VW Polo/Golf (bby) DTC P0023. Poss remedy...
Discussion
Anyone suffering from what seems an old problem that is still loitering? I've had a '51 Polo and a '53 Golf in with an EML on which both came up with the DTC code: P0023, Bank 2 Camshaft B (exhaust) position actuator malfunction. Having never heard of such a fault I searched and found some help and have found what seems to be a remedy.
Both cars have had their cambelts changed yet with the BBY engine it runs 2 belts and on the Polo they've had just the main belt changed, the Golf had had both belts changed but not the tensioners. I stumbled on a forum that had the same problems listed yet no answers so I worked on the basis that they may be close to the problem. Below is what sorted both of my problems and I thought I'd post to try and help anyone else suffering from the same fault codes.
It turned out that on both cars the secondary belt that runs from the inlet to exhaust camshafts had become loose. One because of the worn belt, the other because the tensioner had failed causing slack in the belt. In effect, on both cars the cams were slipping slightly out of time causing the camshaft sensors to give false readings. VW recommended changing the sensors on the Golf which are now working fine with nothing done to them. And of course, as the belts had been changed by a 'specialist' they were overlooked as done and eliminated from the fault finding diagnosis.
What I cannot understand is why someone has gone to the effort of changing the belt and not changing the other and why on earth they didn't change the tensioners is beyond me. If anyone else has this DTC then I hope this may help. I've spent the best part of the day trying to diagnose what in effect was someone else's negligence. For all the good they do, computers and diagnostic scanners just can't diagnose human error or stupidity.
Both cars have since had the belt kits changed and are running beautifully.
Both cars have had their cambelts changed yet with the BBY engine it runs 2 belts and on the Polo they've had just the main belt changed, the Golf had had both belts changed but not the tensioners. I stumbled on a forum that had the same problems listed yet no answers so I worked on the basis that they may be close to the problem. Below is what sorted both of my problems and I thought I'd post to try and help anyone else suffering from the same fault codes.
It turned out that on both cars the secondary belt that runs from the inlet to exhaust camshafts had become loose. One because of the worn belt, the other because the tensioner had failed causing slack in the belt. In effect, on both cars the cams were slipping slightly out of time causing the camshaft sensors to give false readings. VW recommended changing the sensors on the Golf which are now working fine with nothing done to them. And of course, as the belts had been changed by a 'specialist' they were overlooked as done and eliminated from the fault finding diagnosis.
What I cannot understand is why someone has gone to the effort of changing the belt and not changing the other and why on earth they didn't change the tensioners is beyond me. If anyone else has this DTC then I hope this may help. I've spent the best part of the day trying to diagnose what in effect was someone else's negligence. For all the good they do, computers and diagnostic scanners just can't diagnose human error or stupidity.
Both cars have since had the belt kits changed and are running beautifully.
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