cam chain tensioner failed...$$$
08-31-2005, 11:06 AM
#1
Audiworld Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
cam chain tensioner failed...$$$
been hearing the rattle while driving for a while...turns out the cam chain tensioner is failed and needs to be replaced. I have no idea what it is.
My car is '02 A4 1.8t at 51k miles. Dealer wants to charge around $1,200 for the repair(parts and labor, i'm in the SF bay area). Does it sound right? will i get a better deal if i fix it somewhere else? Any advice?
Thanks a lot!
My car is '02 A4 1.8t at 51k miles. Dealer wants to charge around $1,200 for the repair(parts and labor, i'm in the SF bay area). Does it sound right? will i get a better deal if i fix it somewhere else? Any advice?
Thanks a lot!
08-31-2005, 11:20 AM
#2
AudiWorld Super User
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Manchester, NH 03109
Posts: 2,428
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Price sounds about right for a dealer to do the timing belt job...
You'd be definetly better off price-wise by going to an independant shop to have this job done. I had my timing belt service done at one for about $750. Go to your local forum and ask there for recommended shops.<ul><li><a href="https://forums.audiworld.com/socal/">https://forums.audiworld.com/socal/</a</li></ul>
08-31-2005, 11:28 AM
#3
Banned
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 1,374
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Cam tensioner is not the timing belt...
You have two cam shafts.
One cam is connected to the timing belt. The second cam is chained to the first. There is a hydraulic cylinder that applies pressure to this cam chain to keep it in tension. That is your cam tensioner.
The rattle you hear is the chain banging around.
Mine failed in my 2001 passat 1.8T at 40,000 ish. I only heard the rattle at 1800 rpms or so. I originally thought it was loose heat sheilding going into resonsance at that frequency.
Replaced under warranty, but I was told it was an 8 hour job.
One cam is connected to the timing belt. The second cam is chained to the first. There is a hydraulic cylinder that applies pressure to this cam chain to keep it in tension. That is your cam tensioner.
The rattle you hear is the chain banging around.
Mine failed in my 2001 passat 1.8T at 40,000 ish. I only heard the rattle at 1800 rpms or so. I originally thought it was loose heat sheilding going into resonsance at that frequency.
Replaced under warranty, but I was told it was an 8 hour job.
08-31-2005, 01:10 PM
#4
Junior Member
![carl [i has type-S]'s Avatar](data:image/svg+xml;utf8,<svg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' viewBox='0 0 50 50'><circle class='avatar-circle-default' fill='%23cc9e71' cx='25px' cy='25px' r='20px'></circle><text class='avatar-text-default' x='49%' y='53%' fill='white' text-anchor='middle' alignment-baseline='middle'>c</text></svg>)
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,757
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
my mechanic tells me that the part is about $500.
apparently you have to replace the valve cover gasket and maybe some other gaskets up in there as well, so maybe a good mechanic could do it in 4 hours, or another 3-400 in labor, minimum. if it's a full 8-hour job, then yeah, $1200 would be halfway accurate.
but i can't see it actually TAKING anyone 8 hours.
but i can't see it actually TAKING anyone 8 hours.
08-31-2005, 04:14 PM
#5
Cam tensioner failure is not uncommon. Sounds like a chain rattling on plastic at startup and low..
rpms. A qualified indy should be able to do it for under a grand. Good luck with it. cheers! Mike
08-31-2005, 04:50 PM
#6
Audiworld Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 135
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: cam chain tensioner failed...$$$
Thanks for all the inputs.
after searching the boards, i agree with Mike about it being a common problem especially on B5. Maybe my car is an early production of B6 and more prone to the failure.
Anyway, I decided to let the dealer to fix it...hopefully it hasn't caused other damage to the car
after searching the boards, i agree with Mike about it being a common problem especially on B5. Maybe my car is an early production of B6 and more prone to the failure.
Anyway, I decided to let the dealer to fix it...hopefully it hasn't caused other damage to the car
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
uble1234
A6 / S6 (C6 Platform) Discussion
14
10-23-2020 08:07 PM