THE Timing Chain Tensioner Failure Thread

[BeerBrent]

This is great news.

[Novarider]

Now they should issue a recall for all effected cars. That would go a long way toward winning customers back.

[wkhanna]

Now they should issue a recall for all effected cars. That would go a long way toward winning customers back.

would make sense from a financial standpoint..... cheaper to fix the timing chain & tensioner to offset the cost of repair after it grenades the engine.....
...as opposed to waiting for customer's cars to fail with the hope that only few will, & thus be a cheaper method to address the issue....

they may do it steps, too...
first just inspect the tensioner thru the inspection hole on the cover.... then base further action on the revision # & condition of the tensioner in the car.
they may not even want to replace the chain or guides as part of any potential recall....?

[BeerBrent]

If you've got a tune, your tensioner fails & engine blows, Audi is not gonna cover the cost, correct?

[Charles.waite]

Now they should issue a recall for all effected cars. That would go a long way toward winning customers back.

Normally I would say that doesn’t make sense but VW has burned nearly all the goodwill t has with customers in part due to Dieselgate and, for some longer time customers like us, through shoddy engineering decisions and the willingness to “beta-test” components on the general populace. I think it would make some sense to offer goodwill fixes for this before it becomes yet another black eye for Audi.

Of course having said that, there are hundreds of thousands of these engines out there, so that’s a shitload of parts and service costs to absorb just for goodwill. I still agree it needs to be done though.

[BeerBrent]

Normally I would say that doesn’t make sense but VW has burned nearly all the goodwill t has with customers in part due to Dieselgate and, for some longer time customers like us, through shoddy engineering decisions and the willingness to “beta-test” components on the general populace. I think it would make some sense to offer goodwill fixes for this before it becomes yet another black eye for Audi.

Of course having said that, there are hundreds of thousands of these engines out there, so that’s a shitload of parts and service costs to absorb just for goodwill. I still agree it needs to be done though.

I'd think (hope!) that because of the previous bad publicity, they need to do everything they can to help rebuild their brand/name and a good start would be to take care of their loyal customers that they hope to retain for future VW/Audi purchases.

[A4x]

+1 for Canada lol

Interesting that the class action refers to "engines use a hydraulic timing chain tensioner actuated by engine oil pressure"

I don't know if it was this thread or another one, but people were concluding these do not run on engine oil pressure.

[meisladrs]

How many ring show on a bad tensioner ? 2012 a4 cylinders 3-4 zero compression
Does the tensioner adjust out when the car is running with oil pressure ?
With the bore scope I can see 10 rings


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[BeerBrent]

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

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

I'm surprised this news hasn't gotten more responses in this thread. I thought this thread would blow up after this.

[wkhanna]

when we get checks in the mail for the $ we spent rebuilding our engines...... that is when ill get excited.......

[schubby333]

Here's another informational article on this. Great great great news! I'm right at 75,000 miles and was preparing my wallet for this preventative repair.

https://www.carcomplaints.com/news/2...-lawsuit.shtml

My question is if I should have an independent shop do the work (chain+tensioner) before this is official just in case the dealer tries to pull some "well your chain doesn't need to be replaced" crap.

"If repaired at an independent service center, a customer will receive a refund of the paid invoice amount for the covered parts and labor, up to $1,500. If both the chain and tensioner were replaced, reimbursement is up to $2,000."

[BeerBrent]

^ Good find. Thanks! That provides more details than the link yesterday.

[schubby333]

^ Good find. Thanks! That provides more details than the link yesterday.

Absolutely! I'd suggest if anyone has a Google account, go into your alerts and add "vw timing tensioner". You'll get an email for any new articles that come up.

[Charles.waite]

Well most likely the dealer is going to play dumb about this, even though they’re certainly aware of the lawsuit and the issues.

I personally would rather pay an independent shop to diagnose and repair and if you can float the cost for a 6-18 months (class actions take forever) then just sit tight. An independent shop is likely to repair everything necessary while the dealer is likely to do the bare minimum unless really pushed or if they’re one of the good ones.

I do know that my local dealer is so freaking swamped with airbag recalls it’s like Tetris even getting to their service drop off. I brought my q5 in just Wednesday, so they might not want to deal with a labor intensive repair like this at the moment.

[A4x]

How would one even go about getting reimbursed for this? Or do we still have to wait for some official notification?

[A4 Centaur]

^ prolly a few more years

[bstar]

I just spent $1300 to have my tensioner/chain/guides replaced... am I too late to get in on the class action?

I've never been involved in one before, and am certainly interested in recouping my losses here.

