Stupid Timing Chain Tensioner Pads
#1
Stupid Timing Chain Tensioner Pads
I finally got around to changing the half moon seal and cam chain tensioner gasket on my 2000 A6 yesterday. It was a PITA trying to replace them using just a cam chain tensioner tool and without completely dismantling the front of my engine but, by far, it was still easier than the latter.
Everything was going fine until a bolt broke off while I was tightening the valve cover (7 ft/lbs) on the passenger side. No biggie. It was still a pleasant experience up to that point.
Then midway through the driver side I find out that the cam chain tensioner pad is cracked and missing some pieces. What a POS! It wasn't what I needed after putting in a few hours of back breaking work! I'm not sure how much of the missing pieces are still in the chamber, but I tried to fish them out as much as I could. It was a disaster just waiting to happen. This might explain some of the ticking noise that I've been hearing. I hope that my timing is not affected by my replacing this tensioner pad. Any ideas from you Audiworld gurus on this subject?
Anyway, I found an auto parts place on Amazon who sells the pads only for $22.95 (plus $32.06 FedEx Overnight). The shipping costs more than the part. LOL!
Local auto parts stores and the dealership only sell the cam chain tensioner as a whole unit.
Here's the culprit:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/targuevara/7051340915/" title="Cam Chain Tensioner Pad by Tar Guevara, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7277/7051340915_81d5c66c79.jpg" width="500" height="348" alt="Cam Chain Tensioner Pad"></a>
Here's the cam chain resting on the tensioner without the pad:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/targuevara/7051340937/" title="Cam Chain & Tensioner by Tar Guevara, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7075/7051340937_862f30763a.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Cam Chain & Tensioner"></a>
I'd appreciate any helpful hints from you Audiworld gurus! Thanks!
Everything was going fine until a bolt broke off while I was tightening the valve cover (7 ft/lbs) on the passenger side. No biggie. It was still a pleasant experience up to that point.
Then midway through the driver side I find out that the cam chain tensioner pad is cracked and missing some pieces. What a POS! It wasn't what I needed after putting in a few hours of back breaking work! I'm not sure how much of the missing pieces are still in the chamber, but I tried to fish them out as much as I could. It was a disaster just waiting to happen. This might explain some of the ticking noise that I've been hearing. I hope that my timing is not affected by my replacing this tensioner pad. Any ideas from you Audiworld gurus on this subject?
Anyway, I found an auto parts place on Amazon who sells the pads only for $22.95 (plus $32.06 FedEx Overnight). The shipping costs more than the part. LOL!
Local auto parts stores and the dealership only sell the cam chain tensioner as a whole unit.
Here's the culprit:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/targuevara/7051340915/" title="Cam Chain Tensioner Pad by Tar Guevara, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7277/7051340915_81d5c66c79.jpg" width="500" height="348" alt="Cam Chain Tensioner Pad"></a>
Here's the cam chain resting on the tensioner without the pad:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/targuevara/7051340937/" title="Cam Chain & Tensioner by Tar Guevara, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7075/7051340937_862f30763a.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Cam Chain & Tensioner"></a>
I'd appreciate any helpful hints from you Audiworld gurus! Thanks!
#2
AudiWorld Super User
Ouch! At least you caught it
I finally got around to changing the half moon seal and cam chain tensioner gasket on my 2000 A6 yesterday. It was a PITA trying to replace them using just a cam chain tensioner tool and without completely dismantling the front of my engine but, by far, it was still easier than the latter.
Everything was going fine until a bolt broke off while I was tightening the valve cover (7 ft/lbs) on the passenger side. No biggie. It was still a pleasant experience up to that point.
Then midway through the driver side I find out that the cam chain tensioner pad is cracked and missing some pieces. What a POS! It wasn't what I needed after putting in a few hours of back breaking work! I'm not sure how much of the missing pieces are still in the chamber, but I tried to fish them out as much as I could. It was a disaster just waiting to happen. This might explain some of the ticking noise that I've been hearing. I hope that my timing is not affected by my replacing this tensioner pad. Any ideas from you Audiworld gurus on this subject?
Anyway, I found an auto parts place on Amazon who sells the pads only for $22.95 (plus $32.06 FedEx Overnight). The shipping costs more than the part. LOL!
Local auto parts stores and the dealership only sell the cam chain tensioner as a whole unit.
