CRLB P0016 fault code

[alan.bain]

I bought a 2017 a3 2.0tdi with the CRLB engine. It was overdue a cam belt change so I picked it up and immediately had the cam belt and water pump changed the day I picked it up. 2 weeks later I get a drivetrain fault for P0016. The warning came on for about 20 seconds then was gone.

The fault then did not appear again for 6 weeks. Then every day for a week it came on for 20-30 seconds on nearly the same piece of road, it does go off immediately if you put your foot on the clutch and let it idle. Then it went away for a few weeks. Now it is back more regularly and sometimes stays on till then engine is switched off, but appears to drive and sound normal with the warning on.

Does anyone have any suggestions as surely if the timing was out it would have the fault more often.

[Crasher]

Purely from the fault code I would suspect a timing error.

[alan.bain]

Purely from the fault code I would suspect a timing error.

Yeah, wouldn’t it have the fault constantly. It’s done 5000 miles since the belt was done

[Crasher]

The first thing we would do is peg and plate it to check it is dead on.

[alan.bain]

I’ve had the timing belt checked. It is spot on and I’ve got pictures of it all. Is this likely something to do with the VVT system?

[Crasher]

Certainly could be and £1k in parts plus if that doesn’t fix you have to replace the £2.3K cam module which comes with those parts anyway so you have bought them twice.

[alan.bain]

What would your best guess be as it’s only happening for 20-30 seconds every once in a while as the car runs and drives fine?

04l109088 is the adjuster itself, is it likely to be this?

[Crasher]

You would also change the operating valve 04L 906 455 G and the housing 04L 109 096 but I would be deeply concerned by not fitting the complete module, lifters and rollers. Having to do the job again and having a grands worth of useless none returnable parts is not a good feeling, I have been there and it hurts.