The Jalopnik Tiguan FAILED ~ Despite the Warning

[@HumbleMechanic]

So we give Jason a little bit of a hard time in the video. This is all in good fun. The type of fun ya have with a good buddy. I am happy Jason reached out to me and we could work together on it.

[@Nipplator99999999999]

I've seen timing guide failures on a couple mid-2000s Chrysler Hemi engines, but they didn't resist spontaneous disassembly as well that VW did.

[@HumbleMechanic]

@@lakinnenlako6883 LOL

[@tm199100]

@@HumbleMechanic a bit off topic... I actually just re watched today, your review on the sonic s12 that we can see here today. There is mention 20% discount on the first purchase for crew membership. However, the website says 10%. Is it a typo or is a newer information? Also, is the discount worldwide or USA only?

[@mikehowell6874]

Hey Charles how can i get ahold of you so i can use you to work on my tdi ???

[@jamessichone7707]

Excellent staff very knowledgeable gentlemen. Wish we could do a brain transplant

[@unpopular_mechanics]

I'm going to give my Honda a hug after watching this.

[@HumbleMechanic]

HAHHAHAH

[@slimchriz1]

That’s why I track a Honda and have a A3 AND Q5 daily. Need to have options. Tbh the A3 cold start rattle is bad now, really bad.

[@zaitcev0]

I had a union-made, bailoutmobile Wrangler that was more durable and reliable than this marvel of German engineering.

[@greggc.touftree5936]

Yeah Honda makes better turbo cars now, but again they will be 100% electric 2030 so get ready to switch auto makers if you don't want a $40k + heavy af car.

[@BenState]

@@slimchriz1 cold start rattle on the 2.0TSFI? cam chain tensioner

[@Deutscheautoparts]

Had a blast! Thanks for the good times.

[@HumbleMechanic]

YASSS!!!

[@AdarisTempest]

I imagine the vehicle owner is happy this wasn't a more direct tie-in with Cars and Cocktails... Because while "Fixing Bent Valves While On A Bender" is a _fantastic_ title for a video, I'm not sure the end result would have been quite as fantastic as it was.

[@Deutscheautoparts]

Adaris we drink and we work on cars, but not at the same time.

[@AdarisTempest]

@@Deutscheautoparts I was kidding heh; I apologize if it wasn't evident. Truth be told, trying to time a TSI engine while inebriated sounds like a _very special_ kind of hell for everyone involved.

[@Deutscheautoparts]

Adaris didn’t take offense. Just wanted to clarify. It would be a challenge if you were drunk.

[@tavarish]

Jalopnik MAGAZINE

[@sparkplug1018]

Hey man this looks like a fun project for you, time to find the cheapest one in the country? Love your videos.

[@TheHooniverse]

I love turning pages at Jalopnik magazine

[@zxggwrt]

Freddy you need a diesel Touareg😂

[@ReviewedByAndy]

you should do a 2.0 TSI build! You can make a lot of power out of them and there's an endless amount of fun stuff you can do with them.

Touareg or Golf R = real man. Tiguan or Beetle = beta boy. I don't make this stuff up. Stereotypes do exist for a reason.

[@hardlyworgen71]

All Jason had to say was the wife wanted the car. That absolves him of all responsibility.

[@HumbleMechanic]

HAHAH FACTS

[@K03sport]

..no, no it doesn't.

[@michaelblacktree]

When wifey gets her car back, in her eyes all will be right with the world.

[@frederickevans4113]

Happy wife, happy life! Or, as some friends of mine swing that one around, "If momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." I prefer the four word version.

[@MrROTD]

My friends woman wanted this piece of shit too.

[@drew10981]

Charles, you really are a huge asset to the VW community. Thank you for doing all that you do to help the rest of us do our own repairs and save a little cash.

[@fredbrackely]

Here here.

[@mikesvirtualgarage9917]

You guys have the perfect chemistry for these videos, which makes them super fun to watch AND informative. Fun to learn from dealership trained techs. Awesome work!

[@HumbleMechanic]

Thank you!!!

[@epistte]

@@HumbleMechanic You two could replace Click and Clack in NPR. This is good stuff, even if you arent a VW owner or knowledgable about cars.

[@markd6637]

No such thing as dealership trained tech they dont send u to school to learn how to do this shit people need to get that out there head u learn on ur own there its sink or swim bro facts

[@markd6637]

@@pasqualeseccareccia4972 sure pal just a little FYI I'm 37 years old a master vw tech been wit em for over 17 years.. now let's explain my bs comment little boy who knows nothing ya school teaches u some technical things about parts of the car I'm talking about dealer ship training Not TECH SCHOOL !! Hope u understand stand that when u go to school.fot the dealer its not like they teach u from scratch u need to already know wut ur doing to even go to a school like that and buy the time ur dealer sends u to that class u most likely already know about engine chains and timing so just saying u learn mostly by urself reading the repair procedure facts settle

[@markd6637]

Hahah lmao dude blocked me and said for me to sit down lmao u made bro bahahaa he probly flate rate and makes no money facts 🤣😂little boy clown ass my ego lol I ant mad bro just answer ut ? Pasquale Seccareccia u clown

[@R4MON]

I'm only two minutes into this video and I'm already loving the dynamic between you guys. The back and fourth style is really dynamic and showcases the knowledge of both presenters very well, instead of having one do the talking and the other just sitting there looking at the camera.

[@HumbleMechanic]

THANKYOU!!!

[@BigGroupHug]

Charles without a hat on looks like that cool uncle who's more capable than the rest of your family combined

[@HumbleMechanic]

HAHAHA Thanks!

[@agenericaccount3935]

Ron Swanson but less jaded.

