PA:CasaS4

I just had my timing belt service completed and in addition had cam and cam tensioner seals replaced. Within a few weeks I noticed a noise at idle that could best be described as 'ticking'. I searched the archives and the noise seems to indicate the cam tensioner going bad.

The shop that performed the work came highly recommended. They even offered to cut me a break on replacing the tensioner (because they have to disassemble the car to the same extent as when they did the previous service).

My questions - Should the tensioner have been replaced when the seals were? Could this shop have inflicted this damage when replacing the seals? Any recommendations?

TIA

2001.0 S4
70,500 miles

davenew

There's a tool that keeps the piston from extending while you have the cam switch removed. From what I read, if the tool isn't installed the piston could extend too much one way or the other and damage something internal. I believe I read it in the bentley manual, but can't view it now due to license issues.

Maybe someone knows if it would throw a code if bad??

PA:CasaS4

Upon first hearing it, they thought it might be a cam/timing solenoid (?) but when they had it in the garage today, came to this new conclusion.

I'm sure there's no way to prove that damage did occur by them not installing the tool, it's the irony that it should happen when they were replacing the seals that bothers me.

Thanks again for your insight.