I'm sitting here at the tow company waiting for my buddy to pick me up trying to make sense of what happened to my 2.8l. CEL light came on along with bad ticking noise and no power. I immediately thought timing but when I pulled over I was able to check with a VAG-Com and got fault codes only for cyl. 4,5, and 6 (cam angle, misfires, etc.) So I'm guessing cam tensioner? Any thoughts?

 

probably you need a new ecu

 

probably you need not respond if you don't know what is wrong

 

Well if it was a TB snap the CEL wouldn't light when you clicked the key to the "on" position.

 

Cam chain tensioner sounds right. I recently replaced mine(2.8 30v). From what I hear, they usually go gradually with louder and louder ticking, until finially the timing can go off. But if it went all-of-a-sudden, the pad or pads on the cam chain tensioner may have broken off, which I have seen pics of happen. The solenoid can also fail, but I'm not sure how to test for that... but I would guess an error code could show that, and not a mechanically broken part. Mine went gradually though, so I'm not 100%.

You could take off the valve cover and look at the tensioner for obvious damage. But it could be toast without obvious damage unfortunately (mine was not obvious, I just replaced and crossed my fingers, lol and it was it.)

I wish you luck!

 

Thanks, good info. Unfortunately, I had to leave the car up in DC until I can get it back down here, so I won't know anything for a few days.

Assuming some part of the cam chain tensioner failed, how much engine damage could result from it? Would it throw off timing to the point where valves are impacting pistons or is it less dramatic than that?

 

Sorry, double post.