[@kissmyaskew9844]

Uncle Cooper helping out so Jason could make it to the State Fair Chili Cook-Off looking for the perfect "bean to meat ratio". Lol

[@jparziale]

I can look in a set of eyes and see the souls of the shoes. That said, I like the song here in this dude with the beard. Can't get all the lyrics.. but classical is hard to miss.

[@jeffreypeters8446]

I am so glad I came across this video!! While installing a new timing chain in my 2011 Q5 with the 2.0t, the exhaust cam slipped out of time when I was trying to out in the cam lockers. I now have to retime the engine and this has been a perfect video for me! Thank you for taking the time and effort to post these!! Your videos are invaluable to a “KZbin” mechanic (which is what I call myself to anyone who asks how I know how to replace a Turbo, timing chain, injectors, water pump, walnut blast valves, etc).

[@nickolastiguan]

Exactly why I got rid of my 2011 Tiguan, it was not worth the “suspense” 🤣

[@jamesmedina2062]

The Queen's Half Corgi I don't see how Vw gets away with doing half-ass R&D and using customers as guinea pigs. You can probably replace many parts to safeguard the head and then it may last quite a while but people don't like being guinea pigs and spending money on maintenance.

[@pcmacp719c1]

*SCOTTY KILMER POPPING OUT OF THE TRUNK:* _"I tried warning you but nobody listened. This VW is an _*_ENDLESS MONEY PIT!"_* 🤣

[@gaborherman1481]

Right! Just buy a Toyota.... then die of boredom, assuming it is the right one. (Sorry, not my fault that Toyota doesn't fun - assuming you don't have an MR2.)

[@teamawesome2171]

Haha

[@jefdamen2977]

Knock knock Who's there? Rev up your engines!

[@frederickevans4113]

I've personally owned 4 VW automobiles over the decades. I'd buy another one in a heartbeat, with the right options (a clutch pedal is essential!). My Toyota Camry just died about a month ago. I was using it like a truck - I'm self-employed and carried all my tools and supplies for various jobs. IT & Networking. Electrical. Plumbing. Locksmithing. Surveillance Systems. Auto Mechanic. I tried to leave some tools and supplies at home I wasn't using for a particular job, but my floor jack, universal tire iron, and jumper cables went everywhere with me (I sometimes stopped to help stranded strangers by the road side). And I towed trailers (often loaded with building supplies, appliances, etc.). And, there were the camping trips and the miles of dirt and gravel roads. All in my 4-door Camry sedan. The poor car only made it to a mere 461,228 miles (mostly trouble-free), on the original engine, original transmission, and original upholstery. It only had roughly 300,000 miles when my wife and I bought it. Odometer reading at the death of the engine is approximately the distance from the earth to the moon and 93% of the way back.

[@goclunker]

Cycle Michael slam that trunk closed and pray that the VAG trunk lock broke shut. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@reboticant]

Great vid, but for those wanting to get out of this mess as cheap as possible in a DIY, I've had zero issues with simply throwing in some valve stem seals and lapping in ebay valves with an electric drill, even when all 8 intakes were bent. Just dump some water in the intake ports after they are lapped in and let it sit for a while to make sure you got a good seal.

[@RastadasPT]

This video is awesome, but actually looks like VW just makes engines hardwired to fault after a certain point.

[@frederickevans4113]

I think it is across the board - all automakers (obviously, some worse than others). It has to do with 1. emissions and fuel economy compliance here in the USA (& Canada), the UK, the EU, Australia, China, and Japan. 2. customers wanting more pep in the engine, with more and more power/automatic/touch-screen/self-driving/safety features. Added weight and better performance are generally diametrically opposed. The VW ABA 2.0L 4-bangers from the 1990s were bulletproof engines. People dropped those engines into other vehicles to make them (i.e.: the other vehicles) more reliable. The heat exchangers for the automatic transmissions were a known failure point, but since I only ever bought 4 & 5-speed manuals, I only ever saw that on vehicles I didn't buy myself. Once you get water/antifreeze in the transmission and tranny fluid in the radiator, things go downhill rather quickly (often irrevocably). The gasoline direct injection, tighter tolerances, variable valve timing, and all the gizmos and doodads on the engines make them more efficient and cleaner running when new. But, as they age, develop carbon buildup, and FRP/plastic parts wear, they become much less reliable. You cannot get something for nothing.

[@SaintKimbo]

@@frederickevans4113 Talking about people wanting all the bells and whistles, reminds me of the Dacia story. Dacia is a cheap fairly basic car brand that, owned by Renault, that is based in Romania and is marketed in the Eastern Bloc countries and other less developed countries. In the early 2000's they introduced the Dacia Logan, which was a solid, basic, cheap car, the surprising thing is, that it became very popular in Western Europe and gained almost a cult following. People loved it simply because it was a no nonsense cheap car. It's success in Western European markets went against all those marketing predictions that people want more and more gizmo's. It makes you wonder if it is not a, chicken or the egg situation, do people want more gizmos, or do the Marketeers want more gizmo's added to dazzle the Buyers with. Probably a bit of both.

[@richmondvand147]

no just early engines have problems ask ford or yota or honda or chevy or any car manufacturer that makes a new engine. Shit happens, its the care after that matters

[@matthewgaines10]

Good job Humble Mechanic & DAP. Owning a VW or Audi without you guys would be a little less special.

[@loganplank7635]

As a young learning mechanic as myself and a love for understanding cars and their functions on a deaper level, you do an amazing job at teaching me and I bet many of other people. I don't even own or plan to own any of these cars but yet the strive to learn everything down to detail just draws me in. I've learned so much from your channel and it's already made me a better mechanic. Thank you

[@Masso1973]

These damn VW engines,...it’s like putting chewing gum back together... Nice job, guys. Flashbacks to rebuilding my 1.4 twin charger, nightmare job.

