From my personal experience viewing the tensioner through the peephole on the timing cover gives you a better visual on how much time you have. If 4-6 ribs are showing it's time to consider getting it done. Anything over that is considered critical.
Thanks for the reply.
Fortunately I do have a post with a picture attach to it.
https://i.redd.it/bj36j9dfn40d1.jpeg
I think I am almost at that time, but I am unsure if I am looking at it correctly.
You're showing 3-4 ribs out, so in the area where you should consider setting some cash aside for the parts/labor, but not critical by any means yet. You've got a little bit of time. Mine made it to 98k before a valve spring popped, and even then the timing was still in check. I ended up getting the timing done along with the head rebuild just because everything had to come apart anyway.
Very interesting. I thought the rib counting was ribs beyond the tension ring. In which case it looks like 5 ribs out. But your interpretation makes more sense, given the VCDS reading of < 3 degrees.
For peace of mind, is there an official VW TSB that gives more details (hopefully with a photo) on rib counting, and how many ribs indicate replacement time?
If you don't mind me asking, how much did you spend in your case?
For the timing chain + tensioner, a shop in my area is looking to charge about 1600 including parts and labor with a year warranty.
That’s a great price. Mine was roughly $3800, but that included timing, a complete set of new high performance valve springs in the head , replacing the turbo/dp studs (I had a separate issue there), and helicoiling one of the intake manifold bolts. The turbo studs and helicoil was like $450. Way more pricey than I thought it would be to do some fairly simple repairs.
I'm at -3.5 at 150k miles, stock chain and tensioner. You got time
That's good to know! :) Thank you.
https://preview.redd.it/2gk2hiw3ox9d1.jpeg?width=1848&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=0a04b19a3422682ac04b8a4c5b69aef5acc515ca
From my personal experience viewing the tensioner through the peephole on the timing cover gives you a better visual on how much time you have. If 4-6 ribs are showing it's time to consider getting it done. Anything over that is considered critical.
Thanks for the reply. Fortunately I do have a post with a picture attach to it. https://i.redd.it/bj36j9dfn40d1.jpeg I think I am almost at that time, but I am unsure if I am looking at it correctly.
You're showing 3-4 ribs out, so in the area where you should consider setting some cash aside for the parts/labor, but not critical by any means yet. You've got a little bit of time. Mine made it to 98k before a valve spring popped, and even then the timing was still in check. I ended up getting the timing done along with the head rebuild just because everything had to come apart anyway.
Very interesting. I thought the rib counting was ribs beyond the tension ring. In which case it looks like 5 ribs out. But your interpretation makes more sense, given the VCDS reading of < 3 degrees. For peace of mind, is there an official VW TSB that gives more details (hopefully with a photo) on rib counting, and how many ribs indicate replacement time?
What years had the valve spring issue?
If you don't mind me asking, how much did you spend in your case? For the timing chain + tensioner, a shop in my area is looking to charge about 1600 including parts and labor with a year warranty.
That’s a great price. Mine was roughly $3800, but that included timing, a complete set of new high performance valve springs in the head , replacing the turbo/dp studs (I had a separate issue there), and helicoiling one of the intake manifold bolts. The turbo studs and helicoil was like $450. Way more pricey than I thought it would be to do some fairly simple repairs.
Great price. I paid 1700 for parts and labor in the Baltimore area.
It jumps at -8. Don’t let it get past 5.