Diagnose Codes. Is it a timing chain?

[Vanagons rule]

To all the knowledgeable Eurovan owners out there,
I have acquired my dad’s old 2003 eurovan weekender this past year. He had passed away in 2012 and it was sold to another party, but it is now in my possession. Just had an oil change after the van sat for 99.9% of the last year. I was focusing on selling my ‘82 camper before jumping into this one. The Check Engine light had come on a while back during the handful of times I actually drove it, with a code of P0340 Camshaft position sensor A circuit, according to Autozone. The code disappeared, maybe because it was sitting awhile after that and I had to re-charge the battery.
Recently, I had the oil changed at the VW dealership. They were able to grab the codes (stored?) in it.

“Technician has 5 codes from ECM. P1340, P1570, P0300, P0305, P0303, Needs further Diagnosis to fix concerns.”

I brought it back in a week later.

“Scanned for codes, found P1340-cam position sensor incorrect correlation, P0305-cylinder 5 misfire and P0303 cylinder 3 misfire, will need to remove valve cover and upper timing cover to inspect timing to determine if timing has jumped or if chains have stretched.
Estimate to further diagnose $915
Estimate if chains are needed $3500”

It currently has 139,100 miles. Drives just fine, though a little slower to get going when I start to press the gas pedal compared to my 2011 subaru. If I press harder on the on the gas, it really goes! I don't hear any popping sound with engine.
I would love to keep it and drive it. I am a single mom with a daughter and don't want to get stranded anywhere, hence why the '82 camper was just sold.

Any thoughts on paying the $915 to have it further diagnosed and possibly $3500 if it is the chain?
I have read some of the old posts about timing chain issues.
Thanks for your help!

[Zeitgeist 13]

Do yourself a favor and save that bucket of cash for a good VAG code reader and a MkIV Bentley. Sadly, the EV Bentley doesn't cover the 24v VR6 engines, so you have to use the Golf/Jetta manual.
_________________
Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH
'01 Weekender --> full camper
NEAT, no ICE.

[jmciii]

Consider looking at this thread:

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/search.php?search_keywords=cam&search_forum=48

I am in the process of working through some related codes. And my van had the timing chain replaced before I bought it.

I am (still) working on getting some good cam positioning sensors to see if that solves it. (Covid-19 has complicated an Amazon order coming out of Lativia for some reason. I want the Bosch sensors.)

Anyway, I found good guidance in the thread that I referenced above.
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-John
2002 EV MV Weekender Westfalia

[Abscate]

Nancy

Hold onto the money for now. Post your general location to see if someone nearby can guide you through the code process.

It’s normal for codes to pop up once in a while on a weathered car, and that cam code is one of the more common.

The diagnostic capabilities of the dealers on T4s usually isn’t good , so save your money.

When we had our 5th an d6th child together SWMBO said no more, and no puppies, but I did manage to get her to buy a T4

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[Vanagons rule]

@Zeitgeist 13, I got a code reader off of Groupon but it doesn't do anything when I plug it in. Probably a piece of crap, oh well. I'm not sure the Bently will help as I cannot do any of the work. I left that up to my ex-husband but that was on older vw's. Also, not really a "bucket of cash" as that '82 was running on 3 cylinders and the last of the air-cooled.

@jmciii, The link you posted had several threads, was there a specific one?
I'd love to hear more about your van and the new cam position sensors. How hard are those to swap out?

@Abscate, Nice Van! I really do want to just drive it and go on my first camp out in it. I loved my '82 camper but sold it thinking that the eurovan would be more reliable and safer for my daughter and I.
My worry is if I can get away with driving it and still catch it in time if something does need replacing before I ruin it. Maybe I would hear something? The Popping noise I read people mention?

Thank you each for your insight


I live in Grand Junction, Colorado
_________________
Nancy

'03 Weekender
Past VW's: '82 Camper x2, '88 Syncro weekender, '88 Syncro, '86 Weekender, few baywindows, split window, couple bugs, and a thing

[Hänsel]

Hi, have anyone tried OBDeleven?
I use it on my eurovan and audi,
It cost £70 for android, unfortunately more for ios .
It works well, and connects to the web , great little diagnostic tool

[Abscate]

If they could read codes at the dealer then your diagnostics are working, it sounds like your Groupon reader should go back

The cam sensor is an easy replacement with some guidance but don’t jump on that yet.

