2001 Beetle Cam Tensioner

[shoeless33]

I recently bought a 2001 New Beetle for my daughter with 68K mi, 1.8T, Auto, from a friend who was the second owner. The car had always been serviced by the original dealer at regular maintenance intervals. It was serviced for it's 70K maintenance prior to me buying it, I drove the car for a week before I bought it and found no problems with it. My daughter lives in Phoenix and I in Ga. so I had the car shipped via Auto transport. I was there when it arrived and my daughter's mother drove it from the drop off to their home (18 mi) and when she pulled up to the house the car was idling there was a very loud clatter which sounded like it was coming from the valves. It was idling at 600 rpm and when revved to 900 the clatter stopped. At this point it was 110 degrees outside, Phoenix is also at a higher altitude than Ga. so I thought it might be an air fuel mixture problem. Unfortunately I had to fly back the following day but when my daughters mother took the car in to the dealer they diagnosed it as needing a new Cam Tensioner with a price of $1000 for the fix. I called and talked to the mechanic and I asked him what causes this and he said it is usually when the car is run low on oil, but this has never been the case with this car. Has anyone else had this problem and for the mechanics out there does this sound like a correct diagnoses. Apperciate any responses, Shoeless

[veedubmechanic]

Cam chain tensioners are all poorly constructed from 98-01 1.8t. Sounds right for the diag, unfortunately 1.8t beetle is the hardest one to change a cam tensioner on. You have to remove the timing belt which requires removal of the engine mount. Replace the tensioner, cam seals, timing belt and water pump, it will save you down the road.