symptoms of a bad cam follower

**penpal** · 10-25-2010 12:22 PM

My 07 just threw a cel, the car had been idling with a bit of clatter the past while, my first thought was the cam follower. I bought this car used, and only had it for about 7k so had have no clue if the follower had been replaced or not (maybe i shoulda checked it when i got it :/). Are fuel cutouts the only symptoms of a bad follower? could the clattering while the car is idling be because of a bad follower? Planning on taking it to the dealer tomorrow if I can, this car still has 20k vw pre-owned warranty on it. :/

**djwhiplash2001** · 10-25-2010 12:44 PM

I'd take it in. I don't think it makes much of a noise - you should definitely get fuel cuts if the follower is bad. It takes about 15 minutes to check, especially if yours doesn't have the banjo bolt. Clattering could be a lot of things.

**DonJuan1Jr** · 10-25-2010 03:05 PM

Fuel cuts and loss of boost are the main symptoms of a bad cam follower. How many miles does your car have?

**nitroscope8** · 10-25-2010 03:59 PM

Check engine light will come on if it cannot build enough pressure. These engines are direct injection and make more noise than a 'normal' engine.

**penpal** · 10-25-2010 04:18 PM

Thanks for the replies, gon take it in tomorrow, from what you guys are saying it sounds like its the cam follower. Got the CEL this morning and now couldn't feel any boost driving home today. My car has 67k KM on it, uh so around 41k miles, but I bought it certified by VW so i got 2 years warranty on it still. As for the clatter it might just be the injectors firing, I'm going a little paranoid atm. :<

**DonJuan1Jr** · 10-25-2010 05:00 PM

I got 5 bux its the dv or pcv.

**penpal** · 10-25-2010 05:07 PM

You're on!

**Jethro1984** · 10-25-2010 10:16 PM

If you only have 41K miles and it's an 07...depending on in-service date you might still have the regular warranty too.

**penpal** · 10-28-2010 08:44 PM

I still have the original warranty till the end of november then another 2 years pre owned warranty. It turns out it wasn't the follower or the pcv, it was just a defective intake flap motor.