Timing chain issues

[mayesj86]

Needing some advice on the above topic.
Car is in the garage for timing chain replacement - by the end of today they will have had it for 2 days - and now they have come back and told me they cant do the job as the cam bolt is seized solid and they have broken 2 sockets trying to remove.
My questions are.... has anyone else had or heard of this problem and 2. would it not end up ruining the splines on the bolt before breaking a socket .
They say they are VAG specialists but currently Im having my doubts. This is why I Hate putting my car to garages 
I'm doing all I can not to loose the plot as im now going to have to try and find someone else to actually do the work as they were now suggesting cam removal and maching the bolt out.....which they got kindly told to f**k off I will sort it as they have had it for 2 days to get 4 hours work done!!!!!

Cheers
Jason

[rich83]

Are they using the correct tool to undo the bolt?

[pudding]

Yeah the VVT bolt is very common problem.  Not so common is breaking the tool though!  It normally rounds out.

It's because the bolt head needs a lot of torque to break the friction, and the head of the bolt is very shallow, so a LOT of mechanics and DIYers end up rounding the bolt head out.

The trick is to either get an assistant to push the socket hard onto the VVT adjuster whilst you undo it with a breaker bar, or use an impact wrench.

If they haven't cheesed out the bolt head already, take it to someone who's more confident.

I did it myself on my drive, first attempt and didn't cheese the bolt head, so god knows how people who charge an hourly rate for this can mess it up!

[mayesj86]

They tell me they are aye but only have their word for it at the moment. I cant work out how they are snapping a socket before the splines give way if it were truly that tight 

[mayesj86]

Yeah the VVT bolt is very common problem.  Not so common is breaking the tool though!  It normally rounds out.

It's because the bolt head needs a lot of torque to break the friction, and the head of the bolt is very shallow, so a LOT of mechanics and DIYers end up rounding the bolt head out.

The trick is to either get an assistant to push the socket hard onto the VVT adjuster whilst you undo it with a breaker bar, or use an impact wrench.

If they haven't cheesed out the bolt head already, take it to someone who's more confident.

I did it myself on my drive, first attempt and didn't cheese the bolt head, so god knows how people who charge an hourly rate for this can mess it up!

I have read and seen many stories of the bolt head rounding but not breaking the tool.
I have seen the DIY guide and was going to do it myself I just didn't have the time with work commitments but may have to have a go myself.
I honestly cant work out what is going on it truly has enraged me. Going to need to call them back and find out what really is going on. They are supposed to be a reputable VAG specialist with a good rep but this has changed that opinion.

[pudding]

Yeah the VVT bolt is very common problem.  Not so common is breaking the tool though!  It normally rounds out.

It's because the bolt head needs a lot of torque to break the friction, and the head of the bolt is very shallow, so a LOT of mechanics and DIYers end up rounding the bolt head out.

The trick is to either get an assistant to push the socket hard onto the VVT adjuster whilst you undo it with a breaker bar, or use an impact wrench.

If they haven't cheesed out the bolt head already, take it to someone who's more confident.

I did it myself on my drive, first attempt and didn't cheese the bolt head, so god knows how people who charge an hourly rate for this can mess it up!

I have read and seen many stories of the bolt head rounding but not breaking the tool.
I have seen the DIY guide and was going to do it myself I just didn't have the time with work commitments but may have to have a go myself.
I honestly cant work out what is going on it truly has enraged me. Going to need to call them back and find out what really is going on. They are supposed to be a reputable VAG specialist with a good rep but this has changed that opinion.

Yeah that's why I chose to do it myself, because I'd read professionals and novices alike were having problems with that bolt!   It was definitely a risk doing it on my daily, but one that paid off.   Some people get the timing a tooth off with this job as well, so it seems the best way is to find a garage that's done dozens of them before, like AKS or similar.

[mayesj86]

Yeah the VVT bolt is very common problem.  Not so common is breaking the tool though!  It normally rounds out.

