How common are the timing chain tensioner failures on the 3.2?

[filip3311]

Hey guys,

I'm looking at a 2008 A6 Quattro with the 3.2. It has about 140,000km (87,000mi). The car seems clean and drives well, has all the service records from the local Audi dealer. What's holding me back from pulling the trigger is the horror stories about the timing tensioner's failing and people having to replace the motor/pull the motor to repair the tensioner.

How often do these failures really happen? Is this a defect in every 3.2? Should I buy the car?

I really don't want to buy a car thats going to need a $5000+ repair.

Thanks and hope to be joining the Audi community soon!

[SinCityA6]

The tensioner issue is not a "defect" but simply a result of the design. Audi says the chains and tensioners are "lifetime" parts that do not require maintenance. However, as we all know, things wear out over time. You will find low mileage cars with stretched chains and worn guides/tensioners and you find high mileage cars that have never had or needed to have them replaced. It all boils down to how well cared for the car is. At 86k miles you should be fine. The tell tale signs are chain rattle upon cold start. If the rattle briefly, then you are fine. However, if they rattle for an extended period of time, then that is a sign of advanced wear.
Just FYI, the upper tensioners can be replaced without pulling the motor. It is the guides and chains themselves that will require a motor pull to be replaced.


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[Biggusblockus]

The tensioner issue is not a "defect" but simply a result of the design. Audi says the chains and tensioners are "lifetime" parts that do not require maintenance. However, as we all know, things wear out over time. You will find low mileage cars with stretched chains and worn guides/tensioners and you find high mileage cars that have never had or needed to have them replaced. It all boils down to how well cared for the car is. At 86k miles you should be fine. The tell tale signs are chain rattle upon cold start. If the rattle briefly, then you are fine. However, if they rattle for an extended period of time, then that is a sign of advanced wear.
Just FYI, the upper tensioners can be replaced without pulling the motor. It is the guides and chains themselves that will require a motor pull to be replaced.



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^^^^^^^^ This is very good advice. ^^^^^^. I concur.

[JPJ2007]

x2.
Some go at 100k, and some higher. I'm at 221,000 miles and haven't had any issues. ( Knocks on wood) I've owned the car since 90,000 miles in 2009. And it came off a lease, so I doubt the owner ever cared to check into anything.
Just luck of the draw and how well it's cared for.

[Simon of Elmet]

I have had the full service done: guides, chains, tensioners etc.
Engine did not need to be dropped.

[Dutch_A6]

I just got 190k and other than replacing seals on the upper tensioners haven't had any issues (knock on wood) and put on about 4-500 miles a week. I how to have her for another coupe of years of not longer.

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[JPJ2007]

So drop the transmission and you have access to everything. Interesting.
Did you do this or have the service done by a shop (I assume shop, by your wording)

I still feel like I would be better off getting a 100k mile motor instead of trying to continue with this one
when the day comes. I guess it depends on the price of the job diy.

[2010A6]

So drop the transmission and you have access to everything. Interesting.
Did you do this or have the service done by a shop (I assume shop, by your wording)

I still feel like I would be better off getting a 100k mile motor instead of trying to continue with this one
when the day comes. I guess it depends on the price of the job diy.

You have a lift for this? I wish I had access to something like that


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[Simon of Elmet]

So drop the transmission and you have access to everything. Interesting.
Did you do this or have the service done by a shop (I assume shop, by your wording)

I still feel like I would be better off getting a 100k mile motor instead of trying to continue with this one
when the day comes. I guess it depends on the price of the job diy.

Yep, my Indy did the work.
Car was at approximately 200 000 km (124 000 ish miles) when the work was done.
I am very meticulous about maintenance but drive the car hard.

[JPJ2007]

Nice. Being at 221k miles ( or 355665km ) I know im approaching a point where one of the two will have to happen.

Yeah, My fathers house has a 2nd garage and he's about to have a lift installed. Doesn't yet, but will.
I plan on building a garage this year and it will also include a 2 post auto lift at my own home. It currently doesn't have a garage.

Even if I builld it next year I'm hoping I get 30k miles out of the current motor so I won't hit 250k miles until next year.
So I hopefully have a little bit of time.

Just a few months ago I did a lot of front end motor work myself.
Waterpump, thermostat, Radiator hoses, temp sensor, belts, pulleys, Carbon cleaning, front snub mount, Cross over pipe, Fan assembly/Module etc....





OldParts

NewParts

[2010A6]

No kidding, that's impressive. If thermostat isn't covered in my extended warranty then I'm going to have to tackle that one next.

Okay okay sorry about the thread jacking :)


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[JPJ2007]

Be warned, to access the thermostat bolts the intake manifold must be removed.
Yeah sorry op, I didn't mean to take over this thread

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[2010A6]

I'll pm you about some diy work


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[oniseC6A6]

x2.
Some go at 100k, and some higher. I'm at 221,000 miles and haven't had any issues. ( Knocks on wood) I've owned the car since 90,000 miles in 2009. And it came off a lease, so I doubt the owner ever cared to check into anything.
Just luck of the draw and how well it's cared for.

your 3.2 is at 221k miles?? you're giving me hope thank you

[oniseC6A6]

Nice. Being at 221k miles ( or 355665km ) I know im approaching a point where one of the two will have to happen.

