Decision time

[Tony Hoffman]

Kent, I'm with Huw and Jan on this one. Make sure it's checked out
thoroughly. It only takes me about 45 minutes to pull the front end
off an A4, tell them to get some old bug engine studs for sliding the
lock carier forward. Then, check the cam timing and go from there.
I've done plenty of 1.8T's with gbroken belts/bent valves. That's not
an issue at all. You will never notice it, if it even makes a
diferentce. Certainly not on a N/A V6.

However, what could have happened to the main bearings is what worries
me. If it were me, I'd pull the front end, check the timing, perhaps
pull the cam gears. Then, when the cam timing is fixed, fire it up
with an oil pressure guage attached (easy to get to on the V6, right
above the oil cooler) and see what happens.

As for the Passat, it's an A4. If you are looking for lower
maintenance than the A4, that's not it. The guy with the MK2 GTI
suggestion is more along that path. cheap and fun!. However, not quite
as nice as the A4 ;-)

Great seats, though. Especially the 16V.

Tony Hoffman


On Fri, Jan 9, 2009 at 2:21 PM, Huw Powell <audi at humanspeakers.com> wrote:
>
>>> So, the misaligned cams are causing low compression?  Although I am unfamiliar
>>> with the v6, I would propose the following:
>>> --Pull the plugs and inspect the piston tops with one of those flexible
>>> inspection scopes.  This will confirm or not the "smashed valves."
>>> --Reset the timing on the cams and remeasure compression.
>>> --If the compression is "acceptable", fill the crankcase, replace the oil
>>> filter, and try to start the car.
>>>
>>> Perhaps you and the mechanic already performed steps 1 and 2?
>>
>> Nope. I was told that if the cams were off, there is so little
>> clearance for the valves that they'd go squish boom.
>>
>> An inspection scope would be nice, but I don't think it will
>> help. Is it worth $300 to find out?
>
> Surely your mechanic has access to one?  They should...
>
>> I was also told the stress the induced the pully/crank key
>> to (potentially) shear (all this is still speculation), would take
>> its toll on other parts.
>
> I think there's too much speculation going on, and agree with M.
> Pinkowish' recommendation.
>
> Actually *seeing* dents in pistons or bits of valve in the combustion
> chamber would makes things clear.  As would *seeing* a sheared key.
>
> I realize it will cost money to set the cam timing properly to do the
> test - how much?
>
> Judging by your commute, I'd venture to guess that you don't really have
> much spare time to work on this yourself?
>
> (PS, I would imagine the first thing the tech who buys it for 1000 would
> do is reset the cam timing and add oil to see if it runs... after
> checking the combustion chambers and keyways!)
>
> --
> Huw Powell
>
> http://www.humanspeakers.com/audi
>
> http://www.humanthoughts.org/
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