[@jamesmedina2062]

Axtenar What vehicle? Where was it manufactured?

[@michaelclark3192]

Our 1.4 twin charger never cracked a piston but it did go through 3 sets of coil packs and a turbocharger failed. Plus when we sold it at 100kmiles it was leaking oil from the timing cover.

[@danielfl.9347]

My 1.4 TSI twincharge engine code BMY just had to have complete timing chain job done: €2000. Also have the intake cleaned for carbon ~ €800. Thanks for the shitty design VW!! It still fucking Shakes at idle. Do you know what it could be?

[@richmondvand147]

huh? what are you talking about, it came apart and went back together like a new lego set. Have you ever worked on an american or japanese car where nothing fits and has to be forced and you need a billion tools?

[@johnhoey4605]

Love watching your videos. I’m a scientist, and definitely NOT a car mechanic. But I’m fascinated by this stuff-and you are a magnificent teacher. Your videos are super informative, and I always find myself searching for new content from you. Please keep it going!

[@jamespn]

You never see Charles and Aaron Kaufman at the same time because they’re the same person. Great job on the top end overhaul.

[@HumbleMechanic]

HAHA Actually there is a pic of the 2 of us our there. \

[@rars0n]

Having just bought a new-ish VW (a 2017 GTI), I feel like I need to watch both of your channels a LOT more. It seems like the third-gen EA888 engines are pretty good (by the way, what is it with VW and 82.5mm bore x 92.8mm stroke engines? It's the exact same as my 1991 Jetta GLI with the 2.0L 16V!), so that's a relief, but I just hope there are no unexpected surprises because I intend to drive this car for the better part of a decade. Not just because I need to pay the car off but because I LOVE driving it! The 2.0L turbocharged engine mated to the 6-speed manual transmission is an absolute blast to drive, and it handles so much better than I ever imagined it would. This is great stuff! I like both of your channels and will be subscribing and watching a lot more!

[@markm0000]

I strongly recommend getting a timing job done while the engine is still in one piece. I don’t know how many miles you got on that GTI but if it’s near 100k just do it now while you’re ahead.

[@dale116dot7]

Just had my chain replaced at 212500km, the symptom was a P052A and slightly wobbly timing measurement in VAG-COM. Did not jump, but I was a bit nervous about that. Just the chain replacement plus all of the guides and things you need with it, didn’t need a new head since it didn’t contact. Was just over 3k CDN (maybe 2200USD) to get it done, but now I don’t need to worry about it for a long time. I usually device my cars for a decade or so.

[@skyybeto]

Haha! This video is gold!! Thanks to all who managed to have them all together!. Greetings from Mexico!. 👍🏼

[@bumblestofbees]

I find these videos fascinating even though I don’t own a vw. This really solidifies why these vehicles should be avoided. And I appreciated the Pixies shirt!

[@goclunker]

Vw has invented the perfect scam. A self destructing engine with core charges expecting perfect parts for “rebuilds” 10/10, great work vw

[@richmondvand147]

seemed pretty fixable to me, they also improved the design when the issues became known. Like every other brand on market....

[@susguy5]

That's like the best quality borescope video I've seen

[@AdarisTempest]

This was great! You guys need to collaborate more; I love both your channel and DAP's, and the entertainment factor is multiplicative when you work together. You two have such good chemistry in this and on Cars and Cocktails.

[@HumbleMechanic]

THANK YOU!!! We are planning something you guys are gonna love

[@Deutscheautoparts]

Careful with that talk, our wives might get jealous

[@lukew2194]

The timing chain tensioner on a Toyota corolla can be replaced in about 10 minutes without taking the timing cover off. I love superior German design.

[@tossmonkey1]

Calling it a design is being generous

[@elprzemo666]

@@tossmonkey1 It's not design, more like accident.

[@EdwoodCA]

@@elprzemo666 Or an annuity for dealerships

[@Motorsportsgeek]

Mercedes v6 only have to remove alternator to change tensioner

[@goclunker]

Your corolla makes 120hp-140hp and is molasses slow.

[@HotHatchHero]

I think the complexity and uncertainty of engines from VW, Audi, and BMW are what attract me to them so much. It is weird, but I really enjoy all the mechanical flaws. I drive a GTI with no issues what so ever, but I used to have a rotary and after a new engine and tedious maintenance that drove me crazy, I definitely want another one!

[@Fopenplop]

Pervert mindset lmao

[@richmondvand147]

the 3.0 TSFI V5 supercharged has a water pump issue, thats about it. unless you go pre 2012 which then you have the issue with the polymers used in the chain guides which were fixed in later models and is no longer an issue. Tbh its the best car I've ever owned or driven and plan to keep it for decades if i can

[@frankfarina9139]

Great show guys. Love watching them. I live in Sydney Australia and own a 2011 Skoda Superb 3.6 4x4 wagon. One of the best cars I have ever had. Never owned a VW as such but if I lived in America I would certainly take my car to you to work on. All the very best with your future shows. Regards Frank

[@d.d4184]

We as technician's accept this as our problem with in fact VW should be standing over this issue. Nice video.

[@richmondvand147]

they fixed it in later iterations. Look at the pinto - it literaly caught fireif you hit it from behind and they woudn't fix it until they were told to by the US government lol

[@charldhechter]

Thanks to you guys, I feel a whole lot better attempting these kind of things on my Golf 6 GTI. No idea what I would have done without you guys!

