THE Timing Chain Tensioner Failure Thread

[Novarider]

I thought it was determined the clip isn't what you measure with its the end of the tensioner where the groove is. If you go by that you are only 3 grooves in.

[choppstixxx]

I thought it was determined the clip isn't what you measure with its the end of the tensioner where the groove is. If you go by that you are only 3 grooves in.

Even better! Seems like I can go a bit before I have to even think about doing the whole shebang


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[old guy]

I thought it was determined the clip isn't what you measure with its the end of the tensioner where the groove is. If you go by that you are only 3 grooves in.

I respectfully disagree. The clip gets pushed back as the tensioner extends outward. When the engine is running the tensioner is on the slack side of the chain. When you turn the engine off the slack changes. It looks like Choppstixxx clip is in the 6th Groove. There are total of 11 grooves so the tensioner is slightly over halfway to the maximum extension.

[choppstixxx]

I respectfully disagree. The clip gets pushed back as the tensioner extends outward. When the engine is running the tensioner is on the slack side of the chain. When you turn the engine off the slack changes. It looks like Choppstixxx clip is in the 6th Groove. There are total of 11 grooves so the tensioner is slightly over halfway to the maximum extension.

Regardless, I’m just relieved that I have the revised tensioner and it’s not extended too far out. I’ll probably check it/replace it around 90k miles tbh.


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[morruus]

New member here. Does anyone know if this problem is shared by the EA888 Gen 2 as well? I searched the thread for EA888 and couldn't find much.

[bstar]

I bought an 09 A4 2.0T Prestige with 78k about a month ago, which had the stage 2 oil consumption fix (new pistons & rings) performed at 60k.

I couldn't stop myself from worrying about the timing chain & tensioner, so I asked my mechanic to replace them for me. He replaced the tensioner, chain, guides and a couple other small parts/covers that were decaying, for a grand total of $1300 including labor.

I live in a major city, so if you live rural you'll like pay much less. There is a "city tax" put onto everything out here, from veterinary clinics to automobile mechanics.

Not really much of a point to this post, just figured I'd share my experience and cost in case it helps anyone in the future.

[Charles.waite]

From my 2012 2.0t q5, found this during an oil change today sitting in the drain pan, it definitely came out of the oil pan:



Chain tensioner?! Ugh...

[Novarider]

From my 2012 2.0t q5, found this during an oil change today sitting in the drain pan, it definitely came out of the oil pan:



Chain tensioner?! Ugh...

Pop the inspection plug and take a look before you start it again!

[mtroxel]

I have no idea what that's from. Whatever it is, it almost looks fibrous rather than metallic. Can't tell. But....I might take Novarider's advice and look in the inspection hole.

[bhvrdr]

The problem is that if its a piece of cracked guide your tensioner could still look fine. What is that splinter piece made of can you tell?

[Charles.waite]

It’s orange-ish plastic, sorry I couldn’t get close enough with my phone camera to make that clear. If it were my b6 or b7 I would have just assumed it was plastic that broke off the dipstick, dipstick tube, or cam chain tensioner but since the q5 doesn’t have a dipstick but does have an assload of chain tensioners and guides...

Where is the inspection cover? Engine code is CAEB and I’m an ea888 newb...

[Novarider]

Part of a chain guide maybe?

[wkhanna]

Part of a chain guide maybe?

that was my first thought.....

....btw, xlent avatar, @Charles.waite

[mtroxel]

It’s orange-ish plastic

Hmmmm....about the color of this soon-to-fail oil chain tensioner I found when I did mine?

[Spawne32]

Judging by the color, yeh it does look like part of a guide.

[wkhanna]

Hmmmm....about the color of this soon-to-fail oil chain tensioner I found when I did mine?

what was your mileage when you did your R&R?

[mtroxel]

what was your mileage when you did your R&R?

85,000 miles. As you can see, brand new guide just about it. I was about to put the new cover over it all and took one last look. Had to stop everything and run to the dealer for a new oil guide.

