• Audi A4 Timing Chain Tensioner Replacement
• Audi A4 Timing Chain Tensioner Installers

Timing chains are the critical link between the crankshaft and camshaft. Through a series of guides and tensioners, the chains are responsible for keeping the cylinder head valves in sync with the combustion chamber pistons.

If the timing chain becomes loose, either by stretching or a failed tensioner, there are serious problems ahead.

Here is Part 2 on how to remove the camshaft chain tensioner gasket and the half moon seal on a 1998 Audi A6 2.8L engine. This procedure should help you if y.

• Install the new tensioner the same way the old one came out. Watch your timing marks. Double and triple check the timing. I had to install the tensioner twice because the chain slipped a tooth.
• Hey guys I’m just wondering how much a timing chain replacement job would run me through Audi. I was going to do it myself but I just don’t have the time. The car has 176k on it and I don’t think it’s been done.
• The 2009 Audi A4 has 4 problems reported for tensioner for the timing chain failed. Average repair cost is $9,360 at 129,100 miles.

What’s Happening in Audi's EA888 Engine ∞

One of the main reasons chains have replaced belts in high-displacement engines is their longevity. Volkswagen, parent company of Audi, says you shouldn't have to worry about timing chain maintenance for 120,000 miles in their own maintenance schedules.

So why are Audi's timing chains failing so early?

It's likely a timing chain tensioner failure. Tensioners make sure the chain is tightly wound to the pulleys and gears. If the tensioner fails and the chain becomes loose, the timing of the engine is thrown off.

Symptoms of a loose timing chain ∞

Audi A4 Timing Chain Tensioner Replacement

When a timing chain is loose you'll likely hear a rattle during startup or idling in the engine. The rattle might be accompanied by a check engine light triggered by sensors in the crankshaft and camshaft that are detecting timing issues.

With a loose timing chain you'll have trouble starting the engine or it might misfire while driving. That’s because the timing between the valves and pistons are out of sync, and the combustion part of you internal combustion engine is busted.

If a loose timing chain isn’t addressed immediately it could break, and cause catastrophic damage to the engine.

As the problems piled up, the lawsuits rolled in ∞

Audi began releasing Technical Service Bulletins (TSB) to its network of dealerships around 2010. The TSBs outlined how to respond to customer complaints about the timing chain.

One of the most popular responses was to accuse owners of improper oil and filter maintenance, and ask for records (including receipts) before doing any warranty work.

Fed up and facing massive repair bills, the first timing chain lawsuit was filed in May of 2016. It placed blame on the tensioner system and said VW should help pay for repairs.

Another class-action lawsuit soon followed by 24 plaintiffs in 17 states claiming the timing chains 'jump a tooth' in the camshaft.

The lawsuits were eventually combined in a New Jersey court, despite VW’s motion to dismiss the cases.

Volkswagen and Audi Timing Chain Settlement ∞

As the court fees piled up, Volkswagen agreed to settle 7 class-action lawsuits in one combined action in May of 2018.

Extended warranty ∞

As part of the settlement, the following Volkswagen vehicles were given an extended 'new vehicle limited warranty” to cover future repairs or replacements of the timing chains and tensioners.

Owners and lessees of the vehicles are automatically awarded the extended warranty unless they opted out of the class-action by December 3rd, 2018.

Note: You can find out which VW vehicles are involved in the settlement over at VWProblems.com

Reimbursements for timing chains and tensioners ∞

If you've already repaired or replaced the timing chain system, you may be eligible for a reimbursement if the service was done within 10 years or 100,000 miles of when the vehicle first entered service.

If the work was done at an authorized VW dealership, 100% of the cost will be refunded. Otherwise, a refund between $1,100 and $1,500 will be awarded depending on what needed fixing.

