A3 3.2 DSG with MIL... Any VAG Techs around?

[Slinky]

Folks,

Chap in the office has a 53 plate A3 3.2 with DSG which has lit the MIL.. I've got an ELM327 OBDII reader so have pulled the codes and come up with a

P0018 - Crankshaft Position - Camshaft position correlation

Any thoughts on what the likely cause is before he checks it in to the local main stealer to get a going over?

btw, under 25k on the clock..

Cheers,

slinky

[Tame Technician]

I never had that before on 3.2, but would suggest its the cam shaft sensor, or associated wiring.

The timing being out would give you that, but as its chain driven its not like someone could put the belt of a tooth out or anything. If it was crank sensor failure it wouldn't start.

Interesting, can you clear the code with your scanner, it could just be an anomaly.

[Slinky]

Chap has now had the issue diagnosed..

Not sensor failure and the fault can no longer be cleared..

He's been advised that the cam chain has stretched (apparently a common fault on the V6?) and replacement is required. Job quoted at circa £1200-1800 by the indie that's carried out the diagnosis..

Any thoughts anyone?

cheers,

slinky

[Vee]

bks !
25k. Full Audi history ?
If so I'd be at the dealers wanting a goodwill contribution from Audi.

I'm not a mechanic, nor do I have any experience of this but how does metal stretch ? It either breaks or not. Most likely it needs a tensioner - something I can't believe is £1,800 to change.

Edited by Vee on Wednesday 5th November 19:40

[Tame Technician]

Whats wrong with it, have the chain tensioners failed or somthing? cant imagine the chain would stretch, its not that common, been on Audi 3 years now I we never had that at my centre.

Worth a phone call to see if good will is applicable, but i think the car is too old for that.

Would also be worth asking the dealer nicely (they dont have too, and might not want to do, softly softly here) if they ever heard of it, and get them to ask the master tech to check for TPL's relevant to the fault. IF its actually a common fault there will be one.

If I have time tomorrow (unlikely RS6 gearbox on my ramp) I'll have a look myself.

Dont pay them to change the chains yet what ever you do, I think its BS.I googled it and only thing I found was on some american car, nothing to do with VAG or the VR6 engine.

I'll keep you posted.

Edited by Tame Technician on Wednesday 5th November 23:19

[Slinky]

Too late..

Chap took the car to the local main stealer today to ask them to have a look at it..

Investigation taken place and diagnosed as "lengthened cam chain"..

Quote for repair... £3,200 :EEK:

Before making contact with my colleague, dealer had contacted Audi UK for offer of goodwill payment.. Audi are paying 100% cost on parts and 70% on labour.. Bringing cost of fix down to :drumroll: £600!

Still be interested to hear what you find out though..

[Tame Technician]

Looked on ELSA for 3.2 TT's and A3's 2003 and 2004, There were no TPL's on the timing chains stretching.

But it is very much possible, if they checked the sensor was giving the correct signal and the engine hadn't been taken apart and put back together mis-timing, could only one of 3 things:- an ECU falsely logging the code, or the chain slack or stretched. If it was slack it would be really noisey.

The dealer my have sent a DISS report, (basically an email for technical help to Audi UK, they ring round some engineers, sometimes at the factory in Germany, and email back) they may have been told the chain stretching is common that way. You only get a TPL if there are more than a certain number of cases. The engineers may have heard of a few, but never enough to generate a TLP.

Good job he got good will, see were aren't always STEALER'S you know, if you local independant had done it, they wouldnt have got the part for free, and it would have cost more.

Hope its not the ECU !!

[Mastertech]

There is a TPI on it. Can't remember where it is or the TPI number though.

If I remember correctly, there's a modified chain and other associated parts which have to be fitted. I think I've only seen it once and the guy couldn't afford it so the repair was never carried out.

[Tame Technician]

Well thats ELSA. One minute its there and next minute its gone. I've know I've read a TPL at some point, and then gone to look it up some months later and they have removed it, dont know why they do that.

Seriously it finds nothing if your search 2002 TT 3.2 or A3.