There is an issue plaguing Volkswagen 2.0 engines (with and without turbo) from years 2008-2013 which can happen at any mileage and at any time. The sound is a rattle that is heard just after the engine is started. The technical background on this issue is that the timing chain tension has lost its ability to keep the tension and the slack causes the rattle in the engine. Thus, the timing chain may jump, causing the engine not to start.
If this happens, it may have contact between the pistons and valve, causing major repair problems for the engine. The engine codes related to this problem are the Crankshaft Position vs Camshaft Position Correlation and/or Knock Sensor 1 Circuit High Input. These codes will be logged in the Engine Control Module (ECM).
This problem may happen without warning or cause.
The simple act of an oil change service may cause this defect to appear. The oil being drained or drawn out naturally causes pressure to be lost and the tensioner to remain compressed. There is no recall / warranty for this defeat. Repair professionals cannot predict when or what mileage this can occur. There are many other tests that can be performed to see if the slack has caused more damage than just the failed tensioner. The act of starting the car over and over can cause more damage, as the slack in the chain makes contact between the pistons and valve.
The best case in the remedy of this Volkswagen engine rattle is…
As soon as you start to hear this noise happening, take it an European shop that specializes in German manufacturers. If you are in the Las Vegas / Henderson, NV area, bring it to Desert Oasis European Auto Service & Repair shop, which is the premier dealership alternative in the area.
There you will find quality replacement parts at a fair cost with seasoned technicians who work with VWs regularly. Recognizing this issue sooner rather than later is key to keeping the repair cost down. Even then, it may be too late and damage could have occurred to the pistons and valves. Trained mechanics can perform the tests necessary to diagnose which parts have failed.