Two conditions of the settlement:

1. VW says they will not be responsible for any problems associated with timing chains or tensioners repaired by an independent service center, unless the parts were ordered from an official dealer and fail within 1 year or 12,000 miles.
2. There will be no reimbursement for out-of-pocket costs of any repairs or replacements to the timing chains, tensioners or engines if the work was performed more than 30 days after the settlement notice date by anyone other than an authorized Audi or VW dealership.

More details on the timing chain reimbursements. Still with me, good?

Audi A4 Timing Chain Tensioner Installers

Reimbursements for engine damage related to a timing chain failure ∞

As part of the settlement, VW will reimburse you for expenses related to engine damage. However, an authorized dealer will need to make the determination if the timing chain was actually to blame. Who wants to place bets on if they'll make that process difficult?

Reimbursements for out-of-pocket expenses will be based on the following parameters.

The same parameters apply if an independent service center performed the engine work, but a maximum amount of $6,500 will be awarded.

More details on the engine repair reimbursements.

Problem Timeline

There is an underlying issue in many Audi and Volkswagen models built between 2008 and 2015 that if left unchecked could result in very expensive engine damage. The engines affected are the 4 cylinder TSi engines in both 1.8 litre and 2.0 litre variations.

The risk is that the lower hydraulic timing chain tensioner may fail, later model vehicles with the fitment of these engines have a revised timing chain tensioner which has removed this risk from the engine design.

Above is a photo of the two timing chain tensioners, the unit on the left is the tensioner prone to failure and the unit on the right is the revised tensioner.

What does a timing chain tensioner do? For your engine to work properly it is critical that the moving parts within the engine work in perfect time with each other. The component in control of this task is the engine timing chain and the timing chain’s associated components. One of these associated components in charge of keeping a critical tension applied to the timing chain is the timing chain tensioner. The timing chain tensioner is basically a hydraulic ram, when the engine is running oil pressure in the engine is fed to the tensioner and this pressure forces the timing chain tensioner piston against the moving timing chain. By doing so all the slack in the timing chain is taken out and ensures that the timing chain will not jump over spocket teeth and put the engine out of time.

What goes wrong? When the engine is started and oil pressure is fed to the timing chain tensioner the piston is pushed hard against the moving timing chain, but when the engine is switch off there will be no pressure to hold the timing chain tensioner in place. To combat this there is a mechanical ratchet that forms part of the tensioner unit and this ratchet hold the tensioner against the timing chain when oil pressure is no longer present (the engine has been turned off) This ratchet assembly is the fail point in the early design tensioner. When the ratchet fails the piston applying tension to the timing chain can fall back away from the timing chain and suddenly there is a huge amount of loose timing chain present.

The real problem here is that this will usually occur when you have turned your engine off. The next time you start your vehicle all symptoms are present for the timing chain to jump out of time as you crank the engine over to start it. If the chain does jump there is instant and considerable internal engine damage. Because the engine is out of time the pistons collide with the valves in the cylinder head and bend or break them. The engine will no longer run and the repair cost is in the proximity of $4000 to $5500 depending on the extent of the damage which can only be assed when the cylinder head is removed from the engine.

How do I know if I am at risk? Certainly, if there is any rattling noise from your engine have it assessed immediately. However, if your engine is quiet that does not mean that all is well and you may have the suspect tensioner fitted to your engine. To put your mind at ease the best thing to do is have the engine inspected and fortunately this is not a big job to inspect. There is an inspection port on the front of the engine that is fitted with a plug which can be removed quite easily to identify which timing chain tensioner is in place.

If the latest model timing chain tensioner is in place then all is well, we fit a new plug to the inspection port and you can rest easy. If your timing chain tensioner is the type that is suspect to failure we can replace it for you to the new tensioner. We keep the parts required in stock and the procedure usually takes around 5 hours. This remedy is most certainly a whole lot less expensive than repairing the engine after a timing chain tensioner failure.

Below is a photo of the new revised timing chain tensioner fitted into place on the left hand side of the engine.