Here's the culprit:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/targuevara/7051340915/" title="Cam Chain Tensioner Pad by Tar Guevara, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7277/7051340915_81d5c66c79.jpg" width="500" height="348" alt="Cam Chain Tensioner Pad"></a>
Here's the cam chain resting on the tensioner without the pad:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/targuevara/7051340937/" title="Cam Chain & Tensioner by Tar Guevara, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7075/7051340937_862f30763a.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Cam Chain & Tensioner"></a>
I'd appreciate any helpful hints from you Audiworld gurus! Thanks!
Everything was going fine until a bolt broke off while I was tightening the valve cover (7 ft/lbs) on the passenger side. No biggie. It was still a pleasant experience up to that point.
Then midway through the driver side I find out that the cam chain tensioner pad is cracked and missing some pieces. What a POS! It wasn't what I needed after putting in a few hours of back breaking work! I'm not sure how much of the missing pieces are still in the chamber, but I tried to fish them out as much as I could. It was a disaster just waiting to happen. This might explain some of the ticking noise that I've been hearing. I hope that my timing is not affected by my replacing this tensioner pad. Any ideas from you Audiworld gurus on this subject?
Anyway, I found an auto parts place on Amazon who sells the pads only for $22.95 (plus $32.06 FedEx Overnight). The shipping costs more than the part. LOL!
Local auto parts stores and the dealership only sell the cam chain tensioner as a whole unit.
Here's the culprit:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/targuevara/7051340915/" title="Cam Chain Tensioner Pad by Tar Guevara, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7277/7051340915_81d5c66c79.jpg" width="500" height="348" alt="Cam Chain Tensioner Pad"></a>
Here's the cam chain resting on the tensioner without the pad:
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/targuevara/7051340937/" title="Cam Chain & Tensioner by Tar Guevara, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7075/7051340937_862f30763a.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Cam Chain & Tensioner"></a>
I'd appreciate any helpful hints from you Audiworld gurus! Thanks!
Are you asking for the replacement procedure?
#3
http://youtu.be/DEOC8zFOHcQ
#5
http://www.amazon.com/97-06-Timing-C.../dp/B002S65MGG
#6
AudiWorld Super User
It's not hope, it's a fact
If your chain is not off the sprockets it's not a problem, it's just tension
that your working with and the tool will compress the pad to do the repair.
Thats all.
that your working with and the tool will compress the pad to do the repair.
Thats all.
#7
AudiWorld Super User
Haven't done this but from what I've read and can infer it looks like you need to remove the tensioner assembly to replace both pads (two on each tensioner). That probably involves removing the cam bearing caps and lifting the cam/sprocket out to remove the tensioner, replacing the pads, and reinstalling the tensioner.
STFA...the procedure is there. Main thing is to get the cam chain sprocket back in exactly the same place...mark the chain/sprocket with magic marker or scribe.
STFA...the procedure is there. Main thing is to get the cam chain sprocket back in exactly the same place...mark the chain/sprocket with magic marker or scribe.
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#8
Haven't done this but from what I've read and can infer it looks like you need to remove the tensioner assembly to replace both pads (two on each tensioner). That probably involves removing the cam bearing caps and lifting the cam/sprocket out to remove the tensioner, replacing the pads, and reinstalling the tensioner.
STFA...the procedure is there. Main thing is to get the cam chain sprocket back in exactly the same place...mark the chain/sprocket with magic marker or scribe.
STFA...the procedure is there. Main thing is to get the cam chain sprocket back in exactly the same place...mark the chain/sprocket with magic marker or scribe.
#9
AudiWorld Super User
That may work, for awhile. The issue is the plastic has hardened/cracked on one...the other three aren't far behind if they haven't already cracked.
If you just want to flip the car you could put just the top pad in...but you won't be doing yourself any favors in a couple thousand miles when/if the other three pads go.
In the time honored fashion of DFWAB, the broken pad is symptomatic....
If you just want to flip the car you could put just the top pad in...but you won't be doing yourself any favors in a couple thousand miles when/if the other three pads go.
In the time honored fashion of DFWAB, the broken pad is symptomatic....
#10
I have to agree with Sloop on this. Especially on the unit that already failed - if it failed on the top, the chain wasn't traveling over the tenstioner as designed and could be damaging the bottom pretty easily.
I would pull the cams and replace them both on that side at least. It sucks - you will have to take the timing belt off to do this. This is why it's good to do this service when you do the timing belt. There's always something that goes wrong that could make you have to do the other half....
I would pull the cams and replace them both on that side at least. It sucks - you will have to take the timing belt off to do this. This is why it's good to do this service when you do the timing belt. There's always something that goes wrong that could make you have to do the other half....