It's because the bolt head needs a lot of torque to break the friction, and the head of the bolt is very shallow, so a LOT of mechanics and DIYers end up rounding the bolt head out.

The trick is to either get an assistant to push the socket hard onto the VVT adjuster whilst you undo it with a breaker bar, or use an impact wrench.

If they haven't cheesed out the bolt head already, take it to someone who's more confident.

I did it myself on my drive, first attempt and didn't cheese the bolt head, so god knows how people who charge an hourly rate for this can mess it up!

I have read and seen many stories of the bolt head rounding but not breaking the tool.
I have seen the DIY guide and was going to do it myself I just didn't have the time with work commitments but may have to have a go myself.
I honestly cant work out what is going on it truly has enraged me. Going to need to call them back and find out what really is going on. They are supposed to be a reputable VAG specialist with a good rep but this has changed that opinion.

Yeah that's why I chose to do it myself, because I'd read professionals and novices alike were having problems with that bolt!   It was definitely a risk doing it on my daily, but one that paid off.   Some people get the timing a tooth off with this job as well, so it seems the best way is to find a garage that's done dozens of them before, like AKS or similar.

I really wish I'd done it myself now already that way I would know the truth. They say they broke 2 sockets trying to remove the bolt. There suggestion as they say there is no room to drill the head is to leave that cam in situ and remove the other -which means timing belt would need removed so would need a new one and pump - to allow the to change the chain. To me that seems ridiculous. These guys are supposed to be master trained mechanics one is VW and the other is Audi. That's why I chose them they seemed genuine and had great reviews. Makes me wonder what work they did when they got reviewed.
On the plus side the cam follower was in great shape and not having s record of it being done I was happy with that atleast.
Not sure what to do now try to find s proper garage or risk it as it's my daily driver and do it myself . Had massive arguments with them and kept getting the run around and excuses they would give anyone unaware of what is actually invoked in doing it.

[Pesky jones]

Whilst it is tight, others have successfully drilled the bolt out so I don’t know why they want to take the inlet camshaft out – seems mad. Would you really want it back with a rounded bolt to tackle yourself? Why cant they drill it out…

[pudding]

Yeah the VVT bolt is very common problem.  Not so common is breaking the tool though!  It normally rounds out.

It's because the bolt head needs a lot of torque to break the friction, and the head of the bolt is very shallow, so a LOT of mechanics and DIYers end up rounding the bolt head out.

The trick is to either get an assistant to push the socket hard onto the VVT adjuster whilst you undo it with a breaker bar, or use an impact wrench.

If they haven't cheesed out the bolt head already, take it to someone who's more confident.

I did it myself on my drive, first attempt and didn't cheese the bolt head, so god knows how people who charge an hourly rate for this can mess it up!

I have read and seen many stories of the bolt head rounding but not breaking the tool.
I have seen the DIY guide and was going to do it myself I just didn't have the time with work commitments but may have to have a go myself.
I honestly cant work out what is going on it truly has enraged me. Going to need to call them back and find out what really is going on. They are supposed to be a reputable VAG specialist with a good rep but this has changed that opinion.

Yeah that's why I chose to do it myself, because I'd read professionals and novices alike were having problems with that bolt!   It was definitely a risk doing it on my daily, but one that paid off.   Some people get the timing a tooth off with this job as well, so it seems the best way is to find a garage that's done dozens of them before, like AKS or similar.

I really wish I'd done it myself now already that way I would know the truth. They say they broke 2 sockets trying to remove the bolt. There suggestion as they say there is no room to drill the head is to leave that cam in situ and remove the other -which means timing belt would need removed so would need a new one and pump - to allow the to change the chain. To me that seems ridiculous. These guys are supposed to be master trained mechanics one is VW and the other is Audi. That's why I chose them they seemed genuine and had great reviews. Makes me wonder what work they did when they got reviewed.
On the plus side the cam follower was in great shape and not having s record of it being done I was happy with that atleast.
Not sure what to do now try to find s proper garage or risk it as it's my daily driver and do it myself . Had massive arguments with them and kept getting the run around and excuses they would give anyone unaware of what is actually invoked in doing it.