[bhvrdr]

It’s orange-ish plastic, sorry I couldn’t get close enough with my phone camera to make that clear. If it were my b6 or b7 I would have just assumed it was plastic that broke off the dipstick, dipstick tube, or cam chain tensioner but since the q5 doesn’t have a dipstick but does have an assload of chain tensioners and guides...

Where is the inspection cover? Engine code is CAEB and I’m an ea888 newb...

Well at least you can think of this as kind of a good thing. You got a warning that stuff is starting to break down in there. If your guides are cracking you might as well do the chains and tension or as well. Some people don't get a warning so there's that

[Steelerhater37]

Well at least you can think of this as kind of a good thing. You got a warning that stuff is starting to break down in there. If your guides are cracking you might as well do the chains and tension or as well. Some people don't get a warning so there's that

That's why imo all of our cars should be called in for a replace b4 60k. At Audis expense may I add.
I'm in@74k for full replace chain tensioner pistons rings seals carbon cleaning etc

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[audrobotic]

85,000 miles. As you can see, brand new guide just about it. I was about to put the new cover over it all and took one last look. Had to stop everything and run to the dealer for a new oil guide.

Yeah one thing Ive learned is always try to do car work during the normal business hours of dealer service dept and auto parts stores just in case something goes wrong.

[wkhanna]

i am read (tnx, IRS) to buy all the parts for my R&R...

is ECS or Deutsche a good place to get the kits?

....any other recommendations other than the dealer for OEM parts?

also, are you guys replacing the entire cam bridge or just the screen?

tia!

[mtroxel]

also, are you guys replacing the entire cam bridge or just the screen?

I am not aware that you can just replace the screen. I did not replace my bridge, and I have no idea where the screen is. Got better things to do than tear the engine apart looking for it.

[wkhanna]

[Charles.waite]

Well shit. Yea it really does look like a chain guide piece. I’m not too shocked as for a while the car has made a strange buzz/rattle/chainsaw noise on cold starts, reminded me a lot of the cold start chain rattle in my b6 that was from the chain tensioner so I’d been dreading this eventuality. Seems like the Ultimate Chain Kit at ECS is reasonably priced, couple that with a new timing bridge and I’d probably be good to go. Just seems crazy that this would happen on a well maintained CPO car with only 64k miles on it. But then again my b7 has cam follower failure at 54k. I’m just cursed with 2.0ts, my 1.8t in my b6 was freaking bulletproof...

[Spawne32]

just removed the screen from my bridge and put it back in lol

[audrobotic]

Well shit. Yea it really does look like a chain guide piece. I’m not too shocked as for a while the car has made a strange buzz/rattle/chainsaw noise on cold starts, reminded me a lot of the cold start chain rattle in my b6 that was from the chain tensioner so I’d been dreading this eventuality. Seems like the Ultimate Chain Kit at ECS is reasonably priced, couple that with a new timing bridge and I’d probably be good to go. Just seems crazy that this would happen on a well maintained CPO car with only 64k miles on it. But then again my b7 has cam follower failure at 54k. I’m just cursed with 2.0ts, my 1.8t in my b6 was freaking bulletproof...

Youre not cursed. This generation of engines is cursed. Isnt this covered by your CPO warranty?

[Charles.waite]

Youre not cursed. This generation of engines is cursed. Isnt this covered by your CPO warranty?

CPO ran out in February or March...

I’m 2 for 2 with 2.0t engines with major internal issues. Oh well at least I’m able to work on them myself or else my bank account would be hosed.

[wkhanna]

Youre not cursed. This generation of engines is cursed.......

..yep.... we got two 2011's....

The Wife's A4 had the entire top end rebuilt last fall after it failed at 74k...

....my A5 has 55k & im biting the bullet, gonna get mine done so i can sleep at night.....

[Charles.waite]

Yikes. Seems like these first gen ea888s are more of a WHEN you have his issue, not an IF. Bleh.

[avant-grd]

HOT NEWS!
VW Will Reimburse Drivers in Faulty Engine Class Action Settlement

https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-...on-settlement/

[SLH21]

HOT NEWS!
VW Will Reimburse Drivers in Faulty Engine Class Action Settlement

https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-...on-settlement/

I'll go first:

What about those of us who paid to have it fixed preemptively

[Spawne32]

I'll go first:

What about those of us who paid to have it fixed preemptively

Seems like the settlement was only for those named in the suit.