Yeah, My fathers house has a 2nd garage and he's about to have a lift installed. Doesn't yet, but will.
I plan on building a garage this year and it will also include a 2 post auto lift at my own home. It currently doesn't have a garage.

Even if I builld it next year I'm hoping I get 30k miles out of the current motor so I won't hit 250k miles until next year.
So I hopefully have a little bit of time.

Just a few months ago I did a lot of front end motor work myself.
Waterpump, thermostat, Radiator hoses, temp sensor, belts, pulleys, Carbon cleaning, front snub mount, Cross over pipe, Fan assembly/Module etc....





OldParts

NewParts

I just finished installing a new radiator fan today, and led me to realize my front motor mount bushing is totally gone. My dad told me to get a new snub mount.. make it my next diy assignment. What is your feedback on the mount? pros, cons, feel, etc.. thanks.

[JPJ2007]

This is a yr and a half old but I bought a new poly front snub bushing from ECS tuning.
Still good and I'm at 247k.. so close to 250k!!

[akingzkid]

This is a yr and a half old but I bought a new poly front snub bushing from ECS tuning.
Still good and I'm at 247k.. so close to 250k!!

Wow JPJ2007. 247K is really really impressive. Good luck with the snub mount. It's gonna be tricky if you plan to do it without putting the car in the service position. I did it without putting it in service position and it was hard. Good luck.

[JPJ2007]

I already did it in those photos above a year and a half ago.

[mixtery]

my good friend who is an indy tech just replaced a trans on a 2006 with 232k on the clock. owner loved the car so much he wanted a new trans put in.
Chains had never been done on it but my tech convinced him to do them while trans was out anyway since he wanted to keep the car forever.
my 2007 avant has 120k and no rattle to speak of unless it's freezing outside, even then it's only a second of rattle.

[JPJ2007]

Ask your indy friend what he charged...

I offered a audi master mechanic who is also a firefighter (so I was expecting a hook up)
The price for chain and guides replacement.

I offered to bring the motor on a stand to his shop. Not even I'm the car
And it was still 3500.

Parts are 1500. So the labor was 2,000.

I haven't decided if I'm going to tackle it myself or not.

[19jdog]

Ask your indy friend what he charged...

I offered a audi master mechanic who is also a firefighter (so I was expecting a hook up)
The price for chain and guides replacement.

I offered to bring the motor on a stand to his shop. Not even I'm the car
And it was still 3500.

Parts are 1500. So the labor was 2,000.

I haven't decided if I'm going to tackle it myself or not.

3500!! I would assume you could get a another low mileage engine for that price. My C6 is at 114000. Looks like these motors are gold if taken care off.

Thanks for the info JPJ2007

[JPJ2007]

Yeah I'm getting a 140k motor for 250 from a local car pull a part yard...
At that cost of course i wont bother. But I was curious if that was a normal cost..

The chain kit itself alone is $1,500 from ECS Tuning...
But man for 2k I'd rather just put that towards a C7...

[christianb5s4]

3.0T here. I've been noticing a random rattling sound that sounds similar to timing chain rattle on cold starts, it happens very infrequently but enough to where I thought I'd post. Lasts maybe 1 or 2 seconds then goes away when it does occur.

I know my transmission mount is toast and will replace that, could it be something like that rattling? The motor only has 85K miles. Will probably monitor after the mount is replaced and see if that doesn't eliminate it.

[mixtery]

3.0T here. I've been noticing a random rattling sound that sounds similar to timing chain rattle on cold starts, it happens very infrequently but enough to where I thought I'd post. Lasts maybe 1 or 2 seconds then goes away when it does occur.

I know my transmission mount is toast and will replace that, could it be something like that rattling? The motor only has 85K miles. Will probably monitor after the mount is replaced and see if that doesn't eliminate it.

On the 3.0T it’s a common issue on cold start. Search cam chain tensioner noise. There is a TSB for it from Audi they sometimes will replace under warranty. However, not many have reported engine failure from this issue.


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[christianb5s4]

Do you think there's even a remote possibility that TSB would be honored under warranty at this point? What symptoms do there have to be to qualify?

[mixtery]

Under warranty or under cpo dealers will replace if you stay on them about it. Especially if it happens every time you cold start. Out of warranty you can forget it unless you have a great dealer relationship.


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[LordVardamir]

I've got a 2009 a4 3.2L with 135k on it. Can you hear the chain rattle from inside the cabin? From the outside the car is fairly clicky, but I'm assuming clicky is different than rattling. I also read somewhere that a Vagcom system can read cam phase adjustment values and greater than -7degrees is something to be worried about. Thoughts?

[mixtery]

Search the Audiworld C6 forum there is an eternal thread of timing chains and how to take the reading with Vag com. Put good oil in the car and take a breath. Mine have 125k and they seem just fine no noise at all. The 3.2 is a clicky sounding motor.


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