102k miles on the car. It looks like the Cam Follower is toast, and the cam looks like it may be scarred.

I finally got the HPFP off and got to the cam follower, and the result is scary. Here are some pictures. You can see the right through the follower, it's top is basically gone. I'm not sure what to do from here. I can see some light scoring on the cam, and I assume if I install a new cam follower it will just eat through it in no time.

I have a new one, but should I bother to install it, or put back the old one and take it to Audi? I'm assuming this is basically covered under the 120K extended warranty, but I don't have any codes. The car runs pretty good, except for a slightly jerky feel at light throttle around 2000-2500rpm. There are no codes and no CEL.

Suggestions?

 

Get to a dealership. Tell them you want the cam follower checked, nothing else. Don't say more. Put it back in with as little sign you've been there recently.


DO NOT tell them it is toast!

They most likely will not touch it if there isn't a code/CEL and you confirm the condition of it. They're supposed to follow protocol.

I also suggest before you take any action, scan for codes and DO NOT delete any if they exist and come back here.

 

No codes, I checked before I started.

Some weeks back I had the P2181 code, which I reset and hasn't come back. I believe it is related to the cooling system, thermostat.
I also had the P0299, which was resolved by replacing the torn diverter valve.

Some months ago a non-Audi repair shop misdiagnosed my bad diverter valve issue, replaced the low-fuel pressure sensor. I don't know what codes they found but it was fuel related.

 

Incidentally, I found my extended warranty letter from Audi. But I'm not sure it is the same thing, and whether it would cover this problem. The letter states:

Does the cam follower issue fall under this extended warranty?

 

You should've printed out or written the fuel related codes. The codes associated with cam follower failure are just that. Hindsight now and not knowing which ones they were. There is one main code they look for and two secondary.

That warranty letter is totally different. This is a tsb Audi wants to control and keep on the quiet side, at least that's been my take on it. You might get lucky and get a lenient service center, but like I said before, all has to go through Audi of America and AoA isn't in the business of fixing their mistakes for free regardless. If you had those codes it would be a drop kick. Without them your gonna have to play your cards just right.

Do you have access to someone with a vagcom? I hate saying that, but sometimes there's codes that a reg OBD-II doesn't pick up.

Do like I said, put everything neatly together. If that area is clean now from all the oil&fuel spill, clean the entire engine to match. It won't hurt to make things look like they've been maintained and not neglected. Go to the dealership with the intention of just a routine checkup of the cam follower and a smile. Don't mention any hesitation or any poor driving characteristics until after they tell you the bad news. It's better to play dumb. Since Audi doesn't like fall into warranties and a lot of times they make it difficult.

The techs are not supposed to open up that fuel pump knowing that there are no related codes to do so, even though their faulty engineering results in a blown follower knowingly inside it. It's a warranty issue. They don't want to assume responsibility if they don't have to - even if it's the right thing to do from your vantage point.

I know people that have been turned away even when they fell within warranty because they didn't have those codes. There are just as many if not more that have been given new engines that didn't either. It's all a gamble, there seems to be no evident pattern. I will have to say the dealership you go to does make a difference. Still, you can't just go from dealership to dealership asking for a free rebuild. Just doesn't work that way I'm sure you realize.

Also, do you know the history of the car? Where/who owned and where did you purchase?

 

I was willing to pay the dealership an hour of labor to pull the pump and check it. If they're willing to do that, they should cover it.

There's a separate letter about the customer service action (not a TSB), that came out a few years before the fuel system one, so you may not have it, but they know about it.

I recommend putting it all back together carefully, taking it in, complaining about fuel cuts while driving, and trying to get them to pull the pump at your cost with the understanding they'll cover it if it's bad.

 

The extended warranty doesn't apply to the 2008 B7.... Everything else is covered.

 

I have the P0011 CEL Code for Bank 1... Do I replace the CAM follower like in this thread, the CAM positioning sensor or the VCT Solenoid? So confused.

 

I'd start by checking your timing. Belt and chain.

 

The subject vehicle is a 2006 (11/2005 mfg date) A4 B7 Quattro 6MT with 102K miles. I am second owner, since 2007 when the car had 5k miles on it.

@Audi Tek; Based on your input, does it make sense to play dumb and just have them inspect the cam follower on a routine checkup, not letting them know I am aware of the damage. Or would it make any difference to be up front and let them know I'm aware of the warranty, and I'm aware of the damage. I suppose I could always say if they don't find any damage I will pay for the service.

I've worked in automotive distribution, and I'm a little puzzled by the secrecy approach. I know from a dealer's perspective they love warranty work because Audi guarantees payment for the work, and in this case the work is significant.

On the one hand, if I play dumb and they don't find any stored codes they may just simply choose to ignore it and never even pull the pump to inspect the cam follower - after all, isn't that the default procedure - no codes, no further inspection?

It's going in tomorrow morning. I've got to decide how to instruct the dealer. If the dealer declines to service it or invoke the warranty, what are my options? Do I then take it to AoA? At that point, won't I have to prove there is damage?

Since Audi is providing reimbursements to those who had the work done elsewhere, I would assume they are accepting of the assessment and repair by a 3rd party after the fact, so why would they refuse when it is clearly evident there is a problem that is under warranty reported by an Audi dealer?

Confused and conflicted!!