EDIT: I called the attorney handling the case -- he said there'll be a notice campaign after the courts approve the settlement amount (which he expects they will quickly). We just need to sit tight until that happens.

[choisteven]

Not sure if shared but here is the Canadian equivalent (https://www.merchantlaw.com/class-ac...g-class-action) but I don't think settled yet. I had this done preemptively on my B8. Pretty much had the mechanic replace everything: tensioners , chains, and guides.

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[AudiInMPLS]

Here's another informational article on this. Great great great news! I'm right at 75,000 miles and was preparing my wallet for this preventative repair.

https://www.carcomplaints.com/news/2...-lawsuit.shtml

My question is if I should have an independent shop do the work (chain+tensioner) before this is official just in case the dealer tries to pull some "well your chain doesn't need to be replaced" crap.

"If repaired at an independent service center, a customer will receive a refund of the paid invoice amount for the covered parts and labor, up to $1,500. If both the chain and tensioner were replaced, reimbursement is up to $2,000."

So the 2013 A4s do not have this issue?

[WtA4WtQ5]

So the 2013 A4s do not have this issue?

No, not on the list. The tensioner has been revised since 2013 but not problematic as the 2012 and earlier ones.

[wkhanna]

as a result of this news, i have decided to have the dealer do the service on my A5....

..just waiting to see when they can schedule me now...

...it may be a while before all the dust settles & the reimbursement program is initiated, but ill just be patient waiting for them to refund my $.

i was just a week away from having my indi shop do it, but i figure i may as well just let the dealer do it, they have all the proper specialty tools & the experience.
plus, there is no issue with producing documentation for the reimbursement.

i may be more fortunate as my local dealer has been exceptional with the few service experiences i have had with them... they have always been competent, honest, reasonable in cost (for a dealer) & V accommodating.... even had an nice A4 SB loner a few times.....

[Misticvega]

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.

Currently attempting to swap my b8 for a b8.5 to remedy my oil consumption problems (and I presume, eventually a bound to fail timing chain tensioner).

Long story short AoA sucks and wouldn't cover either Stage 1 or Stage 2 for me. After a handful of nice conversations, I told the dude I'm never buying an Audi again and hang up.

Love my Audi, when it works, and that's not often. I'm with y'all, not sure if I can trust the company after all this. Not sure what next purchase will be in a few years.

[wkhanna]

I had my dealer negotiate with AoA... they got me 70% coverage for the rebuild when the timing chain took out all the valves on The Wife's 2011 A5....

[Misticvega]

I had my dealer negotiate with AoA... they got me 70% coverage for the rebuild when the timing chain took out all the valves on The Wife's 2011 A5....

Yeah, my dealer was on my side and supported me as much as they could, AoA wouldn't budge though.

[wkhanna]

What is unreasonable is the inconsistency in how our claims are being handled.....

[Misticvega]

What is unreasonable is the inconsistency in how our claims are being handled.....

It seems there was no transparent procedure. Read through the oil consumption thread and you'll hear stories like mine, and other guys whose dealerships were best friends with the guys at AoA, so it was no problem.

[Charles.waite]

I had my dealer negotiate with AoA... they got me 70% coverage for the rebuild when the timing chain took out all the valves on The Wife's 2011 A5....

When my b7’s latest revision cam follower trashed by a failed cam follower just outside of the CPO warranty and literally one month after I purchased the car the dealer mostly went to bat for me but ultimately AoA offered 50% coverage on the replacement which I found unacceptable given the history of failure with b7s. I ended up just buying the parts and doing it myself out of spite.

Didn’t turn me off on the Brand but it definitely turned me off on their service experience and willingness to support repeat customers by covering common failures that frankly should have been recalls.

I’m personally not goin to hold my breath for any sort of coverage here and am likely just going to replace the chains and guides myself sometime in the next couple months.

[NoUDont]

guys my heart is pounding right now. my chain/tensioner went out yesterday morning. i was crushed. now i read the last page. too nervous to type. what should i do? tow car to dealer? i towed it home yeaterday.

i have a 2009 A4 2.0T Quattro that had the oil consumption repair done at 75,000. i am at 131,000. i am literally shaking. i bought it in Nov 2009!

[mtroxel]

what should i do? tow car to dealer? i towed it home yeaterday.

Depends on your skill level. If you've never done engine work and have a full time job, tow it to somewhere that can deal with it all. I'm not sure what you mean when you say your tensioner went out. Did someone you trust diagnose that? And if they also told you that valves hit pistons, paying someone else to fix it might be worth more than a 2009 with 131,000 miles.

