Help Removing Oil Filter Bracket (cam Chain Tensioner Related) 1.8t Ary

Hello,

From about the time I first serviced my a3 1.8t quattro to now (8 months), it has made a rattling noise on startup and rattles on idle once it gets warm.

I've recently had it diagnosed as 'cam chain tensioner' by a VAG specialist, although he did only give it the cursory look over whilst it was running.

I'm currently looking at a £800 bill all told, for the VVT £400 OEM part and the labour, as I don't trust myself to fix something as serious as this.

As a last resort I was linked to this thread on the ttforums: http://www.ttforum.co.uk/forum/view...s=0&postorder=asc&highlight=oil+pump&start=10

It states that startup and idle warm rattle could be attributed to a faulty non return valve found in the back of the oil filter bracket. For £15 + VAT, I think it's worth investigating before I put my car on the market and say goodbye for good.

I've searched the forums for a guide on removing the oil filter bracket but not found anything of any use.

Has anyone done this job before? Has anyone ever cured their rattling problem with this before? And if I am going to take off the oil filter bracket, do I have to drain my oil? Surely this is a very messy job.

Thanks for reading.

tuffty,

Thanks for your reply.

Are you referring to this one: http://www.gsfcarparts.com/023vg0140

If so I think, with the labour, it's still going to be outside of my price range. I set aside about £400-500 to fix this problem but I'm told it will be many hours work.

Really?

In that case, would it be reasonable to expect me to do it in an afternoon? I've changed the oil pick up before, as a measure of how competent I am with engine repairs.

Also, what are the risks of me doing this wrong? Could I easily **** the engine up if I put something back wrong? Can I break other things as I replace it? Just worried as it's my only car and my only way of getting to work.

Edit: Would you recommend replacing the chain too? If that's what the rattling sound is, it's taken a bit of a battering over the last few months.

Cheers!

This seems like it would be outside of my capabilities.

With that said, do you reckon, based on my description, that the chain will be ******? If not, then I might just book this in for the 1-1.5 hours work and the replacing of the tensioner with the GSF part.

Thanks again tuffty.

Thanks for your help tuffty.

If anyone's interested, I'll keep the thread updated and let you know what happens.

I rang the garage that I previously had asked to do the work and they said that they would happily do the work with the cheaper part, but wouldn't condone it, and would recommend swapping the chain if they're in there.

Will have to sleep on it, I think.