Passat dealer damage during maintenance

well, I went into the local dealership with my Passat AWD 2000 wagon for an
invited, promotional service check (with a $500 dollar free toy spree which
turned out to be not worth a second look) ... and the mechanic, while
checking leaking cam tensioner seals (at my request, since WoodChuck
accurately diagnosed this problem in my earlier posting.... THANKS!)
apparently `neglected to take the wrench off the crank nut' before starting
up the car.. thus causing some symphonic attractions, and royally screwing
up the engine timing, damaging valve stems and who knows what else...

my initial thoughts were for the mechanic... no one in their worst dreams
wants to make this kind of mistake...and the dealer was very straightforward
about the error, and promised to cover all expenses....but my next thoughts
went to (irrespective of cause) what might be the (short and long term)
effect? ...can this damage an engine seriously enough to warrant engine
replacement? and what should I look out for?
Woodchuck, are you there? you were spot on last time!!! any cautionary
advice? this has been one of the best and most practical user group forums
for me over the years, and beats the car doctor funnies on NPR by a long
shot..... thanks in advance...John L

Now that's what I call "having a bad day"! Not you but the tech. Aside from
the dealer pulling the heads and replacing the valves no other damage should
of happened... other than his ego. There's a lot of STRESS involved in doing
t-belt, camshaft type of repairs. At least for me. Can you imagine the
STRESS I go through when replacing timing belts on Porsche's I once worked
on. There was NO room for error on the engines, especially the 928 V8
engines with 32 valves.

Sleep tight




"jeslawrence" > wrote in message
...
> well, I went into the local dealership with my Passat AWD 2000 wagon for
> an invited, promotional service check (with a $500 dollar free toy spree
> which turned out to be not worth a second look) ... and the mechanic,
> while checking leaking cam tensioner seals (at my request, since
> WoodChuck accurately diagnosed this problem in my earlier posting....
> THANKS!) apparently `neglected to take the wrench off the crank nut'
> before starting up the car.. thus causing some symphonic attractions, and
> royally screwing up the engine timing, damaging valve stems and who knows
> what else...
>
> my initial thoughts were for the mechanic... no one in their worst dreams
> wants to make this kind of mistake...and the dealer was very
> straightforward about the error, and promised to cover all expenses....but
> my next thoughts went to (irrespective of cause) what might be the (short
> and long term) effect? ...can this damage an engine seriously enough to
> warrant engine replacement? and what should I look out for?
> Woodchuck, are you there? you were spot on last time!!! any cautionary
> advice? this has been one of the best and most practical user group forums
> for me over the years, and beats the car doctor funnies on NPR by a long
> shot..... thanks in advance...John L
>

absolutely I understand the stress.... and feel for the guy actually more
than for my car, and I never expected that!

but still, when I sit back and think, I wonder what the possible impacts are
on a fine V6.... can damaged valves/camshaft hurt the cylinders, or any
other aspects of upper engine design? thnks, J


"Woodchuck" > wrote in message
...
> Now that's what I call "having a bad day"! Not you but the tech. Aside
> from the dealer pulling the heads and replacing the valves no other damage
> should of happened... other than his ego. There's a lot of STRESS involved
> in doing t-belt, camshaft type of repairs. At least for me. Can you
> imagine the STRESS I go through when replacing timing belts on Porsche's I
> once worked on. There was NO room for error on the engines, especially the
> 928 V8 engines with 32 valves.
>
> Sleep tight
>
>
>
>
> "jeslawrence" > wrote in message
> ...
>> well, I went into the local dealership with my Passat AWD 2000 wagon for
>> an invited, promotional service check (with a $500 dollar free toy spree
>> which turned out to be not worth a second look) ... and the mechanic,
>> while checking leaking cam tensioner seals (at my request, since
>> WoodChuck accurately diagnosed this problem in my earlier posting....
>> THANKS!) apparently `neglected to take the wrench off the crank nut'
>> before starting up the car.. thus causing some symphonic attractions, and
>> royally screwing up the engine timing, damaging valve stems and who knows
>> what else...
>>
>> my initial thoughts were for the mechanic... no one in their worst dreams
>> wants to make this kind of mistake...and the dealer was very
>> straightforward about the error, and promised to cover all
>> expenses....but my next thoughts went to (irrespective of cause) what
>> might be the (short and long term) effect? ...can this damage an engine
>> seriously enough to warrant engine replacement? and what should I look
>> out for?
>> Woodchuck, are you there? you were spot on last time!!! any cautionary
>> advice? this has been one of the best and most practical user group
>> forums for me over the years, and beats the car doctor funnies on NPR by
>> a long shot..... thanks in advance...John L
>>
>
>
>

