Hello guys, I am in need of help from you experts. My 08 CTT previously had a persistent P0016 error, which after a while made the car undriveable. I took it to an indie, who told me the timing chain was gone and needed changing. I bought a new timing chain kit, and changed the timing chain on my drive. I timed it using the eBay timing kit which was the one I could afford. However, the auxiliary timing chain tensioner was a wrong thread and didn't fit . Getting another was almost impossible here in the UK except for silly money from Porsche main dealers, so I just screwed the tensioner back in without going through the book tensioner steps. The chain is tight and rigid, and seems good. Engine rotates by hand multiple times, and the locking tools fit in perfectly afterwards. So I tried to start the car, before buttoning up everything. She cranks twice without starting , each time. I pulled the codes initially using the CARISTA OBDII tool, since i don't have DURAMETRIC cables (only have the software) and got the following codes





Turns out that the throttle codes was as a result of the plug not being connected. I connected that, bought a new battery yesterday and cleared the codes. Everything went away but the P0344 code kept coming back as pending, and the car still doesn't crank or turn over, after multiple repeated tries. I am at my wits end. I know if I open the valve covers and check the timing with the locking tools, they will fit. I haven't got the auxiliary tensioner and can't get it cos the eBay ones are all the same, but need the car driveable at least so that I can load it onto a tow truck cos I am moving house and need to move the car.





What can i do. Please help. Is there anyone in the South of England or London that can possibly help me? This is my engine now atm




And this is the eBay auxiliary tensioner that I have

 

Wow, anyone help?

 

So the engine does not rotate when you try to start it? Does the starter make any noise? What do you see on the dashboard?

"cranks" crankshaft rotates
"turns over" same as above

If your engine is cranking but not starting, let us know if it makes any combustion noises, struggles, what is going on? Does the tach twitch?

-Joel.

 

The tach doesn't twitch. With the oil cap open, you will see the chain turn around once or twice, and thats it.

 

OK so it's cranking, it's turning over, but not starting.
My next move would be to get live OBD2 data and watch RPM when you crank it.
Then live data from the cam sensors.

It sounds to me like the ECU is ending the starting sequence based on sensor data. Maybe someone else can suggest how better to investigate this.
I feel that if it were compression or fuel the ECU would try harder to start the engine, when the fuel pump(s) are failing you get longer cranking times so we know the ECU can crank the engine more than (it sounds like) you are reporting.
Can you try this? And report how long, in seconds, it cranks when you try to start it?

 

I ordered the iCarsoft POR diagnostics tool and its arriving tomorrow. I will check the live data and report back then. thanks

 

The tach needle not moving during cranking is typically indicative of a bad crankshaft position sensor. Replace the sensor (they're cheap and easy to replace) and see if that helps.

 

Could be, but my tach does not rise up at all in the second or so it takes for my engine to catch. I've never had a long crank so I do not know how long it takes for that to happen.

 

Hi, so this is the update. I have received the iCarsoft POR 2, and checked the codes. Got the normal P0344 error, but no live engine data cos the engine is not coming on. I ordered a brand new crankshaft sensor, and fitted it. Got my new timing kit from the US Amazon, with the correct auxilliary chain tensioner. Retimed the engine as you can see in the pictures:









Put the engine back together partially to facilitate a temporary engine start (fixed valve covers, coilpacks and spark plugs). However the engine will still not start. There are no more error codes from the iCarSoft, and the tach bounces a bit, but no joy.

This is the video of the start sequence. You can hear the engine turning over without catching.


Please help. I am at my wits end, don't know what else to do

 

No error codes would have me checking the basics, air, fuel, spark, and compression. You have a HPFP and a LPFP, so seeing that you are getting fuel pressure to the HPFP (not from) is one thing to check. And since you say your timing chain was done, was there damage? Check the compression. The engine won’t fire if the valves are all bent. That’s all I can think of without being there. Good luck!

 

I did a leak down test already and it was okay. If the valves are bent in any way, I cannot rotate the engine at the crankshaft many times by hand. I have timed and rotated the engine by hand at least over 10 times, so I don't think the valves are bent.

 

Are you able to check fuel pressure with the icarsoft while you are cranking the engine? It didn’t sound like it was even trying to run…that makes me think you are missing spark, fuel, or both. Also, have you checked all your fuses?