Failing VW camshafts

How VW Parts Fail ~ 1.9 and 2.0 TDI CamShafts

Failing VW camshafts

You guys wanted more TDI content, you got it! Today we are back talking about more failing VW parts. This time we are looking at the camshaft failures on the 1.9 and 2.0 Pumpe Duse engines. This engine was in the Mk4 platform and the B5.5 platform. Failures were much more common on the 1.9l, but that may be pure numbers game.

Sponsor Of The Day
Today’s show is sponsored by Deutsche Auto Parts. They are the VW and Audi parts experts. They have great prices and awesome service. Plus they work really hard on a ton of VW DIY videos. Paul and the fellas at DAP are awesome. Also check out their new site at SHOPDAP.com

Join me today as we breakdown:

  • What is a Camshaft
  • How does a camshaft work
  • What is “lift and duration”?
  • How TDI camshafts fail
  • Symptoms of a failing VW camshaft
  • How to diagnose a failing VW camshaft
  • Is this a DIY repair?
  • Shout out to Apex-Tuning
  • and more


Trouble viewing? Watch “How VW Parts Fail ~ 1.9 and 2.0 TDI CamShafts” on YouTube.

As always, your questions and comments are welcome.
Please post them below. If you would like to suggest a part of a show like this, email me Charles(at)HumbleMechanic(dot)com. Thanks again to Deutsche Auto Parts for being such a great sponsor.

Don’t forget to follow me at:

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Viewer Automotive Questions ~ Podcast Episode 126

Today on the Automotive Podcast, I will be taking your car related questions. The “Viewer Automotive Question” shows are done every Monday. If you have a car question for a show like this, email me Charles(at)Humblemechanic(DOT)com.  Be sure to put the phrase “Question for Charles” in the subject. That is the best way to avoid the spam monster.

Sponsor of the DayCRP AUTO
CRP deals in a ton of OE automotive parts. They also make the factory DSG fluid for VW. Having them as a sponsor will give us access to more information about fluids than I would ever get from VW. I am really excited to have them as a resource of information. To learn more about the great products they have, check out CRPAutomotive.com

Join me today as I take your questions on:


Trouble viewing? Watch “Viewer Automotive Questions ~ Podcast Episode 126” on YouTube.

As always I love to hear your thoughts. Please post them in the comments section below. Again, if you have a question for a show like this, email me Charles(at)humblemechanic(dot)com with Question for Charles in the subject. Also if you have an idea for a show you can email me, or use the contact me form!

Don’t forget to follow me at:

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What Is Vehicle Bulb Monitoring ~ Video

Today I am joined by Paul from ShopDAP.com. We are talking about bulb monitoring. This is not a new technology for cars. Even back in 2004 the VW Touareg had a system that would alert the driver when a bulb was out. But this feature is not reserved for high end cars today. I would not be surprised if at some point, it was a law for all cars to have this system. I also wrote a blog post years ago about how automotive lights are lit now vs in the 70’s. Remember when I wrote a lot of blog posts?

Sponsor Of The DayResealed VW headlight
Today’s show is sponsored by Deutsche Auto Parts. They are the VW and Audi parts experts. They have great prices and awesome service. Plus they work really hard on a ton of VW DIY videos. Paul and the fellas at DAP are awesome. Also check out their new site at SHOPDAP.com

Join Paul and I as we discuss:

  • Paul teaches how to say Deutsche 😉
  • Warning light for a bulb out
  • The Evolution of Lighting Light Bulbs
  • What it took to light a light bulb
  • What it takes NOW to light a light bulb
  • Power flow of classic bulb circuit
  • Power flow of a monitored bulb
  • LED lights in a bulb monitoring circuit
  • LED with resistors
  • Bulb self test
  • and more


Trouble viewing? Watch “What Is Vehicle Bulb Monitoring ~ Video” on YouTube.

As always, your questions and comments are welcome.
Please post them below. If you would like to suggest a part of a show like this, email me Charles(at)HumbleMechanic(dot)com. Thanks again to Deutsche Auto Parts for being such a great sponsor.

Don’t forget to follow me at:

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Volkswagen Check Engine Light Diagnosis

Check Engine Light OBD IIAt some point in most VW owners life they will get a check engine light. For about the 4th time in my Passat’s life, the check
engine light came on. I would say that is pretty good for over 140,000 miles. The check engine light can come on for a ton of different reasons. Today I am going to walk you through my diagnostic process for check engine lights. At the start of the video, I did not know what was wrong with the Passat. You get to see exactly the point we find the issues.