[@alexkram]

The whole reason to buy a car with a timing chain instead of a belt is because it lasts forever and you won't be replacing it. Unless you buy a VW, in that case have fun replacing the chain and a whole lot more. I was actually a VW fan at one time. My first car was a '64 beetle and I've owned a '67 bus, '68 bus, '68 type 3 fastback, diesel rabbit all before the age of 21. They were all nothing but problems but I did turn into a pretty good DIY mechanic, so there's that. Now I buy either Japanese or American cars with a proven track record. No German cars for me any more.

[@themechanic6117]

That guy is so grateful because he knows the job was done right and not just thrown together by a guy trying to beat book time.

[@grahamek86]

"Nothing screams timing" VCDS Be like : "G40 / G28 Incorrect Correlation" Nah bro, nothing suspicious about timing there at all...

[@BenState]

this

[@BokBarber]

I just had the tensioner (and the rest of the timing chain assembly) preventatively replaced by a reputable mechanic in my 2011 Audi A3 2.0. At 82k miles it wasn't having any issues, and the mechanic said it wasn't out of camber at all, but I've heard enough horror stories to know that I was living on borrowed time. I flip flop on loving this car enough to drive the paint off of it and wanting to go back to the Mazda 3 with its perfectly pleasant feel and beautiful reliability.

[@relyenterprisestx]

Sell that turd on wheels while it’s still worth something. After watching this video I’d never want one of these. It reminds me of a early 80’s GM car with that thin sheet metal timing cover, pressed lobe camshaft, cracking plastic tensioners(cheap plastic). Wow they really cut corners on these things. Garbage.

[@kenny9088]

Do you still have your a3? @Nicholas DeLessio

[@BokBarber]

@@kenny9088 Yep, still have it.

[@kenny9088]

@@BokBarber how is she running? What kind of issues have you had with it? If you dont mind me asking. I just bought a 2012 a3 2.0t fwd with 87k they afe beautiful cars to drive

[@BokBarber]

@@kenny9088 I agree. It's a very solid feeling car and a nice drive! Very much a sleeper, since not too many people (in the US) know about them. Aside from having the tensioner replaced preventatively, and the intake manifold replaced free under extended warranty at about 50k, I've had absolutely no issues with the engine. My total costs for engine work over 3.5 years of ownership is about $2k, and that was all that one timing chain job. Mine is a manual transmission. I can't speak to the longevity of the dual clutch autobox. I've heard rumors that the automatics can be hit or miss. The biggest issues I've run into have been cosmetic. The backs of the front seats came unglued on a particularly hot day last summer. I was able to sand all of the old glue off and reapply the plastic brace to the seatback with JB weld, and that's held up perfectly well... but you'd think they'd use something more durable. The sun visor clips are also fairly brittle and expensive to replace, so be very careful not to break them unless you like spending $50 on tiny pieces of plastic. (If you do break them, save yourself some time and don't bother buying non-OEM; they don't fit.) Overall, it seems like as long as the previous owner was decent to the car, you keep up with preventative maintenance and have a decent foreign car specialist nearby, you won't have too many problems. I'll probably be keeping mine for at least a few more years.

[@MegaWayneD]

Had this exact thing happen on a UK-market Audi. It sticks in my mind because I was on the way to the hospital where my wife was about to have her first scan for our son.

[@Draxindustries1]

Great work as always and very honest too. Just one question, why did you replace the head? Usually all that's needed is just replace any bent valves..

[@sneakyfoz3692]

This is a top shelf video showcasing below par engineering.

[@machtschnell7452]

Actually triple bogey engineering, so way above par.

[@erikolson5299]

I really can't express enough how much I loved this collab! Do more this was great!

[@gaborherman1481]

Agreed. Jalopnik & Charles = peanut butter & chocolate.

[@YadiRedPapi]

32:42 yo are your gloves also blue cause I could of sworn it’s a green marking 😂😂 I like the work you guys did

[@Mad_Rass.mk6gli]

Shit I thought i was trippin😂

[@marcdinsmore8690]

I thought I was color blind. LOL

[@rizzlerazzleuno4733]

I really enjoyed this. Preventative maintenance is always the best choice. Wishing and hoping something won't break is the wrong choice.

[@estebanamador7601]

Oh, I didn't remember how much I love my Chevy small block 🤣🤣

[@frugalprepper]

I am so lucky to have a local machine shop that does great work, at a fair price, and turns them around in a day to two.

[@HumbleMechanic]

That is awesome!

[@thursdaybird]

"I did the research, and I did it ANYWAY"...sounds like me when I bought my B5.5 Passat W8 I just happened to get lucky, sold the car less than 5,000 miles before it became a basket case [fyi, I sold it after paying almost $800 to replace the fuel transfer computer, which is stupidly mounted beneath the spare in the trunk!....btw, the official VW fix is to replace the module & wrap it in a plastic sack!]

[@BenState]

you paid someone or was that the cost of the item?

[@aarongavel6490]

At what part of the reassembly would you recommend manually turning the engine over just to make sure you're not going to get any valve / piston contact?

[@hamishspencer]

This is a great ad for Toyota

[@penskib1975]

Yes ,the Rav 4 is cheaper and just runs and runs.

[@richmondvand147]

why, youtas have lots of problems like every other car maker they're not made of pixie farts. Bought a brand new tacoma and theres a list of issues that are "normal" like the dash lcd vanishing for periods or impropper rough starts or shitty vtech that ruins the power band and has to be tuned properly and on and on. Meanwhile my 100k B8.5 has only had 1 water pump, a new set of breaks, new set of tires and a pcv valve (sprorts cars do go through brakes and tires faster but pretty sure these never were changed since new )

[@JoeYTHEcreatore]

Best colab ever my two favorites! :))))

[@HumbleMechanic]

thank you

[@wilbertcoria4768]

Dude you guys are geniuses with all the skills you know, this is a very good carrer in my opinion i love watching both of you guys work you’re humor keeps us tuned in.