Just to confirm, they've broken two of number 17 in this pic.....



....attempting to undo this bolt?



I don't even know how that's possible!   The head of the bolt will round out way before the tool breaks, unless they've used really crap tools made of Stilton.

[Dan_FR]

Tell them to get a genuine, correctly fitting tool from VW

[barelyrelevant]

I feel for you, horrible having your car at a garage when you think they aren't quite giving you the full truth. Hard to find the balance between flat out accusing them of lying and feeling like you are being taken for a ride.

Where abouts are you based?

[mayesj86]

Whilst it is tight, others have successfully drilled the bolt out so I don’t know why they want to take the inlet camshaft out – seems mad. Would you really want it back with a rounded bolt to tackle yourself? Why cant they drill it out…

I'm not entirely sure why they won't drill it they tell me there isn't enough room to do that which I known there is. The bolt isn't rounded apparently they snapped 2 tools trying.

[mayesj86]

Yeah the VVT bolt is very common problem.  Not so common is breaking the tool though!  It normally rounds out.

It's because the bolt head needs a lot of torque to break the friction, and the head of the bolt is very shallow, so a LOT of mechanics and DIYers end up rounding the bolt head out.

The trick is to either get an assistant to push the socket hard onto the VVT adjuster whilst you undo it with a breaker bar, or use an impact wrench.

If they haven't cheesed out the bolt head already, take it to someone who's more confident.

I did it myself on my drive, first attempt and didn't cheese the bolt head, so god knows how people who charge an hourly rate for this can mess it up!

I have read and seen many stories of the bolt head rounding but not breaking the tool.
I have seen the DIY guide and was going to do it myself I just didn't have the time with work commitments but may have to have a go myself.
I honestly cant work out what is going on it truly has enraged me. Going to need to call them back and find out what really is going on. They are supposed to be a reputable VAG specialist with a good rep but this has changed that opinion.

Yeah that's why I chose to do it myself, because I'd read professionals and novices alike were having problems with that bolt!   It was definitely a risk doing it on my daily, but one that paid off.   Some people get the timing a tooth off with this job as well, so it seems the best way is to find a garage that's done dozens of them before, like AKS or similar.

I really wish I'd done it myself now already that way I would know the truth. They say they broke 2 sockets trying to remove the bolt. There suggestion as they say there is no room to drill the head is to leave that cam in situ and remove the other -which means timing belt would need removed so would need a new one and pump - to allow the to change the chain. To me that seems ridiculous. These guys are supposed to be master trained mechanics one is VW and the other is Audi. That's why I chose them they seemed genuine and had great reviews. Makes me wonder what work they did when they got reviewed.
On the plus side the cam follower was in great shape and not having s record of it being done I was happy with that atleast.
Not sure what to do now try to find s proper garage or risk it as it's my daily driver and do it myself . Had massive arguments with them and kept getting the run around and excuses they would give anyone unaware of what is actually invoked in doing it.

Just to confirm, they've broken two of number 17 in this pic.....



....attempting to undo this bolt?



I don't even know how that's possible!   The head of the bolt will round out way before the tool breaks, unless they've used really crap tools made of Stilton.

That's the tool the apparently broke 2 of trying to remove that bolt. That was my argument that the bolt would strip long before that tool would snap unless it was cheap soft rubbish. It's really bugging me what's going on.

[Juliand]

Sounds like you've got to go and see it for yourself, get your car back and take it somewhere else. Hopefully the bolt wont be too rounded. Not a job I'd fancy doing myself.

What a nightmare - feel for you and hope you get it sorted soon

[ducman77]

Sorry to hear about this
Very frustrating for you mate. Hope you get sorted soon