2015 Passat CVCA Engine Failure

outoforder

Active member
Joined
Dec 2, 2014
Location
Dover, OH
TDI
2003 Jetta
Dealer says my TDI suffered catastrophic engine. A piston hit a valve and that was all she wrote. However, the timing belt was not broken so I'm curious as to how this situation could have happened. Car currently has 89,000 miles. The technician told me the same problem happened to his TDI at 40,000. Dealer says I'm covered under the diesel gate warranty and they are installing a new engine. I'm curious as to what possibly could have caused this issue. Anyone else with a similar experience?
 

Tom in PT

Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2017
Location
Twilight Zone, WA State
TDI
2005 Passat sedan - SOLD; 2013 Passat DSG; both purchased new
I think that is right. Somehow (assuming dealer is accurate) the timing got off, meaning the belt slipped or otherwise jumped a tooth or maybe even more like two or three teeth. Why would it do that? Not sure. Maybe the belt was stretched and ready to give way anyways or the tensioner went out.
 

MrCypherr

Veteran Member
Joined
Sep 3, 2012
Location
Ontario
TDI
Mk6 Wagon
Was the water pump leaking at any point? I've seen ones that have the waterpump leaking, the belt is soaked and I've seen one that has skipped timing.
 

740GLE

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Aug 19, 2009
Location
NH
TDI
2017 Alltrack SE; Totaled 2015 Passat SEL, BB 2010 Sedan Man; 2012 Passat SE w/ Nav,
Lost a spring?

we're all guessing but the dealer can actually find out and tell you if they wanted, but im sure they are just getting paid for warranty work.

What was the situation that caused you to bring it into the dealer?

Non start? or running down the highway and it shut down?
 

MB2VW

Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 8, 2000
Location
Lighthouse Pt., FL USA
TDI
2015 Passat SEL,
Dealer says my TDI suffered catastrophic engine. A piston hit a valve and that was all she wrote. However, the timing belt was not broken so I'm curious as to how this situation could have happened. Car currently has 89,000 miles. The technician told me the same problem happened to his TDI at 40,000. Dealer says I'm covered under the diesel gate warranty and they are installing a new engine. I'm curious as to what possibly could have caused this issue. Anyone else with a similar experience?
Lucky break warranty was able to cover.

I'm planning my third do it myself CVCA/CRUA timing belt change in the next week or so. Did the second one about a month ago, and the first around 15 months ago, and was amazed how much I forgot. I set it out for my staff to drive, and began to breath a little easier after 600 miles passed...

That said, that is a great Q: Why oh Why?

I watched an episode of Humble Mechanic recently on a gasser that had lost compression on cylinder number one. Turned out the valve spring broke. Maybe you lost a retainer or something...

If you find out please post ! Good luck at dealership!
 

outoforder

Active member
Joined
Dec 2, 2014
Location
Dover, OH
TDI
2003 Jetta
Now that you mention it, the dealer did say something about a leaky water pump. I do quite a bit of work on my car and I hadn't noticed a coolant leak so when I got the call from the dealer saying I needed a new water pump I thought they were just trying to upsell me on a part I really didn't need. Perhaps I was wrong. Anyways, it was already my plan to have the water pump and timing belt replaced since I was at 89,000 miles and it wouldn't cost me any labor since the engine was already out of the car.

Background: I was driving my wife to work one more and was at a red light. Light turns green and I accelerate (not hard, just a regular acceleration). I shifted into second when I let out the clutch I heard a pop followed by increased exhaust noise and a loss of power. I thought maybe the turbo had become disconnected or failed. I was able to drive the car 1 mile back home but it was not able to go above 30 mph. After that I wasn't able to move the car anymore. I kept losing power and didn't have enough torque to go up the small incline of my residential driveway. I had the car towed to a dealership who has had it for 7 months. I've been in a loaner car since then, a 2023 Taos. Yeah, 7 months seems to be outrageous on repair time, but to best honest, I like everything about the Taos except for the seat material. It's not leather and not exactly cloth, something weird that makes my back sweat when it's warm outside. I also like the driver seating position. I feel like I'm sitting up higher vs my Passat. I view this entire drama as a win for me. I upgraded from a 2015 to a 2023 at no cost. The Taos is 100% covered for any repair it might need because hey, I'm not the owner. It's gone from 7000 to 15,000 miles and counting. My family is taking bets on how long it will take for the Passat to be repaired. over/under 1 year.

UPDATE: Dealer called and said car was ready to go. I drove the car around the block and said "I need someone to come ride with me and listen to this". Mechanic rode with me and said the noise was from the high pressure fuel pump. Said that VW wouldn't replace it until it failed completely and currently it was working albeit making noise. I told the mechanic "I understand what you're telling me and that this car is perfectly drivable, but it is also unsellable. The HPFP wasn't making this noise before I brought the car in and no one will buy it from me making this sound". After a brief consultation with management, I am getting a new HPFP. If they don't have the Passat repaired by July, I'm going to need updated registration for the Taos. hahaha
 

MrCypherr

Veteran Member
Joined
Sep 3, 2012
Location
Ontario
TDI
Mk6 Wagon
Not uncommon to see leaking water pumps on these causing the belt to slip. Seen it a couple times.
 

MrCypherr

Veteran Member
Joined
Sep 3, 2012
Location
Ontario
TDI
Mk6 Wagon
Believe its a defect. I cant recall if the part actually is an updated one with a superseded part number. But usually after replacing the leaky one the first time, I've never seen one come back again like that.
 
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