Help! 3.2 FSI quattro or 3.0 TDI quattro

**stevemr** · 01-06-2010,04:16 PM

Oh thats great, is this with all the engines do you think?

I bought this car after very carefull consideration hoping to keep it for at least 10 years! Have I amde a huge mistake?

**Crasher** · 01-06-2010,04:21 PM

I don’t know yet but it seems to be a common issue.

**stevemr** · 01-06-2010,04:43 PM

Guess I will have to keep my fingures crossed, thanks any way.

**stevemr** · 02-06-2010,04:07 PM

Crasher, do you know if its just the pre 2005 engines that are having this problem, will I be all right with a 2007 model?

Also can a mechanic tell when they are servicing it if its worn, ie noise or can you get to it or does the diagnostic indicate the timing is moving?

Lastly how much does it cost to actually change them?

Sorry to ask all these questions but you do have me a bit worried!

**Crasher** · 02-06-2010,04:50 PM

I have heard a 2007 rattle so no it is not just early ones, the 3.0CR I mention is a late 2005. You can't inspect them but a trained ear can hear them on start up and if bad, it is very obvious, even more so when for an oil change start up.

**stevemr** · 02-06-2010,04:57 PM

Ok; how much to change them?

**Road Rocket** · 02-06-2010,08:26 PM

Please see postings on "3.0TDI Common Faults" thread. This is getting a bit out of hand and possibly causing concern where none effectively exist except for the odd rogue engine perhaps. If this fault was so bad it would have been a major issue but search the internet and you'll find hardly anything except for an occasional anecdote on older A6 engines.

Like I said in my posting on that thread it could happen but then again you could also be hit by lightning. I don't believe this is a "common fault" as nobody seems to have heard of it until Crasher mentioned it. At this rate all 3.0TDI owners will be nervous wrecks! Perhaps somebody needs to write to Audi to clarify the situation.

Stop worrying and just enjoy the superb engine that the 3.0TDI is.

**Crasher** · 02-06-2010,11:30 PM

Good advice but it was an ex Audi servive manager , now an indi, who told me what a problem it is...

**Road Rocket** · 03-06-2010,12:45 AM

Thanks for the reply Crasher and as an official sponsor I have a great deal of respect for you. However, here's my problem; you state that ... " but it was an ex Audi servive manager , now an indi, who told me what a problem it is...". Now I've no idea whether the guy has an axe to grind etc but from all my research I cannot find CONCRETE proof that this problem exists in any substantial amount of engines, indeed in any of the engines quoted apart from nebulous anecdotal accounts.

My premise is this. If the Audi 3.0TDI had such a bad reputation of failing cam chains there would have been an outcry amongst the motoring press - and yet their silence on this subject is deafening.

I also cannot believe that 'Vorsprung Durch Technik' and its reputation would be so crass as to develop and manufacture engines with such an appalling fault as a cam chain tensioner defect that would wrap the chain around the engine causing such devastation. It is inconceivable that Audi would allow this problem to continue, if indeed it ever existed apart from rogue engines.

As far as I know there has not been one owner of the 3.0TDI on the whole of this forum that has complained about this apparent problem. If it were a common fault I would have expected at least a few owners to have made their reservations made public in the strongest terms.

**Crasher** · 03-06-2010,10:50 AM

A number of current VAG engines suffer from terrible timing chain problems, right from the 3 cylinder Polo upto the 4.2 V8 petrol, very well documeneted and much written about. I have a 2004 S4 V8 to price up right now.