Eric Cheatham

I have a 2002 A6 3.0. Are there any pointers into making this less painful? Do I really need to tear the front end apart? The timing belt and water pump was just done, so I'd rather not do that again.

I pulled the valve cover off, passenger side, #2 cylinder Exhaust side. Lobe and follower are boogered up. I haven't been driving it like this.

Anyhow, is there a way to do this without entirely removing the timing belt?

Thanks!

jcman

Welcome Eric, the 3.0 is a bear to work on in this area.
Take the time to search out "cam wear" even in the A4 forums and you will see a few even with a description of the repair.

Good luck and be prepared

n3985

Subscribing if one day I'll need to do this repair on my 3.0

Eric Cheatham

Jcman, thanks.

I've been searching for 2 days with no luck. I see lots of people talk about it, but nobody talked about what needs to be done.

I was just thinking, if I index everything with a market, counting teeth, ribs and marking everything. Can I just slide the cam off, and put the new one on since I've already indexed and marked how it should be installed on the belt?

Eric Cheatham

Jcman, thanks.

I've been searching for 2 days with no luck. I see lots of people talk about it, but nobody talked about what needs to be done.

I was just thinking, if I index everything with a marker, counting teeth, ribs and marking everything. Can I just slide the cam off, and put the new one on since I've already indexed and marked how it should be installed on the belt?

jseklund

I may be wrong, if the 3.0 is much different than the 2.7T - but I do not believe you can replace the camshaft by itself. You will need to buy a new head/camshaft. The shafts are drilled specifically for the head they are in and cannot be changed.

To replace the head, you will need a bunch of new gaskets, new seals, etc.

You do not have to put the car in service position to replace the head - the bentley typically reads, "Step 1 - remove engine"

But, it can be done in service position if it is like the 2.7T.

Service position isn't so bad from that perspective....

jseklund

Yes, you CAN do this. But I wouldn't. You're doing the work already, and sliding the bar on is almost effortless. Why take a chance?

You'll see plenty of threads on here of people saying how they did it this way, but if those cams flip at all (and they will if you're changing them out) you will be caught with your pants down.

Use the bar and pin.

jcman

I find it hard to believe that you can't find any substantial info on this?
Heck I remmeber reading about a member back in the spring of 2011 with the same issue that I even replied too. The search is "cam wear" and its found when removing the v-cover at the time of an TB service to lock the cams.

I'll try to dig it up and link it, I have a 2004 3.0 also and this year the TB is due so I hope when I pull that cover I don't see wear on the cam lobe
too, I knew about this getting into the CPO car with 48K and my answer to that problem was **** 5k oil changes with shell rotella T6 and she's been very quiet.

Eric Cheatham

Ok, I feel like a ******* now. What is this bar you speak of and how does it work?

Car is parked in driveway in 20 degree weather. I'm just trying to keep from pulling the entire front of the car off etc, etc, etc.

Eric Cheatham

Believe it. I've been around forums since the 90's and know what not to do, and that's make a thread before searching. Honestly, I hate making threads about something that seems very common among Audi's.

So, I'm hanging my head low and asking the question.