Can’t remember the video or person exactly, but the humble mechanic or Duetch Auto parts has a video of a “condemned “ VW a previous mechanic wrongly diagnosed and it turned out needing a valve spring
2017 VW Tiguan burnt or cracked valve common??
- Thread starter Glenda W.
- Start date
These engines are kinda peculiar, so unless you’re familiar with them, a lot of shops will want to avoid the “liability” of digging into them. Last thing they want to do is to fix the valve issue, then have the balance shafts fail in a week and be responsible.
I get what you're saying.
IMO - All the more reason to completely erase that shop rom your vocabulary. If they have that little confidence in their skill then OP should find a specialist who is more confident and not a parts changer.
Main question I'd have is whether the head already came off. When you're at that point you have way more insight into the state of the motor. It would be weird to quote a full motor without pulling the head.
Unfortunately the two competent VW shops within an hour of me are similarly lazy--any internal engine work and you get pushed towards a replacement longblock. I was quoted $14k and a full DIY + machine work ended up at about $5k instead.
Unfortunately the two competent VW shops within an hour of me are similarly lazy--any internal engine work and you get pushed towards a replacement longblock. I was quoted $14k and a full DIY + machine work ended up at about $5k instead.
I know they didn’t pull the head. Charged her 1 hour diag. My guess is they checked compression and made a guess based on what they’ve seen. Towing to my house sometime this week.
Vehicle was finally dropped off at my house. Confirmed no compression cylinder #3. Deciding next steps as I’m to old for this 
. Also noticed oil in the spark plug holes around the coils and throughout intake tubing.
. Also noticed oil in the spark plug holes around the coils and throughout intake tubing.
At that price it should at least be a reman engine.
Maybe in 2015. Reman engines, installed, start in the teens nowadays.
Good grief! She might be better served by getting a new vehicle.
Sad it only has 125k. My 1984 Rabbit went over 300k before it rusted out….engine still ran great.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
How was maintenance on the engine?
I mean I have 2011 Tiguan with 110k, and had VW CC that I traded in with 126k, absolutely killing that car, and they never skipped a beat. Both CCTA engines.
For every happy CCTA owner, there are 4 others that hate themselves for owning one.
I change the oil every 5k miles for her. Everything was up to date, filters, plugs, trans service etc.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
Well, I had two, so I guess eight unhappy ones.
Cam cover (girdle) reseal. Might as well do the entire CCTA reseal if you're going that far, especially the RMS. Old style is known to soil the bed along with breather issues. Replace both at a minimum. Oh, and probably timing chains, but check stretch with diagnostic tool (OBD11 or VCDS). Oil in intake tubing is normal and a result of poor vapor management design (hence, the breather issues). No compression and the first thing I thought of was the broken spring video by Charles The Humble Mechanic that @skyactiv mentioned (can't find it right now). Way more common than a cracked valve.Vehicle was finally dropped off at my house. Confirmed no compression cylinder #3. Deciding next steps as I’m to old for this
Edit: Found it.
Three for me, so 12 more unhappys
. One thing you'll never be with a CCTA is bored, or at a loss for something to do on it.
Last edited:
Update: I decided to call the VW dealer where my grand daughter bought the car. Come to find out the Tiguan came with a 3 year 125k mile powertrain warranty as a certified used car. Of course it’s one of the aftermarket warranty company’s. I had the car towed to the dealer and the estimate was $8500 for a new cylinder head. The warranty company requested oil change receipts which I provided and the claim was approved!! Dealer claims cylinder head is on backorder and is searching other dealers for one.
Update: New head, new timing chain kit, all covered under warranty. $8100 total. Pic of burnt valve below.
Thank you. It was stressful. These aftermarket warranty companies can be difficult to deal with. The dealer did go to bat for her surprisingly. Next question is does she keep the car or buy something else?
Similar threads
