UPDATE FIXED----Need Help p0012----FIXED UPDATE
 

New member here with issue. I purchased my red 2003 Audi A4 b6 1.8t 5speed last novemeber with 109k on the clock from an audi mechanic. I went to pick it up 4 hours away from Topeka KS.Anyways before I purchsed it the owner had replaced at 108k the timing belt and tensioner,water pump,t-stat housing,cam chain tensioner and all four coils as well as all the needed gaskets. I have the box of old parts.That said it has 113k on the clock now and is giving me a few fits that I am concerned about.

The other day with the window down I noticed a sound when acccelaerating,not all the time but it was there.Almost sounds like a belt tensioner or? So a couple days go by and it does it again. so I pull it into the garage to try and locate the noise but it will not replicate when you give it gas standing still.recent to all of this the car threw a p0012 code which I have searched to find out out the cam chain tensioner should be repalced (which mine has).

So My question is could this be a cam sensor going bad or maybe an engine flush is needed? Im just looking for some guidance here.Thanks in advance

It could be the cam chain sensor, you can check it and clean the connector yourself. It's located at the end of the engine (on the front) held on by 2 10mm bolt and the plug is on the side. These sensors don't fail that often, but can-but you can clean the connector and contacts and then reset the code and see if it comes back. If it isn't that, I'm going to say it is probably your cam chain tensioner that is failing-what does the noise sound like? like a metal tick?

Thanks for the reply.I'm going to try a new cam sensor today and see what happens.as for the The cam tensioner that has only been in the car for about 4k miles. That don't go bad that quickly do they?

I've read posts that aftermarket ones, depending on where they are purchased and/or made have been known to fail rather quickly at times, but not always.

new Cam sensor has been in now since the last post.No code yet and no noise so far.I need to drive it more to verify. I may flush the engine and change the oil as a follow up.If I need to do a new oil pick up tube I will but it dont look like much fun to do!

So far so good on the p0012 code.I have not had it pop up since the cam sensor replacement (knock on wood).I have driven 250 miles since the replacement. No noise either,that said im still going to do a flush and oil change when the weather warms up here in topeka ks.

Good to hear.

Well the code is back again and coming on about 5 times in a tank of gas. Not sure what to do from here?

So, the Timing Belt was also replaced recently....You said there's a tensioner noise...did you mean it sounds like a pulley or a chain hitting a valve cover?

Reason I ask is, it could be throwing the code because your timing belt slipped because the TB pulley is weak.....

Did the Audi mechanic use OEM Audi Timing Belt Parts? Did he get a Kit? Did he have paperwork? It really depends on a lot of things....like I said before, if it sounds like a 'clanking/rattling' sound, it's probably (99%) the camshaft tensioner...you can search this forum, there have been issues with new parts failing, it happens-just like buying something brand new retail, you take it home, it doesn't work.....

Or, it could be that a brand new OEM part is failing.....

Here's my two cents....if you're getting the code on cold starts, but then it goes away when it's warmed up, then it's most likely your camshaft tensioner......Here's why:

The camshaft tensioner is used to advance the intake valve opening during a cold start. This allows for the intake to 'suck' more exhaust in and generate heat faster in the intake. So if the camshaft tensioner doesn't work properly the intake camshaft will not advance correctly on a cold start and you will get a code P0012. After the car is up to temperature the intake camshaft returns to its normal place.

So check this out (long story)
 

Since I have started this post I would ge the CEL for the p0012 about 5 times within every tank of gas so about 5 times for every 350 miles or so. Also the noise/rattle upon acceleration that would happen at 2500 to 3000 rpm or so was getting more and more consistent rather than everyonce in a while. I have dealt twith this for the last 2,000 miles or or so.

Let me back up to when I purchased the car. I bought it with 108k miles in omaha NE which is 250 miles from topeka KS. The guy I bought it from had reciepts for the timing belt,timing belt tensioner,water pump,coolant/thermo housing,cam chain tesioner and all the associated gaskets,plus a box of the old parts. This was advertised as being done which is why I drove that far for the car (and the fact that it was red with black interior and a 5 speed). So anyways I drove the car trouble free (no CEL or noise) for 3,000 miles. Now comes time for the oil change.After much reasearch I decided upon Castrol Syntech 5w30 and a K&N Synthetic oil filter. I change the oil and did a tune up at the same time(new plugs and coils). So a couple hundred miles or so after I did this is when the CEL started poping as well as the intermittent noise.

Of course when we search for that combo of issues it all seems to lead back to the CAM CHAIN TENSIONER BEING BAD RIGHT? Well I put a new cam sensor on the front to no avail so I ordered a tensioner and all of the associated gaskets and got dirty!Well you guessed it the issue was still there none of this fixed anything. So now Im pissed and want to beat this car with a ball bat.

This is when things took a turn for the wierd. I was small talking to the mechanic at an acura dealer where I bought my wifes new MDX getting a recall addressed. I was telling him about my issues and he said I have a good friend that work as a mechanic for an audi dealer KC KS. I think to myself great a dealer mechanic that might talk to me and give me an answer without charging me for 2 hours labor. I am glad Im a chatterbox and was talking to the acura guy because this was the best call I have ever made.

So I call the audi call and said hey such and such from honda gave me your name and said you might be able to help me.So from there I went into the long story from start to where i was with the car and what ihad bought to try and fix it. The first thing out of his mouth was GET THAT OIL FILTER OFF YOUR CAR AND GET THAT OIL OUT TOO! He explained that it had something to do with the drainback valve in the K&N oil filter.It happened to be something he has seen before causing issues with the 1.8t motor. I think wow really this guys is full of shit! Well Ill eat my words on this one!

He had me buy a mobile 1 high capacity filter and 0w40 mobile 1 synthetic and change the oil.The car instantly ran better/smoother/quiter. Guys and Gals I have filled up 3 times now, with not one single p0012 code or noise out of this car. Now someone chime in and explain this one to me! Common sense should have told me since it was running great before the oil change that i should have backtracked to that right? I would have never thought this to be the issue in a millon years. Anyways the car is running great now. I thoght I would share this experience with the rest of you just in case someone else is have a freak issue like I did! Thanks