Aftermarket March 2022

BY Ryan Colley, Elite Automotive Diagnostics F ollowing my introduction last month, and the brief description of my business, I would like to continue with the pressure analysis theme, and present to you a recent real-world case study I encountered during a busy week at the workshop. The vehicle in question was a 2012 SEAT LEON 2.0 TDI with a CEGA engine installed. The customer complained that while driving, the vehicle’s engine stalled and wouldn’t restart. The vehicle was then towed to his local garage who is our customer. I often carry out trade work for other garages, offering in-depth diagnostic services along with ECU coding and programming. This can be done while mobile depending on the fault at hand. Therefore, I attended the vehicle at their business address and started my diagnosis process. Firstly, a background investigation was required to 34 AFTERMARKET MARCH 2022 TECHNICAL www.aftermarketonline.net YOU WOULDN’T BELIEVE IT IF YOU TRIED Ryan Colley is back, and this month he is getting to grips with a misbehaving SEAT LEON determine if any work had already been carried out, and any other information that may be valid. This included driving style and abnormal noises at the time of break- down, among other things. The customer informed me that the vehicle had shredded its auxiliary belt due to a failed belt tensioner. This then allowed the remains of the auxiliary belt to get caught up in the cam cover and subsequently caused the cambelt to detach, allowing the engine to jump five teeth out of time. This is all according to the customer’s report. The technician then informed me he had re-timed the engine and attempted to get the vehicle to start, but was unsuccessful. He then proceeded to remove the cylinder head in hopes of finding that the valves had contacted the pistons. Some, but not all, of the exhaust valves had become bent from contact. No intake valves were damaged, the damaged exhaust valves were replaced.