[@QamilB79]

Amazing job charles but German engineering on vw &audi engine made lots of mistakes putting timing chain failed all the time sad great cars but with engines they screwed up a lot in NJ here people go more for japanes cars keep up the good work charles 👍💪

[@jamessichone7707]

You guys make everything look easy. Keep it up

[@dan_6915]

I like these guys' enthusiasm . Probably that's how people live when they're not depressed .

[@chalkster4723]

These engines are absolutely appalling. So many weak points it's just incredible. If something doesn't break mechanically, it'll be made of plastic & leak later! Shocking quality.

[@trippplefive]

That jalopnik guy should be ridiculed for giving bad advice.

[@slimchriz1]

What is truly mind blowing is my 96 A4 had timing Belt issues, the issue was the tensioner.... So they switched to chains. Awesome but, why is the damn tensioner still made of freaking playdo 14 years later?

[@goclunker]

slimchriz1 planned obsolescence. They will never redesign it to be reliable

[@michaelb7437]

@@slimchriz1 Its a known issue and so at 100k miles replace the chain and tensioner. It’s a cheap repair when you do it timely. Waiting until the engine implodes at 130k miles is on the idiot owner. Fix it at 100k and the car will last another 100k miles.

[@taomicioli]

@@slimchriz1 those had both a chain and a belt... all the 5v motors did.. 1.8 2.8 4.2

[@MrMacroJesseSky]

First thing I did when I bought my mk6 GTI (TSI) I updated the chain tensioner. Now stage 2 and very happy (so far) Also shout to DAP for the TTRS clutch kit

[@Deutscheautoparts]

Thanks for the purchase we really appreciate the support very much!

[@dannoyes4493]

This describes the modern German car experience better than any that I've seen. The only modern German car I have left is a 2010 CC Sport, for its manual transmission, and just to see what breaks next... and that car, with less than 100,000 miles, the following items have failed: Cam Bridge [twice!], chain tensioner, water pump [twice! - finally replaced with an aluminum unit], rear main seal [ get a billet seal - doesn't fail], stuck injectors [hydro-lock, anyone?], ignition coils, re-pinned brittle & broken electrical connectors when changing spark plugs, new intake manifold [the old manifold's flapper blew out], bad thermostat, bad cooling fan controller [its integrated into the fan assembly], turbo diverter valve, and then just a bunch of plastic connectors that disintegrate for no apparent reason.... And presently, the coolant temperature wants to occasionally spike when exiting the freeway [and the thermostat is less than a year old!] I'm keeping my 'trusty' old CC around just to see which of the finely engineered German items will fail next... its become a conversation piece, and the butt of many jokes... However, don't me started on the other German brands... They're markedly worse.

[@wernerdanler2742]

I had my 85 300d do that where the thermostat would spike suddenly just after getting off the freeway. It did it four times in one year. I would let it cool enough that I could open it up and remove it and go on to work. On the way home, I would get a new thermostat and install it. I don't remember why, but I finally replaced the radiator, and I never had that happen again for several more years that I owned the car. I don't really understand why thermostats will suddenly close when up to temp. The spring expands and opens it. If it is hot, it should not want to close. And I don't understand what the radiator has to do with it when the car does not run hot normally until it does that sudden spike. Weird!

[@dannoyes4493]

@@wernerdanler2742 Update - still have the CC - I'd get a new sedan if any had the manual wand reliability.

[@TheEverydayShopperReview]

Hey hey. Question. How much would the Turbo cost to replace? I hear they are notorious to fail. 130k miles means it’s a ticking time bomb… again

[@ronaldderooij1774]

4500 dollars for a car repair would mean certain suicide for me. Jeez.

[@quietone610]

Like, "And how long until I owe ANOTHER four-and-a-half grand for this thing?"

[@whoismario]

I'm sure there are a few "stolen" MKVs in canals with skipped timing.

[@machtschnell7452]

For just a 4 cylinder 4 valve DOHC head, that is beyond stupid.

[@brettgardner2096]

$4500?! I’d expect to pay that for a brand new engine installed. I wouldn’t even put that money into a Tiguan with 130k miles. The resale is terrible on those.

[@patriciomunoz2830]

Ikr, i would scrap the pos

[@joshuam7552]

Great to see a video with both you and Paul again! I've learned so much about my A3 TSI from the both of you. I didn't even know how to get access to my lug bolts (didn't realize they had caps on them) 1 1/2 years ago. Since then, I've done my RMS, Timing tensioner, and much more on my own. You guys Rawk!!

[@Brettdyt]

A cheap thin plastic part is the only thing keeping the VW from breaking down on the side of the road. Sounds like a well-designed car.

[@justinlabarge8178]

Most fuel injected have a cheap piece of plastic that if broken would entirely strand them on the side of the road. Almost all ohc cars with timing chains have plastic guides.

[@toapohatu1692]

Wow sounds like any vehicle that runs on a timing belt too.

[@johne6081]

BMWs of that era have the same problem.

[@SkeleMusic]

Lots of cars engines have plastic guides for the timing chain from parts I’ve seen, it’s not special to just vw

[@FrankieGRAI]

You guys collaborate great together! The best two VW mechanic KZbin channels on the planet!

[@HumbleMechanic]

Thank you!! We have more coming 😳😳😳

[@G31mR]

The cam/timing belt broke on my VW Scirocco some years ago, bending all the intake valves. I pulled the head, and had a independent German specialty shop install 16 new valve guides and 16 valves. Did NOT have to buy a new/rebuilt head and the cost was less than $700 as I recall. YRMV.

