Passat CC 3.6 Timing Chain Rattle (Cold Start)

[QUIKCaspa]

Hey all,

I had to ask the question as I've been a bit concerned lately on this rattle sound upon cold starts, people say it could be the timing chain but wanted to make sure, the rattle doesn't seem to stop until the car is at full operating temp then the noise goes away, people say it's normal for that rattle sound as the oil hasn't gotten to the top but it sounds very rattly though, enough to know something is wrong.

I've gotten a OBDEleven device to check for timing chain slack or if there's any at all, but I'm not totally sure what I'm looking at so, hoping someone could tell me if these negative values are bad/good or if I'm reading the wrong section (Basing it off from 208-209 measuring blocks on OBDEleven), I'll put some pictures below. Muchly appreciated!!

[QUIKCaspa]

Also to add, I used 93,96 measuring blocks as well to check the values which are the two top images

[kamold]

At -7 and -5 I would be looking at doing chains and guides yes, particularly if there is noise also.
Factory spec is +/- 5 for either.
And if you're taking the gearbox out you might as well do flywheel and clutches if they are original, save you having to take the gearbox out again later.

[QUIKCaspa]

Hey Kamold,

Wow, thanks for the speedy reply!

Yeah I thought as much, it's a pain as it's actually pretty expensive to get the chains and guides replaced in these haha, but I guess if it needs to be done, it needs to be done lol, there's a few places up my way that do them and a few that don't as it requires a special tool to do the job? But yeah, going to look at getting that done soon.

Definitely, the DSG could do with some work, it does feel a bit jerky when downshifting, not sure if that's much to do with the clutches but most likely needing some new clutches/flywheel and I'd do that when I do the chain.

Appreciate you looking at this too

[meeso]

hey.. i cant find the pics right now but im pretty sure i had a thread about this in the R36 forum. i did my own timing chains, guidess. Mine got so bad the HPFP roller actually flicked off its lobe and turned sideways. you want it sorted before it gets that bad. mine started with a rattle ~ 130k klms...

[kamold]

The HPFP goes out of time because more often than not, the guide closest to the HPFP explodes and the chain is then kept in place by the metal pin.
The rest of the engine stays largely in time so you don't get bent valves or anything from interference. If you get to the point where you have fuelling faults that's what's happened. As meeso said best to address earlier rather than later.

[MIG]

While we are on the topic of the timing chains, what is the correct measuring value on the MED17 ECUs to check the slack, as they only have the "advanced measuring" values?

[kamold]

In UDS ECUs search for 'phase' and you'll get intake and exhaust phaser adjustment angles.