If it’s purring with no noises don’t sweat the cam chains , you will get warning.
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[Zeitgeist 13]

I'll second the recommendation for OBD Eleven.
_________________
Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH
'01 Weekender --> full camper
NEAT, no ICE.

[jmciii]

Nancy, I step aside and defer entirely to Abscate's guidance and recommendations. I have crawled Abscate's contributions throughout these forums and trust the information mightily. (Electrical subject matter, in particular, seems to be an area where Abscate thrives.)

That said, FedEX literally just dropped off my Bosch OEM sensors from FCPEuro minutes ago.
_________________
-John
2002 EV MV Weekender Westfalia

[Abscate]

[jmciii]

I have updated both of my cam positioning sensors with Bosch OEM and cleared the codes. I headed out for a weekend jaunt and the check engine light is back.


Some of you may recall this work being done on my van with the previous owner:

Nancy, to make sure this thread is completely on topic, here are all of the steps that were taken for my timing chain repair. Replacing my sensors did not eliminate any codes for me. I am told that I might have a cam gear issue. I have started a thread on that back in December in hopes to learn more.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=728713
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-John
2002 EV MV Weekender Westfalia

[Abscate]

You monitor it by removing the inner drain plug and topping off until it starts to drain from that. Sort of like a pipe standing up in a lake, when the lake reaches the right level, it goes into the pipe.

Find where the leak is coming so you can address it. Trans fluid levels have to be right for an AT to be happy, not just 'enough' like engine oil.
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[Zeitgeist 13]

I may be wrong, but it's my recollection that the later 24v engines are less prone to t-gear wear than the 12v. Mine was perfect @ 160k.

You need to crawl under there and determine where the trans oil is leaking. My bet's on either the pan gasket, or the speed sensor o-ring.

I installed a trans dipstick kit, which I think was purchased from Poptop Heaven.
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Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH
'01 Weekender --> full camper
NEAT, no ICE.

[Stripped66]

[jmciii]

Thanks, everyone.

Stripped66, please note that I have engaged the shop in conversation in addition to evaluating their invoice.

I might be wrong about "fuming" about the sensor. You've been right to call me out on that. But, the shop itself is telling me that they recommended that the previous owner replace the (a) timing gear and he declined. This was through phone conversations. I think I'm doing a thorough and responsible job engaging the shop, which is unfortunately in a different city, to understand what they did and didn't do. So, I think you're being a little dismissive and harsh in your response.

I have a set of detailed codes. I've shared them elsewhere in the forums. here. I came into this thread to ask about transmission fluid and I appreciate the guidance. -John
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-John
2002 EV MV Weekender Westfalia

[Stripped66]

So, that is not the actual invoice of work that was previously done to your van by the shop in question?

[ocelotpotpie]

[jmciii]

I have upset Stripped66 by bringing up transmission fluid on this thread. He or she has urged me to start my own thread. This seemed like an organic progression in the discussion and it seems to be continuing just fine. This is the first time I've run into some fuss with other forum members here.

I chimed in to try to help Nancy early on as I had tangential issues. I thought that by sharing my actual invoice I could also add some value about what might happen if/when Nancy addresses the timing chain.

So, all apologies if I'm out of line. It seemed relevant to me.

I'm going to head over to my Cam Gear thread from December which wasn't very interesting at the time. If anyone wants to join me there I would appreciate any feedback.

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=728713&highlight=cam+gear
_________________
-John
2002 EV MV Weekender Westfalia

[Stripped66]

[jmciii]

I apologize again for introducing trans fluid into this thread. I absolutely invite commentary on my cam gear thread and I've rekindled an original inquiry specific to that topic.

I read the following comment from you as rude and dismissive and not something I've experienced here yet. If I read it wrong so be it.