Join me today as we discuss:

  • Steps of check engine light diagnosis
  • VCDS Vag-Com
  • Sonic Tools 
  • Vehicle safety evaluation
  • Checking faults with VCDS
  • Faults Stored
    P0507
    P1111
    P1136
    P0171
  • What does “System lean”mean?
  • What does “System Rich” mean?
  • Using MVB 32 with VCDS
  • Visual inspection
  • Pocking around vacuum lines
  • Clamping vacuum lines
  • Why my MIL is on
  • and more


Trouble viewing? Watch “Volkswagen Check Engine Light Diagnosis” on YouTube.com

As always, your questions and comments are welcome. If you have an idea for a show topic, please use the contact me form, or email me Charles(at)humble mechanic(dot)com

Don’t forget to follow me at:

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Viewer Automotive Questions ~ Podcast Episode 125

Viewer Automotive Questions ~ Podcast Episode 125

Today on the automotive podcast, Paul from SHOPDAP.com and I will be taking your car questions. This is a Monday show so I will take your questions on all things car related. If you have a question on car repairs, tools, becoming a mechanic, VWs or anything automotive, this is the place to be. To get a question on a show like this, email me Charles(AT)Humblemechanic(DOT)com. Be sure to put “Question for Charles” in the subject.

Sponsor of the DayCRP AUTO
CRP deals in a ton of OE automotive parts. They also make the factory DSG fluid for VW. Having them as a sponsor will give us access to more information about fluids than I would ever get from VW. I am really excited to have them as a resource of information. To learn more about the great products they have, check out CRPAutomotive.com

Join us today as we take your questions on:


Trouble viewing? Watch “Viewer Automotive Questions ~ Podcast Episode 125” on YouTube.

As always I love to hear your thoughts. Please post them in the comments section below. Again, if you have a question for a show like this, email me Charles(at)humblemechanic(dot)com with Question for Charles in the subject. Also if you have an idea for a show you can email me, or use the contact me form!

Don’t forget to follow me at:

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6 Things You Will Not Learn In Automotive Tech School

Today we are looking at some of the things you will not learn at automotive mechanic school. This is episode 124 of The Humble Mechanic Podcast. I have to also say that I went to automotive tech school. I had a great experience there. I learned a ton in my time there, and it helped me form my career as a mechanic. But there are several things that are not covered in tech schools. Today we are going to talk about a few of those things.

Sponsor of the day:rain eater logo
Rain Eater wiper blades. Wipers are one of the most important safety items on our cars. Think not, you must have never driven in bad weather. When you are ready to replace your wiper blades, a very easy DIY, check out RainEater wipers at RainEater.com. Plus I LOVE that their CEO is the one monitoring social media.

Join me today as we discuss:

  • A little about my time at automotive tech school
  • How to buy tools responsibly
  • Dealing with flat rate
  • Managing money as a mechanic
  • Working with customers as a mechanic
  • Selling work to a service advisor
  • Diagnosing cars
  • and more

Trouble viewing? Watch “6 Things You Will Not Learn In Automotive Tech School ” on YouTube.

As always, your questions and comments are welcome. If you have an idea for a show topic, please use the contact me form, or email me Charles(at)humble mechanic(dot)com

Don’t forget to follow me at:

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How to Check 2.0T TSI Timing Chain Tensioner

2.0T timing chain tensioner failure

Do you know how to Check 2.0T TSI Timing Chain Tensioner. If you drive an 2.0t TSI Audi or VW you may have timing chain tensioner issues. Checking the timing chain tensioner is an EASY DIY! Today I will show you how to check for the older timing chain tensioner that will need to be replaced. Also a shout out to Apex Tuning for helping me out with this DIY!

Sponsor Of The Day
Today’s show is sponsored by Deutsche Auto Parts. They are the VW and Audi parts experts. They have great prices and awesome service. Plus they work really hard on a ton of VW DIY videos. Paul and the fellas at DAP are awesome. Also check out their new site at SHOPDAP.com

Join me today as we learn how to check your timing chain tensioner:

  • Shout out to Apex Tuning
  • Tools needed
  • DIY timing chain tensioner inspection on the bench
  • How to hold the inspection mirror to check timing chain tensioner
  • What tensioners are bad
  • How TSI timing chain tensioners fail
  • Replace the inspection plug
  • TSI Timing Chain Repair kit
  • Audi TSI inspection
  • How to check TSI timing chain on the car
  • and more

Trouble viewing? Watch “How to Check 2.0T TSI Timing Chain Tensioner” on YouTube.

As always, your questions and comments are welcome.
Please post them below. If you would like to suggest a part of a show like this, email me Charles(at)HumbleMechanic(dot)com. Thanks again to Deutsche Auto Parts for being such a great sponsor.

Don’t forget to follow me at:2.0T timing chain tensioner failure

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