And another problem!...VVT tensioner

[brad_barker12]

Hi all,

not a good month for my car or my wallet it seems!

ill start from the beginning.
around December time my car started making the top end rattle on cold start for a few seconds. after reading various threads on here I put it down to a faulty VVT chain tensioner or lack of oil reaching the VVT unit due to blocked pick up pipe. the car has a very good service history but decided to drop the sump anyway and replaced the oil pickup even though the old one was clean and cleaned the sump out. this didn't stop the rattle on cold start so I went ahead and replaced the cambelt/waterpump/tensioners and the VVT tensioner plus all the gaskets fresh oil etc.

this is the tensioner I bought: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/AUDI-VW-S...arts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item43c1589ad5

all was well until now. yesterday I plugged the car into vagcom to clear a fault code for the traction control which I fixed, while doing this I found another fault code:

16396 - Bank 1: Camshaft A (Intake): Advance Setpoint not Reached (Over-Retarded)

alarm bells started to ring but I wiped the fault code to see if it would return. today I start the car and while driving I can hear some sort of rattle noise which I thought was a heat shield or something. I had someone rev the car and upon closer inspection its coming from the VVT tensioner. at around 2000-2500 rpm when letting off the throttle there is a loud rattle, its fine when idling just does it when being revved.

I then unplug the electrical connector from the VVT tensioner and once again revved the car. the rattle disappears, I plug the connector back in and the noise comes back.

anyone got any ideas??

thanks in advance

 

[brad_barker12]

anyone??

 

[Ronin225]

Its been documented that the ebay vvt units seem not to be genuine and often give the set point not reached code. strange that the unit is normally over £450 but these are only £100

 

[brad_barker12]

Yeaa I did think this although the box was genuine VAG and it has the audi/vw stamping aswell as part number engraved on the unit itself which is why I bought it in the first place. Is there a certain way you have to install these? Is it literally fit them and start the car or do you crank the car over by hand first to allow oil to reach the Vvt? Last thing I want to do is fit a new tensioner at a cost of 400 odd quid and the thing fails again due to not fitting correctly.

 

[Ronin225]

Think it was tufty who bought one and was saying it was in box that looked OE but on closer inspection looked printed.
Id think youd need the engine spinning quickly to prime the unit so by hand is too slow

 

[brad_barker12]

I see. well looks like im going to have to bite the bullet and buy a genuine one. im doing an oil pressure test on the car tomorrow just to be on the safe side so see how that goes first. thanks for your help mate

 

[Ronin225]

I was just going to say before splashing out that oil pressure operates the vvt unit and is the last thing in the system, any oil pressure drop will usually show on this first

 

[brad_barker12]

Oil pressure test done.
4.5 bar on cold startup which decreased to around 2.5-3 bar when hot on idle.

At 3k rpm 4.0-4.5 bar when hot

 

[ibizacupra]

Yeaa I did think this although the box was genuine VAG and it has the audi/vw stamping aswell as part number engraved on the unit itself which is why I bought it in the first place. Is there a certain way you have to install these? Is it literally fit them and start the car or do you crank the car over by hand first to allow oil to reach the Vvt? Last thing I want to do is fit a new tensioner at a cost of 400 odd quid and the thing fails again due to not fitting correctly.

bet it was a fake
did the VW/audi box some flatpacked seperate to the actual Fake tensioner?

tuffty had the same thing

reported to egay who did nothing..
sellers closed and started under yet another name selling fake crap

 

[ben450]

I'd never trust eBay with critical engine parts.

 

[brad_barker12]

Yes bill it was. I've messaged the seller who's getting abit aggravated. Reckons it's the oil pickup or oil filter when both have been done as well as a oil pressure test to rule these issues out. Now his ignoring me. Absolute *****!

I spouse you live and learn but I will say the only reason I bought it is because it was for sale as being genuine, the box was genuine and had the Audi markings on the unit itself.

 

[ben450]

You not got his address mate go and kick his teeth down his throat. Obviously a dodgy seller very annoying.

 

[brad_barker12]

Yeaa tell me about it. Im looking to get some sort of Conpensation for it but whether I get anywhere is another story. The link for the tensioner is further up this page. I would advise anyone looking for a new one not to purchase from him!

 

[ibizacupra]

Yes bill it was. I've messaged the seller who's getting abit aggravated. Reckons it's the oil pickup or oil filter when both have been done as well as a oil pressure test to rule these issues out. Now his ignoring me. Absolute *****!

I spouse you live and learn but I will say the only reason I bought it is because it was for sale as being genuine, the box was genuine and had the Audi markings on the unit itself.

he knows they're fake..
report him to ebay

 

[ben450]

he knows they're fake..
report him to ebay

I agree +1

 

[brad_barker12]

Well I rang the seller today. Spoke to a very "nice" Pakistani bloke. Basically told me warranty only lasts 2 weeks and to fack off. In the end he just hung up and will no longer answer the phone!

I will report him to eBay when I get home as I'm on my way back from badger5 at the minute

 

[ben450]

Well I rang the seller today. Spoke to a very "nice" Pakistani bloke. Basically told me warranty only lasts 2 weeks and to fack off. In the end he just hung up and will no longer answer the phone!

I will report him to eBay when I get home as I'm on my way back from badger5 at the minute

I bet your raging mate I'm pissed and it's not even me that brought it.

 

[brad_barker12]

Wasn't very pleased to say the least especially when he told me to do one and put the phone down

 

[Ryan6926]

I've reported the listing as well bud

Hope you get something sorted, It seems stupid that eBay know he's selling fakes and don't care :/

If not you could always go with the traditional smack in the mouth approach if he's local

 

[brad_barker12]

yeaa ive just reported him. hopefully gets shut down. I know that I wont see my money back but hopefully stops him from selling crappy cheapo tensioners as genuine ones to unsuspecting people like myself!