Crank 5 TIMES to Start?? Part 1: Diagnosis (VW Passat P0341)

This 2003 VW Passat 1.8 Turbo looks neglected, but should still have some life left in it at 150k miles. Owner says it has been sitting for a while, but wants to get it back on the road.
The problem is that it is VERY RELUCTANT to start, often taking 5 Cranking Attempts to get it to fire!!
Once it does fire up, it runs a bit rough.
One suspicious code sets every time:
P0341-Camshaft Position Circuit Range/Performance.
Does it need a new CMP sensor?
Not so fast...
Let's break out the scope and figure out why this VW is sick.
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TORNADO 90000 SMART BATTERY CHARGER:
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ASTRO DC AMP CLAMP:
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AMAZING TEST LIGHT:
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FOXELLI LED RECHARGEABLE HEADLAMP:
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Enjoy!
Ivan

[@MattyEngland]

I've got many years of experience on 1.8t forums, if I had $5 for everytime I've seen the 16 rollers issue, I'd be retired and living in the Bahamas by now. The way it's counted makes it very easy to make a mistake.

[@anthonyjones5711]

I’m watching too many videos like this, I’m English and I’m now calling petrol “Gas”

[@DaveGmn]

I never understood why so many VW owners don't buy a VW for their next car. Then I bought an old Golf. "Old Golf" = unbelievably fecund electrical, control, and mechanical gremlin farm.

[@CedroCron]

A modern day VW with 152K miles on it. That's his problem, they were never meant to go this long. Buy a new one! LOL

[@farmermiyagi1338]

This makes me appreciate the 1980 C-10 Chevy I had in here yesterday. All original. It even still had the quadrajet on it. Ran good, but had a collapsed lifter. Around here people will pay 10k for a square body that runs, no matter the shape of the truck.

[@rodneymiddleton9624]

Working on other peoples stuff is like pealing the layers of an onion. Getting the whole story is like pulling teeth! Thanks Ivan.

[@dustcommander100]

Leave it up to VW to use both a timing belt and a chain!!!! If that were a Toyota, that chain in the back would be a gear. I know, they wanted to use a chain so they could have a weird VVT system like no one else....

[@4AJX]

I applaud you for working on German cars, I know they are a super real pain to fix sometimes👏

[@12wingwfetech]

The old saying the most expensive German car is a used German car . A guy asked Charles on comments once , his daughter needed a car he was looking at a VW and a Toyota , Charles said buy the Toyota .

[@andyg5004]

Cmon ivan tell the owner it’s a VW. Take it to the crusher

[@professorofficer9609]

OMG!

[@chipbowman9858]

And sometimes the plastic shoe on the chain tensioner falls off, especially the bottom one.

[@fulf]

Have changed alot of timingchains on these engines when they was fairly new (worked at vw dealer)

[@romanmccomb9354]

Those hydraulic tensioners are notorious for wearing out the guides and making that chain make noise. But I agree that the cams are out of time.

[@davidsteimer3351]

You need to take out the intake camshaft to replace the seal under the phaser... they leak a lot and i use to replace these quite often...

[@edwinlomonaco6754]

The 'been sitting for a while" nightmares. Lol. Check valves. Vacuum lines. Fuel tank. Fuel lines. Injectors. Etc etc.

[@mikeafa1]

Humm, the same owner of the other timing issue, rear engine seal...

[@han050]

Slugde in oil picup is also a thing on this enging with long intervall.

[@user-zt1pq7hq6y]

I'm so hooked on this site, that I need a fix, video, daily. I get the shakes waiting on a new video

[@baxrok2.]

Thanks Ivan!