor. The p0016 went away.

But now onto other issues. It's throwing misfires in all cylinders and a p2279 code.

**Abu_boost** · 05-31-2016 07:49 PM

It wasn't acting like that before when I had the p0016 code

**Allowencer** · 05-31-2016 08:43 PM

Did the new cam position sensor have a new o-ring on it?

Sounds like you have a vacuum leak now

Glad to hear the new sensor took care of the p0016 code. Now you have to find the vac leak.

**Abu_boost** · 06-01-2016 04:34 AM

Yes it had a new o-ring.

A lot of people on here are pointing at a faulty pcv? It was changed about 6 months ago, could it be bad already?

**Allowencer** · 06-01-2016 07:27 AM

It could be. With a vacuum leak, any area around the cylinder head, any line is all within scope; that includes the PCV sytem

**buelldozer** · 06-01-2016 10:32 AM

Originally Posted by Allowencer

Glad to hear the new sensor took care of the p0016 code.

DON'T TRUST THIS!

A new CPS took care of my CEL as well and 6 days later with no warning the timing assembly let go!

If you're getting the P0016 code you need to at least pop open the inspection hole in the top timing cover and look at your chain and tensioner. I bloody well wish I would have, would have saved me a ton of time and money.

* I know you know this Allowencer but I'm putting it up here for the people who will come along later and read this.

**Abu_boost** · 06-01-2016 10:45 AM

Originally Posted by buelldozer

DON'T TRUST THIS!

A new CPS took care of my CEL as well and 6 days later with no warning the timing assembly let go!

If you're getting the P0016 code you need to at least pop open the inspection hole in the top timing cover and look at your chain and tensioner. I bloody well wish I would have, would have saved me a ton of time and money.

* I know you know this Allowencer but I'm putting it up here for the people who will come along later and read this.

The code came up after the timing chain and tensioner job was done. We went back and triple checked timing to make sure it's 100%.