[Garebear14]

guys my heart is pounding right now. my chain/tensioner went out yesterday morning. i was crushed. now i read the last page. too nervous to type. what should i do? tow car to dealer? i towed it home yeaterday.

i have a 2009 A4 2.0T Quattro that had the oil consumption repair done at 75,000. i am at 131,000. i am literally shaking. i bought it in Nov 2009!

I think there is a class action lawsuit in regards to the timing chain that was settle this year, see if you can get in on it.
https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-...engine-defect/

You should do some research as well... Please keep us updated

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[dennej1985]

I e-mailed the law firm. See what they say. I had mine done a few months ago at an indy shop, but according to the class action I should be covered.....that would be sweet

[NoUDont]

Depends on your skill level. If you've never done engine work and have a full time job, tow it to somewhere that can deal with it all. I'm not sure what you mean when you say your tensioner went out. Did someone you trust diagnose that? And if they also told you that valves hit pistons, paying someone else to fix it might be worth more than a 2009 with 131,000 miles.

well in reading the previous page I am hoping Audi will now cover it due to the class action lawsuit.

I think there is a class action lawsuit in regards to the timing chain that was settle this year, see if you can get in on it.
https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-...engine-defect/

You should do some research as well... Please keep us updated

Sent from my Nexus 6 using Tapatalk

i called dealer and they see nothing about them having to fix it. suggested i submit my name to the lawyers to see if they could help. sigh. this wont be easy thats for sure. it will be worth it. issue is now i have to tow to dealer, pay inspection fee ~$200, tow back home and see what happens.

[BeerBrent]

i called dealer and they see nothing about them having to fix it. suggested i submit my name to the lawyers to see if they could help. sigh. this wont be easy thats for sure. it will be worth it. issue is now i have to tow to dealer, pay inspection fee ~$200, tow back home and see what happens.

They gotta be lying. There's no way they aren't already aware of this.

[Novarider]

Depends on your skill level. If you've never done engine work and have a full time job, tow it to somewhere that can deal with it all. I'm not sure what you mean when you say your tensioner went out. Did someone you trust diagnose that? And if they also told you that valves hit pistons, paying someone else to fix it might be worth more than a 2009 with 131,000 miles.

I had mine done for $900 at an indy shop and audi Nashville quoted me $1300. Not sure how his car isn't worth that

[NoUDont]

Depends on your skill level. If you've never done engine work and have a full time job, tow it to somewhere that can deal with it all. I'm not sure what you mean when you say your tensioner went out. Did someone you trust diagnose that? And if they also told you that valves hit pistons, paying someone else to fix it might be worth more than a 2009 with 131,000 miles.

I had mine done for $900 at an indy shop and audi Nashville quoted me $1300. Not sure how his car isn't worth that

Novarider was that preventative or after it failed? seems very inexpensive after a failure.

[gstrouse]

I remember when there was a class action against Audi for the 1.8t timing belt tensioner failures. I had a 2000. I kept it relatively low mileage. So Audi issued a service bulletin service notice for those who were still driving on the original. It was a total joke. So it stated that I had to take it to the dealer for inspection. If it showed signs of wear, then I was advised to replace it... at my cost.. ( I was already out of any warranty). If it didn't show signs of wear.. well then you're good to go and they would cover any future issues up to 120k miles. Well what do you think they did. Of course, they said it should be replaced and wanted me to pay for it. Now, there was a reduced price. But Audi covered their butt and we got to pay for the replacement. It basically got Audi off the hook for any future failures of the original tensioner.

[Novarider]

Novarider was that preventative or after it failed? seems very inexpensive after a failure.

That's true it was preventative my bad.

When I was there tho I talked to the owner and they were repairing one that had failed and he told me the cost was $2300. Still worth it to fix IMO.

[WokkerK]

That's true it was preventative my bad.

When I was there tho I talked to the owner and they were repairing one that had failed and he told me the cost was $2300. Still worth it to fix IMO.

One of ours partially failed. It skipped a tooth but didn't make contact because I caught it and stopped driving it. $2500 bucks was the out the door cost with chains guides and tensioners. Did the whole shebang. That was indy shop pricing for parts and labor.

[AudiInMPLS]

So how did you know it slipped? What are the signs?

[WokkerK]

So how did you know it slipped? What are the signs?

It was really slow to start. Turned over a few times before actually firing. Once it started it threw a code related to the camshaft position. Can't remember the code off the top of my head.

Based on reading this thread and seeing lots of other failures on the internet I had a feeling.

If it ever struggles to start or takes two attemps to start....DONT CONTINUE TO TRY AND START IT. that's my PSA.