lets talk cam wear now

[freedom875cc]

The car is an 04 leon cupra tdi, standard, on 115,000miles.

After finding that I had a worn turbo, it now seems my cam is showing signs of wear on the lobes ("hammering" and scratching). This has also taken out the corresponding valve followers. They are not knackered yet but im sure they are well on their way. A couple of weeks ago the engine developed a tappety noise, that would sometimes be there sometimes not. Surely this kinda damage can't accelerate to this level in about 1.5k miles?

So people, I ask, how much is this going to cost to repair? I've heard the cams are made out of cheese. So is there other manufacteres out there that do them?

What else should i look at? Do the injecters and rockers get damaged?

Any help will be much appreciated!

cheeers
dom

 

[Viking]

It's a common problem mate. On another forum (the one I linked you to before) there's a couple of people just had their engines rebuilt last week after finding their cam shot. Ballpark figure was roughly £600 including cam and all 8 followers, and the labour was done himself. That was expensive for the parts mind you, and there are cheaper places to get it than he paid.

 

[freedom875cc]

Just been on one of the mk4 golf forums and there seems to be a lot of people using AW engineering? mixed reviews on them but they do cam kits (cam, followers and a couple of gaskets i believe) for around £270 +vat, seems reasonable. Do you know about the reliability of their products at all?

 

[Viking]

The parts are oem as far as I know, so there shouldn't be any issues with them. To be fair, even if they weren't oem then at least they would be on a par with what you're just taking out.

 

[glynnd]

From TPS;
Cam is £354
Devon has had a none genuine cam and I believe had problems with it in a very short time?
tappets £17 each
Thats what I paid in December 2007.
Be aware there are other accosiated bits/ screws that will need replacing which cost about £90, sound £600 close to spot on!
Tapping noise, mine was doing it before the new cam and tappets, still doing it 42000 miles after the new cam and tappets. Think its just one of those common on some pd noises. Mine came on almost overnight and only does it when engine is warm, I though at first it may be a gearbox bearing, but in total my car has been doing it for over 50k now and not getting any worse! Thank God!
Glynn

 

[tolly_tdi]

Just out interest I assume you guys are talking about the PD150 engine?

 

[Viking]

Yep, Leon Cupra TDI has the pd150 lump. Although the problem isn't just specific to the 150, there are reports of the other pd engines suffering the same fate, although much less so.

 

[tolly_tdi]

Yeah although don't have this engine have heard about loads of people with cam/tappet wear and partial rebuilds needed. I think that its only just starting to become more popular as these engines from 04 onwards get higher mileages and not servicing them regularly with correct oil (505.01)?

 

[Viking]

The issue was initially a soft compound used for a batch of camshafts, and cam followers which weren't heat treated to cope with the stress. New parts are now upgraded to cope.

 

[glynnd]

AW Engineering get the cams from China, as I was told when i enquired in 07.
For that reason I decided not to get the cam from them but got the cam bearings from them at £45
Tappets are INA
Glynn

 

[glynnd]

The issue was initially a soft compound used for a batch of camshafts, and cam followers which weren't heat treated to cope with the stress. New parts are now upgraded to cope.

Lets hope the viking is right!
Glynn

 

[tolly_tdi]

Do you know what time period this was from and to just for future reference if a mate decides to get one? personally have been a bit put off with PD engines, its interesting to see that VAG have now gone back to CR though I know this was for different reasons.

 

[majesty78]

Look forward to get the black coated tappets.


If you want to go for custom tuning, you can take the cam from BRM engine which gives some degrees more duration than the other cams. (Although the BRM cams fail quite often*g*)

 

[alix]

Guys am looking at a 54 plate cupra tdi with 110k and full history but this thread has worried me a bit...

How common is this issue, what can I look/listen for if i go to look at it?

Thanks.

 

[freedom875cc]

I noticed a light tapping or clicking noise from the head, thought it was an injector but turned out to be the cam and buckets. The only real way is to pull the rocker cover off, 10mm socket, wrench, extension and a uj adaptor could answer your worries in 10mins of work. The valve carrieers should be a polished finish, mine were matted/scoured in a circular manner.

The job cost me about £300 plus extras like gaskets.. not a killer though can be done in-car too.

i ended up replacing the cam and followers then went the whole hog and did valve stem seals and all sorts, but the cam and buckets were £300 inc vat.

I also found my turbo was worn so got turbo technics to rebuild it also for £300 inc vat.

so whatever could go wrong, its never massively expensive.

May i ask how much the one your looking at is going for? only as im trying to gauge the value of my 123k 04 cupra tdi!!

hope this helps!

 

[alix]

Thanks for the info, will be having a long hard listen under the bonnet! He is asking 4295 which seems good to me, next cheapest on the market is 1000 more with 94k
Does this seem too cheap?

 

[Swig]

try driving it up a steady motorway/dual carriageway hill to see if the engine management light comes on (and it loses power)...

 

[MJ]

i personally have been a bit put off with PD engines, its interesting to see that VAG have now gone back to CR QUOTE]

I dont know where all this "common issue" speculation has come from but this fault is very uncommon on the seat fitted pd engines and was a more common failure in the early pd engines as fitted to golfs, boras etc.

As long as the car has a full service history and the owners have always used the correct pd vag spec oil then there should not be and issue - even on high mileage engines.

The pd engine is one of the most succesful and reliable engines used in production cars and has been fitted to many more makes than those within the vag brand (ford, dodge, chrysler to name a couple) the only common faults that ever occur are the turbos failing (but they are made by other companies such as garrett, KKK etc) so cant be put down to vag.

Also with regards to them dumping the pd - this is due to more stringent emmisions laws being enforced as of next year, better control of the emmisions can be gainned through cr technology as oppose to pd - vag never used cr in the past, changed to pd then reverted back to cr they first began to used the 2.0tdi cr engine in 2005(ish) in audis and vws and it has been slowly taking over the pd in other brands ever since.