THE Timing Chain Tensioner Failure Thread

[ak11214]

I am the latest victim of timing chain tensioner failure. Happened last week while I was going from work to home. Engine light with code P0016.
The garage estimated 4000-5000$ repairs cost. I have 104000 km on my Q5 2011 2.0. The engine was shaking on low rev but over 1000 rpm it was working OK.
I am so disappointed with Audi and how they handle this problem. Is there any class action lawsuit here Canada? I would like to sign up.

That really sucks, such a low mileage too.

[MT11187]

Just got nailed by this one on my 2012 A4 with under 89k mi. Timing chain slipped at startup after an oil change at my preferred mechanic and immediately stopped the engine. Good mechanic who immediately diagnosed it as a failed tensioner.

Called AoA and fortunately, still under my Certified Pre-Owned warranty, so getting it towed to the dealer for service and hopefully will only get stuck with the $85 deductible on this one. We'll see . . . .

[mtroxel]

Called AoA and fortunately, still under my Certified Pre-Owned warranty, so getting it towed to the dealer for service and hopefully will only get stuck with the $85 deductible on this one. We'll see . . . .

Check and see what the CPO is going to pay for. If they just want to pay the dealer to get in there and change the tensioner, pay for the parts for guides and chain also. No point in spending $$ to get there and not do it all.

[pierreb]

Do idler pulley, belt and belt tensioner too while you’re there with the nose off.

[JVince]

This problem sounds like a disaster.

I had Stage 2 done and on my bill i see tensioner listed a few times under the summary. Do you guys think it's likely that they changed them?

[Novarider]

If It says they changed it they better have. Otherwise you get a free engine if the tensioner fails.

[MT11187]

Thanks for the advice. Ended up with bent intake valves, so they are replacing the entire head, chain, guides, etc. - all under the CPO warranty.

[JVince]

If It says they changed it they better have. Otherwise you get a free engine if the tensioner fails.

Hope they did, wish i knew about this problem when my car was in there getting the Stage 2 done.

I'm going to try and find the part number on the bill. Maybe I can compare it to someone that has got the tensioners done as well.

[jfo]

Hope they did, wish i knew about this problem when my car was in there getting the Stage 2 done.

I'm going to try and find the part number on the bill. Maybe I can compare it to someone that has got the tensioners done as well.

I believe the most current is still 06K 109 467 K.

[JVince]

I believe the most current is still 06K 109 467 K.

Thanks, I'll have to check what mine is.

[hardfive]

This and the oil burning issue have me seriously contemplating buying a 14 motor and replacing it's tensioner before swapping it into my 11 Avant. Seems like if you do it prior to blowing up your current block (able to sell) its the most cost effective way to mitigate the time bomb-iness of these cars.

[aywakko]

Any news for Canada? Mine just blew up, and it will cost me ~$6000 (still isn't finished). I went to a local mechanic since the dealer basically told me there would be no help and it will likely be more expensive. I wrote to Audi Canada and didn't hear back.

Not sure if this thread is still alive....mine just blew up. 156k KM, 2010 Audi A4. Not sure what to do at this point. My local mechanic (very reputable) says it will cost $3,000 minimum and $4,000 if the crankshaft has to be replaced as well. Anyone had any luck with Audi? And how are the class action law suits coming along?

HELP!

[blbroo]

Not sure if this thread is still alive....mine just blew up. 156k KM, 2010 Audi A4. Not sure what to do at this point. My local mechanic (very reputable) says it will cost $3,000 minimum and $4,000 if the crankshaft has to be replaced as well. Anyone had any luck with Audi? And how are the class action law suits coming along?

HELP!

As long as there are old tensioners in 2.0Ts, this thread will never die.

Best option is swap in a B8.5 motor with lower miles.

[AutoRacer100]

I paid $700 for labor. $400 for parts.

$400 for one tensioner and one set of timing chain? What?

[JBAeroEngineer]

$400 for one tensioner and one set of timing chain? What?

Parts should include tensioner, guides, rails, chain, etc.

[ls2goat]

Currently have: 09 A4 2.0T Quattro

Just dropped mine off for stage 1 OC. $750. Out of extended warranty period, but since I'm burning a quart per 1k miles, I'm hoping (since I just bought a 2018 Q5 with Audicare and 10year/100k mile warranty) AoA will pay for some of the Stage 2.

My plan is to squeeze the parts of the timing issue into the Stage 2 OC fix. Wish me luck....

[b6Hate4]

$400 for one tensioner and one set of timing chain? What?

Lol no. I replaced every single component of the timing system. 2 tensioners, 2 chains, all guides ect. Refreshed everything.

[AutoRacer100]

Lol no. I replaced every single component of the timing system. 2 tensioners, 2 chains, all guides ect. Refreshed everything.

What is the cause of failed timing chain tensioner? Is the updated version of timing chain tensioner has a stronger spring in it that keep the timing chain in place?

[mtroxel]

What is the cause of failed timing chain tensioner? Is the updated version of timing chain tensioner has a stronger spring in it that keep the timing chain in place?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAdSyBRHOPs&t=94s

[BeerBrent]

I hate this thread. Scares the shit out of me.

[AutoRacer100]

I hate this thread. Scares the shit out of me.

Me too even at 36k miles. I can't stop thinking about getting the tensioner replaced. But then the cost of that job. It's scary.

Sometime I think I should not have bought this car back in 2009. But how would people know all those issues that come with a brand new car. That is impossible to know.

[BeerBrent]

Me too even at 36k miles. I can't stop thinking about getting the tensioner replaced. But then the cost of that job. It's scary.