[audrobotic]

Seems like the settlement was only for those named in the suit.

The article does say this: “The proposed Class of drivers include anyone in the United States and Puerto Rico who purchased or leased one of a number of Volkswagen and Audi vehicles made between 2008 and 2014.”

But I’d like see something more official and specific. It says VW/Audi agreed to the settlement but then it says “if approved.” Whatever that means.

[Charles.waite]

I'll go first:

What about those of us who paid to have it fixed preemptively

Did you read the suit? Or are you saying you had yours replaced before any signs of damage or failure occurred.

Also: “This settlement, if approved by the court, would cover the cost for many Volkswagen and Audi drivers to have their vehicles repaired. The proposed Class of drivers include anyone in the United States and Puerto Rico who purchased or leased one of a number of Volkswagen and Audi vehicles made between 2008 and 2014.”

Seems like everyone with a 2.0t. You don’t need to be part of the initial filing to benefit from a class action. That’s why they Call them class actions. Curious which cars and engine codes specifically are covered, I didn’t see a link in that article.

[Spawne32]

I hope thats true, lets see if we get notified about it.

[SLH21]

Did you read the suit?

...before you try the Audizine standard "did you read" or "did you search"....there will inevitably be 100+ posts of people asking "what about me"..."can I get in on this"..."I did mine xx months ago"...etc.

Thus my "I'll go first".

As I said, I'll be the first to ask since others will do so sooner or later.

I was hoping to get this out of the way early in the thread to prevent 100 of the same questions a year from now...but thanks for your response. I promise I'm not a troll, but you certainly responded as though I were a troll, or at least stupid.

Calm down, fellow Audiziner.

[audrobotic]

Wow. If this becomes official - thats the third major class action on the B8. (that i know of).

Injector failure class action. check.
Piston rings class action. check.
timing chain tensioner class action. check?

This really legitmizes the tensioner problem. Instead of just internt bias. Of course the settlement terms will annoyingly state that Audi/VW is not admitting any fault on their part. But seriously - does an automotive engineer who worked on this engine leave this work off their resume? What a disaster this engine is. And on simple things. But it makes sense given what we know about the company “culture” surrounding dieselgate. Over-promise, hide problems, let public deal with the fallout. My goodness! Why do I even freakin drive an Audi? I have some soul searching to do.

[Charles.waite]

...before you try the Audizine standard "did you read" or "did you search"....there will inevitably be 100+ posts of people asking "what about me"..."can I get in on this"..."I did mine xx months ago"...etc.

Thus my "I'll go first".

As I said, I'll be the first to ask since others will do so sooner or later.

I was hoping to get this out of the way early in the thread to prevent 100 of the same questions a year from now...but thanks for your response. I promise I'm not a troll, but you certainly responded as though I were a troll, or at least stupid.

Calm down, fellow Audiziner.

Calm your tits. It straight up answered your question in the link and I and the person before me both quoted the relevant part. And if you read farther down it says people who paid for previous repairs are eligible for reimbursement. Should someone post the text in its entirety to stave off the inevitable questions? They'll happen anyway regardless...

[SLH21]

They'll happen anyway regardless...

We're saying the same thing.

[JVince]

Wow. If this becomes official - thats the third major class action on the B8. (that i know of).

Injector failure class action. check.
Piston rings class action. check.
timing chain tensioner class action. check?

This really legitmizes the tensioner problem. Instead of just internt bias. Of course the settlement terms will annoyingly state that Audi/VW is not admitting any fault on their part. But seriously - does an automotive engineer who worked on this engine leave this work off their resume? What a disaster this engine is. And on simple things. But it makes sense given what we know about the company “culture” surrounding dieselgate. Over-promise, hide problems, let public deal with the fallout. My goodness! Why do I even freakin drive an Audi? I have some soul searching to do.

I had Stage 1 and 2 done, looks like it fixed the oil problem and I think they did the tensioner as well but dont know for sure. After all this I don't think I'd buy another Audi...

Hopefully this class action covers Canada as well.