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CriticalCommonEngine

Audi TT: 2.0 TFSI (EA113/EA888) Cam Follower and Timing Chain Wear

2.0 TFSI (EA113/EA888) Cam Follower and Timing Chain Wear is a common engine fault on the Audi TT on the 2006–2010 cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs $300 to $5,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 17 documented faults on the Audi TT.

Vehicle
Audi TT
Engine
2.0L
Years
2006–2010
Fuel
petrol
System
Engine

This page covers the Audi TT as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Audi TT faults17 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

The front of a dual overhead camshaft engine with the timing cover removed, exposing the timing chain and sprockets.Example of the part — not this vehicle

The front of a twin-cam engine with the timing cover off — chain, sprockets and guides.

Logansenf · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

What goes wrong

All 2.0 TFSI TT variants use either the EA113 or EA888 engine family, both of which share the high-pressure fuel pump cam follower wear issue documented across the broader VAG fleet. The EA113 (8J generation) is additionally prone to timing chain stretch at high mileage. The EA888 Gen 1/2 (later 8J and 8S) improves on the chain but retains the HPFP follower risk. Combined, these represent the most commonly reported mechanical failure mode on 2.0 TFSI TTs in the NZ used-import market. Catching follower wear early via inspection is cheap; late-stage failure destroys the camshaft and pump.

What you would notice

  • Hesitation or stumble under hard acceleration (follower failure)
  • P0087, P0193 fuel pressure codes or P0016/P0017 timing codes
  • Cold-start rattle clearing after a few seconds (chain stretch, EA113)
  • Rough idle or misfires under load

How to check it

Where to look. Top of inlet camshaft (follower); front of engine timing cover (chain)

  1. Check cam follower via the HPFP bore plug on top of the engine.

  2. Cold-start and listen for chain rattle on EA113 engines.

  3. Scan for fuel pressure and timing correlation DTCs.

  4. Verify oil change intervals — the follower is particularly sensitive to extended intervals.

  5. Any TT 2.0 TFSI over 80,000 km should have documented follower inspection.

Parts involved: Timing chain.

What it costs to put right

$300 to $5,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

  • “Has the cam follower been inspected or replaced?”
  • “Has the timing chain been replaced or checked?”
  • “What are the oil service intervals and can you show history?”

Now check the Audi TT you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Audi TT buyer questions

Is 2.0 tfsi (ea113/ea888) cam follower and timing chain wear serious on a Audi TT?

We rate it critical and common on the Audi TT. All 2.0 TFSI TT variants use either the EA113 or EA888 engine family, both of which share the high-pressure fuel pump cam follower wear issue documented across the broader VAG fleet. The EA113 (8J generation) is additionally prone to timing chain stretch at high mileage. The EA888 Gen 1/2 (later 8J and 8S) improves on the chain but retains the HPFP follower risk. Combined, these represent the most commonly reported mechanical failure mode on 2.0 TFSI TTs in the NZ used-import market. Catching follower wear early via inspection is cheap; late-stage failure destroys the camshaft and pump.

How much does it cost to fix on a Audi TT?

$300 to $5,500 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Audi TT years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2006–2010 Audi TT. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Check cam follower via the HPFP bore plug on top of the engine. Cold-start and listen for chain rattle on EA113 engines. Scan for fuel pressure and timing correlation DTCs. Verify oil change intervals — the follower is particularly sensitive to extended intervals. Any TT 2.0 TFSI over 80,000 km should have documented follower inspection. Look here: Top of inlet camshaft (follower); front of engine timing cover (chain)