Sometime I think I should not have bought this car back in 2009. But how would people know all those issues that come with a brand new car. That is impossible to know.

I'm at 75K and scared. Yeah, the cost is crazy. What's bullshit is that Audi isnt covering it under an extended warranty similar to the turbo. Obviously this is a fairly common issue.

[BrianC302]

I'm at 75K and scared. Yeah, the cost is crazy. What's bullshit is that Audi isnt covering it under an extended warranty similar to the turbo. Obviously this is a fairly common issue.

Audi/VAG is such a dirty profit hungry company. They only extended the oil consumption warranty to 80,000 miles.... only after being sued. I don't expect them to do the right thing on their own related to the timing chain/tensioners. The 2.0 TFSI has to be one of the worst engines made in recent times (at least the 2009-2011s). HORRID! Not a smart way to get repeat customers... thought it seems like a lot of folks on hear accept their piss poor reliability and lack of making things right with their customers and keep buying them.

It is really a shame as they have so many good qualities....

[avantagg]

My 2012 is currently getting the chains and tensioner done and all I can say is wow, I’m glad to be taking care of this now and not holding out for higher miles to rack up. Car has 72k on it and judging by these pics the chain might have been ready to go any day. It was stretched and making contact with the timing cover.

[mtroxel]

My 2012 is currently getting the chains and tensioner done and all I can say is wow, I’m glad to be taking care of this now and not holding out for higher miles to rack up. Car has 72k on it and judging by these pics the chain might have been ready to go any day. It was stretched and making contact with the timing cover.

You've also got the old style tensioner with the metal band that is known to slip out of place.

[pierreb]

You've also got the old style tensioner with the metal band that is known to slip out of place.

Pretty clear that 2012 models are NOT exempt.

[A4 Centaur]

Good to see you got yours taken care of!

[AutoRacer100]

I contacted one shop in my area. They quoted me $700 for the labor to do this job. I'm not sure how much the parts going to cost me?? My car only has 36K miles and I guess I have a few more years before the need to do this job.

[Novarider]

I contacted one shop in my area. They quoted me $700 for the labor to do this job. I'm not sure how much the parts going to cost me?? My car only has 36K miles and I guess I have a few more years before the need to do this job.

Do it now. Some have failed with low milage

[JBAeroEngineer]

I contacted one shop in my area. They quoted me $700 for the labor to do this job. I'm not sure how much the parts going to cost me?? My car only has 36K miles and I guess I have a few more years before the need to do this job.

parts are around $400-450 depending on your area.

[AutoRacer100]

parts are around $400-450 depending on your area.

Didn't you guys order the parts online?

[JBAeroEngineer]

Didn't you guys order the parts online?

I had mine done at the dealer when it was in for Stage 2

[Marko S]

I ordered mine on ECS. They will price match.

Sent from my SM-N950W using Tapatalk

[AutoRacer100]

Do you guys still remember what are the parts replaced exactly and what other parts can be replace while they are in there? Any after market parts that help improve reliability or even boost power? I know the piston rings can't be changed with this job.

[NYDCB]

^
Might as well replace the guide rails and chain. I had mine done at NGP in VA and they didn't do anything other than the tensioner. Said I didn't need it... 2010 @ 91K.

Mike, if you're reading this, how much more would you guys have charged for a chain and guide rail replacement?

[JBAeroEngineer]

Do you guys still remember what are the parts replaced exactly and what other parts can be replace while they are in there? Any after market parts that help improve reliability or even boost power? I know the piston rings can't be changed with this job.

I lot of people have posted their receipts in here, mine is around November 2016 if you want part numbers/costs/parts

[old guy]

2013 A5 CAEB with a November 2012 build date. New style tensioner. 45,000 miles. When the spring clip gets to the 8th notch I will change everything out.

[old guy]

OK. Time for a bit of discussion here,,,,

The more I research this the more concerned I am becoming. I took this picture in a static condition.



In other words, the engine was turned off. Once you start the engine the internal spring pressure moves the CCT to the right to take up any slack. So the critical measurement is the number of grooves from the end of the plunger to the snap ring clip. Not the number of exposed rings from the end of the tensioner body. As you can see mine is in the 7th groove.

Here's a pic from when CharlieBrown replaced his tensioner as what I believe was done as a preventive measure:



His picture shows 6 grooves between the clip and the end of the plunger. I hope he chimes in on what he replaced. Did he replace just the tensioner or the chain and the chain wear pads as well as the tensioner?

I believe the maximum number of adjustment grooves is 10. so that would mean I am at 70% of the maximum. I think I am going to go ahead and order all the components necessary to replace the tensioner, chain and wear pads. This pretty much sucks for an engine with 45K miles......

[mtroxel]

^^^Was CharlieBrown's picture taken right after he swapped it out?^^^ I ask because your tensioner is only one groove past his.

The problem with the original tensioner was that the plunger would slip back in. The other problem that happens is that the chain stretches until you run out of tensioner travel. I think that's your concern and if your tensioner is just one groove past CharlieBrown, I think your chain would have to stretch quite a bit more before your tensioner runs out of travel.

[jfo]

In several pic's I've looked at, the clip is in different positions, including the two in your post. The length of the piston however is constant, so I would tend to think that the ridges past the end of the body are key rather than the position of the spring clip. I've seen a photo's of new chains and tensioner that show the edge of the tensioner on ridge 1 or 2.
Your's is on the third ridge past the body and I would think you are fine. I have also read that an Audi shop noted on a customer invoice that "spec" was ridge 7 and I assume that would also mean showing past the body.
Good idea to get some consensus on this.