How to Solve Camshaft Timing Fault in Golf GTE
Electric vehicles are going to take over the automotive world in the coming few years, and with that several things are going to change. The highly popular Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles will phase out into hybrids, and finally fully electric cars will take on the mantle. But until complete EV domination happens, hybrids and internal combustion engine vehicles are going to remain the most popular choice for many.
In other words, checking engine oil levels, inspecting the state of filters, and using quality fuel are going to remain important for at least another decade or so. Not only that, but you will also need to retain the services of a reliable garage to do repairs for you.
Whilst hybrids improve fuel efficiency and emissions by combining the best of both ICE and EV technology, this benefit also creates a challenge – by bringing the two systems together it makes vehicle maintenance twice as difficult.
One of our clients experienced that first-hand. Mr D’s 2015 Golf GTE, flashed a warning light and needed urgent attention.
The Golf GTE’s engine was not performing as it should. The car was undrivable – jerking and juddering around.
Mr D took his vehicle to his usual garage, and they diagnosed a cambelt issue but even after some remedial work the vehicle still wouldn’t start or idle properly. It was a nightmare running the Golf, and Mr D couldn’t take it anymore. He had spent plenty of money and got no results. Frustrating.
So, Mr D opened up his laptop and searched Google for a VW specialist garage near his place of residence.
That’s where he came upon RM Motors’s website. He looked through the site, read a few of our blogs and customer reviews and called us after being impressed with our repair work and customer service.
We were delighted to see Mr D and his 2015 Golf GTE at our garage. We were confident we could help.
Mr D arranged for his car to be delivered to RM Motors. Our Volkswagen specialist immediately took the car under his wing. He spoke with the folks from the other garage, and they had explained all the work done on the Golf GTE. It turned out that the previous garage had done a cambelt repair, but they couldn’t solve the timing issue.
Our Golf expert noted down all the complaints and started making a mental map of the route he would take for the repair.
Faults Found
Before beginning the repair, our technician had to ensure there was no other fault plaguing the car. The diagnosis at the other workshop was correct, but they could have missed something along the way. If our VW technician ruled out that possibility the diagnosis and repair would take much less time.
Therefore, our technician started by checking the state of the cambelt. It was fresh and recently changed. The only other issue could be related to the timing, but our technician couldn’t speculate just yet. He had to know what the ECU had to say about the problem.
Our VW specialist looked at the warning in the dash and performed a full fault scan. He saw the following code during his search:
- P0016 – Camshaft/ Crankshaft Position
Once our technician saw this code, he confirmed that the previous garage had caught the fault, but they were unable to pinpoint the issue or properly time the car. Maybe there was something else hiding underneath this issue. So, our Golf specialist initiated the 15-step diagnostic procedure. He used this process to ensure he overlooked no other faults on his way to the solution.
Diagnostic Procedure
The 15-step diagnostic procedure starts with a visual inspection, followed by a detailed ECU scan. Our VW specialist performed both and found some useful information to help with the repair. Thereafter, he moved on to perform other tests to reach the root cause of the issue.
Our technician had asked the other garage about the tools they used to perform the timing. He was surprised to find that the technicians at the previous garage had not used them at all and never paid any attention to the camshaft timing. The timing was way off its normal position and that was causing the engine problems in Mr D’s car.
As Leed’s leading independent Volkswagen specialist our technicians have the know-how and equipment to take on any job. In this case our technician used the Volkswagen-specific VAS611007 tool to measure the offset. Amazingly, there was a 30-degree shift from the camshafts, which meant a complete redoing of the mechanical timing.
Our Golf specialist had to redo the whole work again and perform the timing using the correct tools.
Solving The Problem
Our technician removed the timing belt and timed the engine according to the manufacturer’s specifications. He also replaced the stretch bolts for the cam and crankshafts as they had also not been touched by the previous garage.
Once all was in place, our technician attached the timing belt and used the VAS 611003 tool to adjust the cam timing. Our VW technician had to be accurate with the timing as this job requires extreme precision and focus to do right.
Once the timing was perfected and all the parts put together, our technician started the car and checked the idle. Not only was the car starting properly, but it was idling and running as it should. All the problems had gone away, including the warning light in the dash.
The only thing left was to give Mr D the good news and hand him over his Golf GTE.
Summary
One of our clients had asked their usual garage to help with an issue on his Volkswagen Golf. Even after changing the cambelt on his 2015 Volkswagen Golf GTE the problem persisted. Luckily, the client found us through an internet search and had his car delivered to our garage.
Our lead VW technician took the case and started working on the Golf. The other garage had provided all the information about the attempted repair, and that helped our expert reach the solution a bit faster.
Our technician confirmed the timing issue and started working on creating a test plan for the repair. But before he could do anything, our expert had to initiate the 15-step diagnostic procedure to ensure he covered all the bases.
The diagnosis worked like a charm, and our technician fixed Mr D’s car in no time. He not only saved the client’s time and money, but he also ensured no damage came to the engine and its internals.
If you are looking for a Volkswagen garage with expert technicians who have the knowledge and expertise to perform skilful repairs, then it is time to head over to RM Motors.
We offer the best value for your money and time! You can contact us on 01924 456666 to learn more about our services.
