Cam Chain Tensioner

[james2]

FANTASTIC. 4 days after I give the golf some TLC and spend £270 on a full service & cam cover gasket change what does it do?

Thats right! Starts sounding like a diesel on idle. 

Took it to the garage and we both reckon its the hydraulic cam chain tensioner. (Note, this has nothing to do with the cambelt/tensioner).

I've read it could be due to low oil pressure from sludge build up? I'm literally unable to afford the new tensioner priced at 280 quid from VW and all the work involved, so if anybody likes doing favors in return for what little cash I can offer you, get in touch!

Otherwise, any advice would be fantastic.

Sounds odd full service then this. Are you not getting a warning oil light ?

[MoshiMoshi]

We checked the pickup pipe, and while partially blocked - when unblocked, oil pressure was still too low. So it seemed a new oil pump was needed. I bit the bullet and got it done, oil pressure is now up within tolerances, but still not as high as we would like. On the plus side, cam chain tensioner has shut up, and the top end of the engine is much quieter. All I can hear is the injectors ticking away.

£300 well spent 

[gazareth]

I cant believe you just paid the same people that probably caused the problem another 300 quid! oil pumps don't go from working fine to worn out in a couple of days unless a load of dirt gets in to them or they are starved of oil.

[topher]

If the garage f*cked the pump i would've expected it to be rattly before it left the workshop or on the drive home, not 4 days later.

[gazareth]

If the garage f*cked the pump i would've expected it to be rattly before it left the workshop or on the drive home, not 4 days later.

not necessarily. if the garage knocked loose lumps of sludge from gasket face it might take a while to get to the sump and then in to pick up gauze. even then the pump might be fine for a few miles until the oil starvation or the dirty sludge caused it to wear rapidly and lose oil pressure.

[topher]

im confused..

FANTASTIC. 4 days after I give the golf some TLC and spend £270 on a full service & cam cover gasket change what does it do?

Thats right! Starts sounding like a diesel on idle.

I had no symptoms until 2 hours after I picked up the car and got the engine warm.

if its 2 hours then yeah its a strong possibility something happened at the garage, if its 4 days of driving later its an unlucky coincidence.

[gazareth]

op should have taken it straight back to garage at first sign of trouble. I am so glad I can do my own repairs.

[MoshiMoshi]

My current job pattern is erratic (shifts) and as such I took it back at my earliest opportunity. It's not impossible that the issue was caused by the garage, but I have no way to prove it. I didn't have the luxury of taking the car elsewhere for a quote as it needed to be fixed that day. (1 day off, in 14 days, and I need the car to get to work).

Sh*t happens I guess.

I'm going to start doing a lot more work on it myself, I start a new job for the MOD soon, a decent commute everyday, and the car will rack up even more miles, and I daresay break down even more!

First on my shopping list is a torque wrench.