CriticalCommonEngine

Volkswagen Scirocco: Timing chain tensioner failure (2.0 TSI EA888 gen 1/2 CAWB/CCZB)

Timing chain tensioner failure (2.0 TSI EA888 gen 1/2 CAWB/CCZB) is a common engine fault on the Volkswagen Scirocco on the 2008–2014 cars, and we rate it critical. Putting it right costs $900 to $9,000 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 5 documented faults on the Volkswagen Scirocco.

Vehicle: Volkswagen Scirocco
Engine: 2.0L
Years: 2008–2014
Fuel: petrol
System: Engine

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

All Volkswagen Scirocco faults5 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

What goes wrong

The non-R 2.0 TSI Scirocco uses the chain-driven EA888 (gen 1 CAWB, then gen 2 CCZB). The original tensioner's ratchet can wear so the tensioner piston backs off when the engine is stopped, and on a later start the chain can jump teeth, causing valve and piston damage. VW revised the tensioner for engines built from around 2013, and the gen 3 EA888 in the 2014 facelift is not affected. Many cars have had the updated tensioner fitted, but it cannot be assumed without an invoice. There is no recall or extended warranty in NZ/AU.

What you would notice

Short rattle of about a second on a cold or part-warm start
Engine warning light with camshaft position or timing codes
Sudden non-start or rough running after a loud clatter

How to check it

Where to look. Timing chain case at the right-hand end of the engine (passenger side of the engine bay)

Insist on a cold start: feel the bonnet is cold, then listen at the front of the engine with the bonnet open as it starts. A brief rattle on start-up is the classic warning sign on this engine. Ask for proof the updated tensioner (or a full chain kit) has been fitted, with date and kilometres. Check the service book for regular oil changes. If a workshop inspection is possible: a VW specialist can remove the small inspection plug on the timing cover to check how far the tensioner has extended, and read cam timing deviation with a scan tool.

Parts involved: Timing chain.

What it costs to put right

$900 to $9,000 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 updated timing chain tensioner been fitted, and can I see the invoice?”
“Does it rattle when started cold?”
“What engine code is on the service sticker or build plate?”

Now check the Volkswagen Scirocco 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 the sources below. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them.

Scirocco Central forum: Is timing chain failure rate high on the Scirocco? (t=14453) and 2.0 TSI TIMING CHAIN (t=17995)
Audi TT Forum: Heads up, timing chain tensioner failure 2.0 TFSI (EA888)
BobIsTheOilGuy forum: Failure of component destroys Volkswagen EA888 2.0 TSI engine

Volkswagen Scirocco buyer questions

Is timing chain tensioner failure (2.0 tsi ea888 gen 1/2 cawb/cczb) serious on a Volkswagen Scirocco?

We rate it critical and common on the Volkswagen Scirocco. The non-R 2.0 TSI Scirocco uses the chain-driven EA888 (gen 1 CAWB, then gen 2 CCZB). The original tensioner's ratchet can wear so the tensioner piston backs off when the engine is stopped, and on a later start the chain can jump teeth, causing valve and piston damage. VW revised the tensioner for engines built from around 2013, and the gen 3 EA888 in the 2014 facelift is not affected. Many cars have had the updated tensioner fitted, but it cannot be assumed without an invoice. There is no recall or extended warranty in NZ/AU.

How much does it cost to fix on a Volkswagen Scirocco?

$900 to $9,000 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 Volkswagen Scirocco years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2008–2014 Volkswagen Scirocco. 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.