[Eddiegordo]

Hi guys. Hoping someone may be able to help out/give me some advice.

I bought a MKV R32 about six months ago and everything was fine. Took in for service and on the way out the engine management light came on. Anyway long story but managed to get VW to run several scans for free and the initially found

P0011 A Camshaft position timing over advanced or system performance.

After a bit more digging they then found oil in one of the sensors which they now deem to be the problem. I got some electrical contact cleaner and gave the plugs a spray mainly lowest sensor.... Unsure of name see pic below. After doing this light went out

Engine management light intermittent so as test kept cleaning and the fault reset itself. Now VW quoted.... Wait for it...... £2000 as they thought it 'could' also be chain car has only done 58000!

The light has continued to be intermittent clearing after about /3 days. Got in the car yesterday to head to work and it seemed like there was a misfire between 2000-3000 RPM but no where else on the range and no degradation of performance outside this range..........

So here's where I need some help/suggestions

Firstly what are the two centre sensors the red one and one above (pic taken from Internet) and are these easy to change. VW reckon it's a gearbox out job and about 10 hours work......But that sounds more like chain replacement hours/job. I know the position sensors are bolted and can work loose but I've checked both and they seem good.

And secondly do you have any suggestions......

Thanks in advance.

Eddie.

 

[JamesBaby]

Load of rubbish if you ask me. I don't know of any mk5s with chain issues.

Oil in which sensor? The top two black sensors are camshaft position sensors. Easy cheap DIY fix which should be the starting point. You can even swap them over and see if the readings swap over or stay the same.

The brown and black sensor below are the variable cam solenoids. They are a bigger job to replace but unlikely to have failed.

Where are you based? You need someone with vcds to run some checks.

 

[Eddiegordo]

Cheers for replying!

The oil is in the lower of the two cam solenoids then. I took the cam shaft sensors off an they both seem fine.

It's really only the smallest amount maybe a drop but I guess its interrupting the signal making it spurious.

I'm based in London and don't want to get ripped off getting a quote for what I've already found. I'd be more than happy to travel if you have any recommendations.

I drove the car again last night and it seemed fine again. No stutter/miss but light surrently still on.

Cheers.

Edd.

 

[JamesBaby]

The only place I'd take my car for any open heart surgery is Gaz Jones of Vag Auto Care in Lincoln.

Its a long shot, but in various VAG models those solenoids have been known to get sticky from debris or oil issues. They operate like an electro magnet from what I read. Passat W8 owners had this issue and the trick they use is to apply a voltage from the car battery in quick bursts to the solenoid. I tried this on my car recently and then again a few weeks later. There is a thread somewhere on here. Might be in my head but it seemed to improve the car.

Basically you get two wires with crocodile clips on them and attach them to the solenoids.Then attach one to the positive terminal on the battery, the other you then touch the negative terminal in quick bursts. The 12v extends the piston and retracts it upon release. By doing this many times the solenoid frees up, Goes from a faint click to a nice firm click as it frees up.

VCDS can do the same thing but it only does it with 5v which is not always sufficient to free them up. A 9v battery or the car battery is better.

 

[JamesBaby]

Read this thread from about post number 10:

http://www.r32oc.com/topic/47598-help-cam-sensor-or-timing-chain/

 

[Eddiegordo]

Cheers for that. I'll get some clips. It's got to be worth a go. Do you think it would be a good idea to replace the camshaft position sensors anyway?
Are the solenoid a marked +ve/-ve or doesn't it matter which way you connect the solenoid to the battery?

Thanks again.

 

[JamesBaby]

Personally having seen the difference old and new sensors make including different brands even I'd say change the cam sensors. Cheap easy diy which eliminates it from the equation. Buy Bosch ones.

No the poles are not affected by positive or negative when applying the activation voltage on the solenoids.

 

[Eddiegordo]

Thanks.

EDIT

MKV sensors

Got in touch with VW they gave me part number 030907601E priced at £36.64.

 

[Eddiegordo]

So, did the solenoid trick. It hasn't made the light disappear/solve the issues but took it for a spin after and it felt immediately more responsive.

Waiting for the sensors to arrive and will fit them as soon as they do. In the mean time had some rough idling after about half an hour drive. Switched off ignition and left it for 5 hours came back and it was fine. It seems to stifle on a short run after about 15 miles but then clears itself.

Need to get it on some diagnostics again to see if any new faults have triggered.

On the hunt for someone with VAGCOM or a specialist that someone could recommend near southwest London.

Thanks and will update when sensors in. Fingers crossed.

 

[Eddiegordo]

Sensors arrived but too big. I take it MK4 & MK5 must have used a different sensor. Any ideas?

 

[JamesBaby]

Sorry to hear pal. I think they are different part numbers.

030907601E

Try buycarparts.co.uk

 

[Eddiegordo]

Thanks.

Yeah that's correct. Got in touch with VW they gave me part number 030907601E priced at £36.64.

Going to have to order them in as they've run out of stock.

Had car scanned again yesterday code P000A replaced P0011 so now looks like this.

P000A "A" Camshaft Position Slow Response (Bank 1) static.

Few other codes thrown but all intermittent and mainly due checking things like coil pack etc.

 

[adblue32]

I have a turboed Mk5 R32. I get a power loss/misfire then pronounced backfire as I go into boost. Its a definite backfire as the boost gauge spikes straight after it happens. Only running about 6psi. Have changed plugs, coils etc checked for leaks. No codes showing. Could it be cam position sensors?