[@Mark-nm6zw]

Yeah I was about to say the same, I guess if time is a major factor then buying a replacement head is an option, if you've got the time for engineering and cost is a major factor, then you can get it done that way instead

[@torquesteer2657]

Yes my brother this ☝🏻

[@rodrigoroaduterte9415]

They displayed some damage inflicted to the head internal surfaces with bent valves. I cannot evaluate the “severeness” of that damage from the video, but they say it was one of the reasons. The “landing” cone surface of the head may be damaged enough to be unable to polish it and find a replacement valve of the appropriate dimensions.

[@G31mR]

@@rodrigoroaduterte9415 Possibly. But my experiences with VW's 'interference engines' has been that a bent valve simply will not close. This means the valve will not contact the valve seat (landing cone surface) and no damage to the valve seat will occur.

[@king0684]

How great is this video? Diagnosed, remove and repair all in the same video?!?!? Awesome job guys!

[@HumbleMechanic]

thank you!

[@nicolem.792]

That engine was never meant to be repaired. Driven, broken, trashed. The 11000 dollar quote was spot on. Owner should have taken this as a message/lesson and cut his losses.

[@BenState]

what fn nonsense.

[@wes8398]

WTF are you going on about?

[@mike-yp1uk]

Wow I follow both of you and now your working together. I've learned so much about VW and Audi from you two. I will definitely be watching more than once for all the tips. Ty

[@Gazshadows]

An interesting teardown :) had the 2.0 TFSI BWA in my Audi A3 and I thought that was unreliable but these 2.0 TSI engines are shocking.

[@jamesmedina2062]

Gazshadows when everything is running right they are smooth and torquey. But they do keep the mechanics quite happy.

[@kenny9088]

Did you sell your A3? @Gazshadows

[@Gazshadows]

@@kenny9088 I did yes, regrettably. It had quattro so it was a fun car to launch and when it snowed one year it was pretty fun stepping the back end out on it ! Would have another if it wasnt for the reliability.

[@kenny9088]

@@Gazshadows oh ok, i just bought a 2012 a3 2.0t fwd last weekend with several modifications, like coil overs, wheels, exhaust and couple other things, the car is beautiful and drives amazing. Is my first audi and i really like it has 87k but reading all this horror stories got me feeling scared tbh. I did do some research prior to buying it but i bought it anyways haha. What kind of issues did you have while owning it? If you dont mind me asking, also how long did you have it for ? Thanks in advance

[@Gazshadows]

@@kenny9088 nice :) you probably have the newer engine in it then. I would say to check it's had regular oil changes and see if it's had a belt / chain change on it. On the BWA it has a belt on one pulley and chain on the opposite side of the engine which has a tensioner on it that seems to be a weak spot. For just over a year in colder weather it would rattle like mad on start up for about 30 seconds. Horrible. I should not have waited so long. By summer time it wasnt bad maybe a second or two. Had a feeling maybe the oil pump chain was getting slack too. Otherwise I did oil changes every 3-4 thousand miles. Had it 2 years roughly. Had TT before that which had same engine and no rattles but the diverter valve went on that.

[@tylerrosser5938]

My 2009 vw cc had this exact failure. Top chain guide broke apart and caused Timing failure on startup. Bent all intake valves open. Still had the original tensioner as well. ~160k miles

[@allmotorjkj]

Should’ve have dropped the oil pan to clean up all the metal shavings from the shearing of the timing chain cover 😱😱

[@slimchriz1]

Most deff, Imagine all the chunks and shavings that are stuck in the pickup tube screen! There was a significant amount of material removed from that cover, hopefully it all got caught in the filter if it made it through the screen.

[@relyenterprisestx]

That’s the next ticking time bomb🤣

[@markd6637]

U got that right how does this dude have his own garage I'd run circles around him I promise been doing this longer too I'm a master vw tech also

[@nicholasllamas5039]

@@markd6637 I bet you're good at sniffing your own farts too

[@midwestfarm757]

@@markd6637 I know a 30+ year VW tech who lost part of his finger in an engine. Complacency.

[@SarmedAmeen]

AWESOME VIDEO! Guys you're so fun working together, I enjoyed every bit of it, more videos like this one please!

[@crazyeyez1502]

"Uncomfortable places" "Oh, the back of a Volkswagen?" (Mallrats)

[@HumbleMechanic]

YASSSS HAHAAH

[@crazyeyez1502]

😂 classic movie

[@Deutscheautoparts]

You know it!

[@Deutscheautoparts]

Fun fact I made this reference in this video - Link takes to exact spot kzbin.info/www/bejne/ZqjIY32Vlth1n68

[@crazyeyez1502]

@@Deutscheautoparts 🤣😂 nice!

[@jefferysmith3930]

I’m not a mechanic. I am just sort of handy. I did this job on a Tiguan last year. For me it was a nightmare that I wish to never repeat. I think I’m suffering PTSD from that job. This excellent video brought it all back. It is a shame because the 2.0T is such a powerful nice running engine when all is well. When it goes wrong.....it really goes wrong!

[@gianfrancoa]

Geez everytime I watch a VW engone video, am thankful that dont have any VW products and will never have. What a awful engine design.

[@jackpez]

Yeah it’s pretty obvious that you’ve never have a vw

[@oldpolak5203]

Amen

[@mikewillwerth7726]

Thanks guys I pulled off this DIY without even a manual. You guys rule

[@HumbleMechanic]

Nice job!

[@st3althyone]

“I would have time...it’s been going 150,000 miles, it’s not gonna fail...” Famous last words. 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@kanp4658]

Partner had the very same Tig, it was ticking in my head as a Time Bomb. It was sitting at 175,000 kms... So its traded in 2 months ago, I can sleep like a baby now ;)

[@alek123ish]

Where did all of that metal went from the chain rubbing on the cover? How can it be that there is non other damage?

