Audi A4: Check Timing Chain Module (TCM)

Hello,

My German car now has almost 120,000 km on the odometer, and the timing belt replacement is due soon.

I repeatedly read that the balancing wave from the balancer module is rotating incorrectly, which can lead to a major engine failure.

Since the inspection isn't straightforward, I'd like to hear your opinions on whether this should be checked during a timing belt replacement. Or should we just wait and hope for the best, assuming we might get lucky and nothing happens?

Will the engine survive if the red oil warning light comes on and you immediately shut it off?

Normally, my BMW should already have the improved front axle drive system, but I keep reading that the balance shaft also fails in these models.

I would appreciate some tips.

Best regards.

Tom.

Quote:

Since the inspection is not trivial, I would like to hear your opinions on whether this should be checked during a timing belt replacement? Or should you simply wait and hope for the best, perhaps getting lucky and nothing happening?

I'm not sure if that makes sense. It's probably a matter of taste.
Personally, I wouldn't do it myself, but I don't want to stop anyone else if they feel like it.

If you were to be extremely precise, you would have to measure the entire engine internally – which costs more than it's worth. There are already enough known weak points.

If all of this seems too delicate or risky, then people should consider getting a replacement engine every 120,000 km, or even buying a new car altogether.

Near here, there's a Passat 3C 2.0 16V with 140 horsepower that has reached (as an example) 430,000 km --> and it still has the original timing chain module.

Whether the engine sustains damage in the event of oil pressure failure likely depends entirely on the circumstances and when the fault occurs. On the highway under full load, it would only take 1 to a few seconds before the first bearing starts to scratch.