"jeslawrence" > wrote in message
...
> absolutely I understand the stress.... and feel for the guy actually more
> than for my car, and I never expected that!
>
> but still, when I sit back and think, I wonder what the possible impacts
> are on a fine V6.... can damaged valves/camshaft hurt the cylinders, or
> any other aspects of upper engine design? thnks, J
>
>
> "Woodchuck" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Now that's what I call "having a bad day"! Not you but the tech. Aside
>> from the dealer pulling the heads and replacing the valves no other
>> damage should of happened... other than his ego. There's a lot of STRESS
>> involved in doing t-belt, camshaft type of repairs. At least for me. Can
>> you imagine the STRESS I go through when replacing timing belts on
>> Porsche's I once worked on. There was NO room for error on the engines,
>> especially the 928 V8 engines with 32 valves.

I'd just ask to see the top of the pistons & the bores once the heads are
off. An independent VW specialist here told me that when you bend valves on
a 1.8T sometimes the valve can get bent right into the side of the bore &
can damage it and/or the piston crown. I don't know if the V6 is the same
but I'd ask to have a look just to be sure that there was no damage to those
areas as well. If all is well then let them rebuild the heads & bolt it back
together.

rgds

I.

thanks for a good suggestion... what would be the symptoms of a gouged bore
or piston crown... reduced compression/performance? increased buring oil and
smoke from exhaust etc? or would it be more hidden?
"Iain Miller" > wrote in message
...
>
> "jeslawrence" > wrote in message
> ...
>> absolutely I understand the stress.... and feel for the guy actually more
>> than for my car, and I never expected that!
>>
>> but still, when I sit back and think, I wonder what the possible impacts
>> are on a fine V6.... can damaged valves/camshaft hurt the cylinders, or
>> any other aspects of upper engine design? thnks, J
>>
>>
>> "Woodchuck" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> Now that's what I call "having a bad day"! Not you but the tech. Aside
>>> from the dealer pulling the heads and replacing the valves no other
>>> damage should of happened... other than his ego. There's a lot of STRESS
>>> involved in doing t-belt, camshaft type of repairs. At least for me. Can
>>> you imagine the STRESS I go through when replacing timing belts on
>>> Porsche's I once worked on. There was NO room for error on the engines,
>>> especially the 928 V8 engines with 32 valves.
>
> I'd just ask to see the top of the pistons & the bores once the heads are
> off. An independent VW specialist here told me that when you bend valves
> on a 1.8T sometimes the valve can get bent right into the side of the bore
> & can damage it and/or the piston crown. I don't know if the V6 is the
> same but I'd ask to have a look just to be sure that there was no damage
> to those areas as well. If all is well then let them rebuild the heads &
> bolt it back together.
>
> rgds
>
> I.
>

"jeslawrence" > wrote in message
...
> thanks for a good suggestion... what would be the symptoms of a gouged
> bore or piston crown... reduced compression/performance? increased buring
> oil and smoke from exhaust etc? or would it be more hidden?

A damaged bore might well see increased oil consumption & possibly a loss of
compession. A dinged/damaged piston crown could cause localised overheating
& eventually failure/holing of the piston.

I would insist on seeing the inside of the bores & the piston crowns myself.
The ones to worry about are obviously the ones that have bent their
respective valves - which is probably not all 6.

I.