[@doriangray2020]

In the oil pan. They should have removed and cleaned.

[@jeremywatts2768]

Regarding piston dents from valves - While on a completely unrelated engine (2.8 V6 GM), I had a steel "seating/retaining/sealing" ring dislodge into a cylinder. IIRC, this is something they press into the head to help the valve seat. It stuck the valve open and so the piston struck it causing some dents in the piston. The piston damaged seemed insignificant at the time. It was a new-ish reman, so we got a replacement head under warranty and were able to button everything back up but about 10k down the road, the crankshaft cracked in half. My assumption is that the hammering weakened the crank and it just broke later. Have you ever seen anything like that happen? The hilarious part was that we think reason the ring unseated (and why we'll never actually know what broke the crank) is that the engine was probably overheated due to my dad running the car with an exhaust pipe fed into a mole hole. He was trying to gas them out, but fell asleep in the living room chair and it left the car to run idle for about 8 hours until it ran out of gas next to the house. I'm glad that was the least of the problems since I've seen 3 examples of that motor catching fire due to a bad fuel system design. He didn't have mole problems for the rest of the Summer though.

[@wwolfdogs]

Well over $3300.00 in parts and fluids and at least $1800.00 labor to fix an 11yr old car worth maybe $7500.00 - $8500.00?

[@dragospahontu]

Yup

[@rhiantaylor3446]

When I have fixed up a car that had bent some valves I just changed the valves and not the whole head, cutting/grinding the new valves of course. Interested to know why the head was replaced but not say the cams or pistons which would also have been beaten up a bit.

[@SageTrimarco]

I'm lucky, when I got my '15 Passat from the dealership at 100k miles they replaced the timing chain and cam shafts for me so they should be good for another 100k

[@HumbleMechanic]

NICE!

[@scottyjones27]

Sure they did!!! That's the oldest used car salesman trick in the book

[@SageTrimarco]

@False Flag I do have paperwork

[@scottyjones27]

@False Flag I sure would not buy one that engines done been messed with by bunch of tech's! Better off with whole engine from junk yard never been apart for me!

[@SalimKhan-gk1fh]

@@SageTrimarco I have a 15 Passat too, I absolutely love it, damn good too drive , what has your one been like? Nice car?

[@dontcare563]

I can't believe I watched all 39 minutes of this. You guys are very good at what you do and this was also entertaining! I don't even own a VW.

[@svgs650r]

…and hopefully you never will!

[@6pistons]

Hmmm....either way the repair costs is not cheap. Would be great if all piston emgines are non-interference design

[@jh-ky5uu]

It would, but due to fuel efficiency and emissions more and more will be interference.

[@K03sport]

...preventative mx is cheap (to a degree). Depends on where you buy your parts and who does the labor. $100+/hr labor rate is not cheap any where you go, especially the dealer ($120+/hr)

[@datsuntoyy]

My wife has a 2009 with the 2.0 Got hit with the ring and chain issue. Audi paid for 1rebuild entirely and half of the chain issue (with 4 bent valves), both happened well out of waranty. EDIT: All the comments about how good one's Honda, Toyota, etc is cracks me up. As a former mechanic I can tell you with reasonable certainty that EVERY manufacturer has had issues like this at one point or another. Some are well covered up, and some the manufacturers work hard to ignore.

[@carswithcocktails5222]

Our Podcast talking with Jason about this and other stuff is here kzbin.info/www/bejne/g2S2dnmkmMujb6s

[@rc9192]

Two of my favorite VW guys in one video! I'm stoked!

[@pedrot16]

How anyone still buys VWs is out of me. How anyone still reads jalopnik is the 8th mistery of universe

[@jamesmedina2062]

pedrot16 Gluttons for punishment right?

[@pedrot16]

@@jamesmedina2062 must be something like that. Or people into BDSM

[@riffraff9000]

Eh, some of their articles are okay. I ignore absolutely everything written by that hack Orlove, though. Why he's still on their payroll is beyond comprehension.

[@BenState]

So is your spelling

[@redline9579]

Drive the car u will know why

[@anrew1000]

So thankful for this video! Two of my favourite VW mechanics in one video! - when I did my timing chain in my 1.8TSI that top guide had cracked, but not fully broken off like yours. My assumption was that because the tensioner was screwed it allowed the chain to slap the top and cause unintended forces on that guide. 🤷‍♂️

[@MrManuel1329]

Jesus christ press fit lobes? These engines is just a pile of garbage.

[@Unknown-jl7mg]

.....people say french are bad in general ...but i haven´t seen such stupid design crap on french. it just does not makes sense. for example the timing cover out of "thin cardboard" like here. LOL bah dumm tsssss

[@janozkk]

I remember back in 2017 there was recall on the EA 888 for problems with the press fit lobes

[@ShainAndrews]

Paying premium for a lot of short cuts.

[@DanniV8]

@@Unknown-jl7mg PSA DV6 is a very French engine that has press fit lobes, came out around the same time as this. It's pretty common nowadays as it allows manufactures to have different strength material where it matters, meaning a lighter camshaft which results in better efficiency. Even the slightest percentile increase in efficiency is worth it to manufacturers today. Also, the timing covers in Renault engines are made out of the exact same type of material and are leaking all the freaking time. So if you haven't seen any of this in a French car that simply means one of two possible things; you either haven't worked on French cars or the ones you have worked on are old and outdated.

[@marcdinsmore8690]

Press fit lobes that can spin as opposed to a cast/machined cam that can break when the valve hits the piston...like Ford straight 6's from the 80s-90s. Same difference. They work just fine in hundreds of thousands of these engines. Maintenance is key.

