Scott Fowler
New Member
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2019
- Messages
- 10
- Reaction score
- 2
- Points
- 3
- Age
- 54
- Location
- Umina Beach, NSW
- Members Ride
- VE Berlina 2006
VE Problem Child - Timing Chain vs CAS
Firstly G’day to all, thanks for letting me join the forum…I know this has been mentioned here before…here is my experience.
OK, car started rough idling and 3 days prior to engine malfunction has intermittent starting problem.
The car was driving fine and we were out driving to the shops. Trip 1 OK, Trip 2 OK, Trip 3 encountered starting problem leaving shops but car started. After shopping done the car would not start and the display showed an ABS Fault and the check engine message. Tried jump starting thinking low battery voltage but still no fire. Ended up having car towed out of an underground car park at a nice expense.
Had mechanic come out and check car at home, did standard checks (ABS fault had cleared) and found P0335 CKP sensor cct malfunction. Removed Cam Angle Sensor (old unit crumbled to dust..) replaced CAS, reset fault and tried restart.
Upon cranking engine a loud “whack” or “knock” occurred during the cranking cycle that sounded like the rib belt snapping and flicking into plastic or metal in the engine bay but then was not heard again. Mechanic informed me that the error had returned and the car was reading around 200RPM cranking revs when in fact it could be heard turning over at approx 450RPM. So his conclusion was the PCM circuit controlling the CAS had been damaged and the wiring to the CAS should be checked and the PCM replaced and reprogrammed.
Now I’m leaning another way thinking that this model (through my research online), is a particular model that is KNOWN for timing chain stretch, and my car falls into this category having the 7.7mm pitch roller chain. My belief is the “whack” heard was part of the chain failing inside the casing?, but not enough for total breakage, which is why it still turns over but as an interesting note, when you place your hand over the tailpipe when cranking, you can feel the compression pulse out of the exhaust and also a slight sucking vacuum. I would guess that the crank and cams have misaligned hence the timing must be out to cause a non start scenario.
I was also enlightened to the fact that the mechanics these days are taught to follow a “procedure” to fault find problems in modern cars, which by the time they find the fault and fix it you have incurred a hefty invoice for the repair.
So I’m wondering if you guys think the timing chain could be the culprit to all this nonsense?
Thanks
And here’s the mechanics report.
Work Performed:
Got Out To Car And Started No Start Procedure Found Engine Light On Checked For
Codes Found Code P0335 Ckp Sensor Circuit Malfunction. Removed And Replaced The
Sensor With New Part As Removing The Old Sensor Fell Apart. Cleared The Code And
Tried Starting The Car With No Luck Due To Flat Battery And Jump Pack. Owner
Charged Up The Battery Over Night And I Charge The Jump Pack Went Back Next
Morning And Tried Again With No Luck Rechecked For Codes And Found The Same Code
Has Been Logged. Made Further Investigation And Car Needs To Be Towed To Auto
Electrician And Have The Wiring And Computer Checked As The Old Faulty Sensor
May Have Caused Damage To The Computer. Owner Has No Money As The Repair Could
Be More Than The Car Is Worth So Not Willing To Attempt At This Stage.
Firstly G’day to all, thanks for letting me join the forum…I know this has been mentioned here before…here is my experience.
OK, car started rough idling and 3 days prior to engine malfunction has intermittent starting problem.
The car was driving fine and we were out driving to the shops. Trip 1 OK, Trip 2 OK, Trip 3 encountered starting problem leaving shops but car started. After shopping done the car would not start and the display showed an ABS Fault and the check engine message. Tried jump starting thinking low battery voltage but still no fire. Ended up having car towed out of an underground car park at a nice expense.
Had mechanic come out and check car at home, did standard checks (ABS fault had cleared) and found P0335 CKP sensor cct malfunction. Removed Cam Angle Sensor (old unit crumbled to dust..) replaced CAS, reset fault and tried restart.
Upon cranking engine a loud “whack” or “knock” occurred during the cranking cycle that sounded like the rib belt snapping and flicking into plastic or metal in the engine bay but then was not heard again. Mechanic informed me that the error had returned and the car was reading around 200RPM cranking revs when in fact it could be heard turning over at approx 450RPM. So his conclusion was the PCM circuit controlling the CAS had been damaged and the wiring to the CAS should be checked and the PCM replaced and reprogrammed.
Now I’m leaning another way thinking that this model (through my research online), is a particular model that is KNOWN for timing chain stretch, and my car falls into this category having the 7.7mm pitch roller chain. My belief is the “whack” heard was part of the chain failing inside the casing?, but not enough for total breakage, which is why it still turns over but as an interesting note, when you place your hand over the tailpipe when cranking, you can feel the compression pulse out of the exhaust and also a slight sucking vacuum. I would guess that the crank and cams have misaligned hence the timing must be out to cause a non start scenario.
I was also enlightened to the fact that the mechanics these days are taught to follow a “procedure” to fault find problems in modern cars, which by the time they find the fault and fix it you have incurred a hefty invoice for the repair.
So I’m wondering if you guys think the timing chain could be the culprit to all this nonsense?
Thanks
And here’s the mechanics report.
Work Performed:
Got Out To Car And Started No Start Procedure Found Engine Light On Checked For
Codes Found Code P0335 Ckp Sensor Circuit Malfunction. Removed And Replaced The
Sensor With New Part As Removing The Old Sensor Fell Apart. Cleared The Code And
Tried Starting The Car With No Luck Due To Flat Battery And Jump Pack. Owner
Charged Up The Battery Over Night And I Charge The Jump Pack Went Back Next
Morning And Tried Again With No Luck Rechecked For Codes And Found The Same Code
Has Been Logged. Made Further Investigation And Car Needs To Be Towed To Auto
Electrician And Have The Wiring And Computer Checked As The Old Faulty Sensor
May Have Caused Damage To The Computer. Owner Has No Money As The Repair Could
Be More Than The Car Is Worth So Not Willing To Attempt At This Stage.