So my engine started to sound louder than usual. I was planning on taking the car on a trip so I had my local mechanic scan the engine while he was doing my trip check. They were swamped so he suggested I take the car to the dealer for the engine noise. The dealer found that" the camshaft follower was worn completely through and the camshaft damaged, the chain and pump were damaged." They recommended "replacing the fuel high pressure pump, camshaft, timing chain tensioner cam followers and vacuum pump (because the vacuum pump was leaking oil.)" The work would total $3180.00. They also recommended replacing the water pump and timing belt for $1014.00 given that my car already had almost 93,000 miles on it.
It seems to me that the check engine light should have come on before all this damage occurred. I called VW Customer care and they said that the car was too far out of warranty to help. Nice customer care for a person on their third Passat wagon. We have only kept this one for so long because we can't get a new Passat Wagon in the US. I think our customer loyalty is coming to a fast close. Has anyone else experienced this problem? Any advice would be appreciated.
So my engine started to sound louder than usual. I was planning on taking the car on a trip so I had my local mechanic scan the engine while he was doing my trip check. They were swamped so he suggested I take the car to the dealer for the engine noise. The dealer found that" the camshaft follower was worn completely through and the camshaft damaged, the chain and pump were damaged." They recommended "replacing the fuel high pressure pump, camshaft, timing chain tensioner cam followers and vacuum pump (because the vacuum pump was leaking oil.)" The work would total $3180.00. They also recommended replacing the water pump and timing belt for $1014.00 given that my car already had almost 93,000 miles on it.
It seems to me that the check engine light should have come on before all this damage occurred. I called VW Customer care and they said that the car was too far out of warranty to help. Nice customer care for a person on their third Passat wagon. We have only kept this one for so long because we can't get a new Passat Wagon in the US. I think our customer loyalty is coming to a fast close. Has anyone else experienced this problem? Any advice would be appreciated.
- Kim P., Springfield, PA, US