[@CubasAutomotive]

Awesome video! Some good times, some bad ones, some laughs, some cries.... lol so informative. Thanks Charles, Jason, & Paul!

[@TheRealTomLauda]

"THIS..." What ? Am i still on Doug's channel ?

[@tylerwhiteley4318]

I have a 2009 Jetta Wolfsburg with the 2.0TSI with 125,000 and my chain doesn’t make noise as long as the Rpms stay low, but it will on startup if i beat on it a little. Should I get rid of it since I can’t afford that bill to replace it???? Or continue to drive safe and keep on my oil changes? Thanks!

[@ryanbishop2063]

Diude it’s going to fail not if but when. I’m not a mechanic but I’m mechanically inclined I’m doing the job my self for under $400 but mine failed that’s a $200 job if the car still runs just follow a diy step by step

[@tylerwhiteley4318]

That’s what I was thinking but it seems like a really complicated job from all the DIY’s I’ve seen. Plus I though it was superrr expensive to do?

[@willumwhitmore9419]

I love Toyotas - buying older VWs, BMWs and Audis seem a bad idea.

[@perrosdemaiz]

I love your videos. I would like to work on my own cars. I can’t. I get great satisfaction watching you guys and listening to your excellent explanation and funny dialogue. I will check out the pod cast.

[@aygwm]

Lmao, so many timing issues. Everyone wants timing chains, but they have their own issues.

[@AndreiIR000]

Yep, I too have a Tiguan (Diesel, 2.0 TDI) with a timing belt and I felt I'm the second class citizen. Guess it wasn't so...

[@aygwm]

Meanwhile my ‘97 TDI has 300k+, no belt failures yet...

[@ComandanteJ]

Yeah... I was set on buying an old V8 5 series but ended up getting a 2jz Lexus because i really didnt want anything to do with the timing chain guides roting into dust and totalling the car.

[@AndreiIR000]

@@aygwm my point exactly..

[@alexhatcher8812]

CHAIN, timing chain. my 1995 Ford mustang had a timing chain. still does. same one. VW went crazy uncle on the need for 3 or 4.

[@machtschnell7452]

Makes me so glad I have a BMW. Faults and maintenance schedule is well known on the N54. Unexpected internal failures are few and far between.

[@dannyr3346]

I hate having to make those kinds of phone calls.

[@paulburton4246]

What years of Tiguans with the 2.0 TSI should I be concerned about and at what milage should I change the Timing Chains on a 2013?

[@jh-ky5uu]

It’s funny, when these TSI’s came out everyone BASHED the FSI’s and swung on these. But IMO the FSI has proven to be a much more robust engine.

[@HumbleMechanic]

Yep I was in that camp too. The TSI was really good for a short bit of time.

[@acefighterpilot]

@@HumbleMechanic What a frightening comment from you Charles! All of us Gen 3 owners are so brash about how much better our engines are than the Gen 1/2, there are some bad implications here.

[@AdarisTempest]

Honestly, you're kinda screwed both ways IMO. The TSI has worse, more expensive issues to fix revolving around it's timing chain and intake manifold setup... But updated parts exist, and once they're fixed, they're more or less fixed for the life of the car. But the FSI's cam follower troubles, while cheap to repair, can't ever really be _permanently_ repaired. You'll wanna pull them out every 10-20k and give them a look over forever, or risk similarly catastrophic damage.

[@moloono1]

The FSI had the cam follower issues that were ticking time bombs.

[@jh-ky5uu]

Adaris not true. There’s a retrofit kit for the cam follower that changes it from a flat tappet style to a roller set up like they have on the TSI. I never had much issues with my very hard 50k I put on my stage 1 Gti. I only swapped the follower once. But. I think a lot of it has/had to do with oil. I always have run Elf now Total. Which also kept the oil consumption down on mine to .5qt every 5k miles.

[@prayformojo1117]

I had a 2012 GTI and around 2014 I asked our local indy VW shop to pull the inspection plug and check the tensioner. They looked at me like I was nuts, but I'm sure by now they've seen a ton. Anyone out there still rolling around in these should at least have it checked.

[@Jolinator]

Man VAG just cant build a decent timing chain assembly from the vr6 to the 4.2 v8 to these motors.

[@socalguy829]

No kidding! All VW motors with chains are ticking time bombs

[@ferrumignis]

They must have got their timing chain engineering tips from BMW.

[@CoreMaster111]

VAG can't make a reliable timing chain, period! On some engines you need to change timing chain almost as often as timing belt.

[@Blazs120gl]

My '09 Octavia 1.8TSI was overhauled 2 years ago. Long story short, it was a lemon, most moving parts including the cylinder head and cams were replaced (engine oil consumption exceeded 5l / 1000km). I have two questions if I may: 1. The engine did not have the piston ring lands cracking, but it wore out piston walls ovally, it also had lower but still acceptable compression. Surprisingly, the turbo wasn't that bad either. Can so much oil just fall through the rings and the oval gap, or is there another path for the oil to just disappear into the combustion chamber? 2. The engine made a terrible rattling noise before the overhaul and it still does (everything was replaced). One of the mechanics mentioned that the shop might have forgotten to reset the chain stretch correction. How can this be done with VCDS (if at all)? Can it be done 3000km after the fact?

[@micahknapton]

You didn't show the most obnoxious part of the job! Removing and worse, installing the drive belt tensioner.

[@sbcncsu]

I know! You've got to be willing to give the engine mad downward flex on the passenger's side to clear the frame rail!

[@erikolson5299]

Really really like this collab dudes! Good job! Much more personality and fun. Will watch all these videos like this. Really like the more personal, and less sterile style of shooting.

[@revolutronic]

15:23 i went to the gym once - sooooooooooo ....