Vagcom timing stuck at 38, bad #3 injector?

Just got new .216 nozzles on rebuilt / balanced bodies installed them yesterday and checked group 13 in vagcom its -2.16 so out of spec and timing graph is stuck at 38, no movement as ecu adjusts. So I loosened the 3 bolts and rotated the pump both directions, again no movement at all on the timing graph. No engine codes.
https://imgur.com/a/eqrXNS8

I expected the timing to drop with larger nozzles but its stuck slightly retarded and not fluctuating at all. Nothing else mechanically changed, just pulled the old injectors and dropped in new crush washers (after cleaning the mating surface with q tip and alcohol) and the new injectors in. Tightened the calmps down to spec.

Anyone see the timing graph stuck at this "default value"?

This has come up before and turns out to be the needle sensor in injector 3. If you can change the body for that injector, it should get the timing moving again in VCDS.

You can also check the connector to make sure it is making a good connection.

PB_NB said:

You can also check the connector to make sure it is making a good connection.

Click to expand...

Ok thanks for the info, wanted to confirm that this is the likely culprit. I did check the connector and thought it might have been dirty or something, sprayed it down with deoxit and pluged it in a few times then checked vagcom, same things timing stuck at 38. I spoke with the company that sold it to me and he is ready to send me a replacement #3 but just wants me to swap in my old #3 to confirm that its the reason.

As a side question, should I spending the time to swap back all 4 of my old injectors (needing to aneal the copper seals to use again) or will swapping in an orignal (.184? 10mm pump manual) work for the purpose of showing that timing moves around. I'm sure group 13 will be out of wack with 1 stock size and 3 .216's.

You can swap it to try it for timing movement. Probably wont hurt to run the smaller injector #3 for the test. I wouldn't do too much else with the smaller injector such as driving the car. Seems like more trouble to swap them all back unless you really need to before getting a replacement #3. New copper washers are a must!

I had a fellow TDI'er over about a year ago and we wrestled with the timing moving the pump gear about 10 times before we gave up. He was able to get a replacement #3 and problem went away. I do believe that he had an error code but i can't remember what it said.

PB_NB said:

You can swap it to try it for timing movement. Probably wont hurt to run the smaller injector #3 for the test. I wouldn't do too much else with the smaller injector such as driving the car. Seems like more trouble to swap them all back unless you really need to before getting a replacement #3. New copper washers are a must!

I had a fellow TDI'er over about a year ago and we wrestled with the timing moving the pump gear about 10 times before we gave up. He was able to get a replacement #3 and problem went away. I do believe that he had an error code but i can't remember what it said.

Click to expand...

Swapped out the new "used" #3 injector back to my original one and timing was back to where I had it set before swapping injectors, so confirming that the needle sensor in #3 was the problem. Another #3 is on its way this week.

Thanks for helping me confirm PB!