Crank/cam correlation Bank 1 on Audi — 1.4/1.8/2.0 TSI EA888/EA111 chain tensioner failure, rattle on cold start.
Audi P0016 — Crank/cam correlation Bank 1 on Audi — 1.4/1.8/2.0 TSI EA888/EA111 chain tensioner failure, rattle on cold start. Typical UK independent garage cost: £750–£2200.
What actually causes P0016 on a Audi
Famous EA111 / EA888 Gen2 weakness — the spring-loaded chain tensioner loses pressure on shutdown, the chain slaps the guide on the next cold start, eventually jumping a tooth. P0016 is the death-knell warning. VAG released the updated tensioner (part suffix ending 'H' or later) which must be fitted alongside chain, guides and sprockets.
Audi engines that log P0016
- 1.4 TSI EA111 CAVD/CAXA
- 1.8/2.0 TSI EA888 Gen2 CDAA/CCZA
- 1.4 TFSI EA211
How we diagnose P0016 on a Audi
- Listen for 2-3 second rattle on cold cranking
- Read live cam/crank deviation via VCDS — anything beyond ±6° is a jump
- Pull cam cover and inspect tensioner extension, chain wear and guide score marks
- Fit full timing kit (chain, tensioner, guides, sprockets) — never partial
- Replace stretched bolts on TSI per VAG TPI
The common misdiagnosis to avoid
Garages quote tensioner alone (£280) but the chain is invariably stretched and guides chewed — partial repairs come back within months. Always do the full kit.
Audi P0016 repair cost in the UK
Expect £750–£2200 including parts and labour at an independent garage. Main-dealer quotes on Audi are usually higher for the same job, and the spread exists because the cheap cause and the expensive cause throw the same code — pay for the diagnosis before you pay for parts.
Service campaign / TSB note
VAG TPI 2024145/4 covers the updated chain tensioner kit for EA111/EA888 Gen2.
Bob's workshop tip
EA888 Gen2 P0016 + cold-start rattle = stop the car. One more start can bend valves on these engines.
Codes usually seen alongside P0016 on Audi
- P0017
- P0341
- P0008
Symptoms drivers report with P0016
- Loud metallic rattle for the first 2–4 seconds of a cold start — the classic 'death rattle'
- Long cranking before the engine catches, especially after standing overnight
- Rough lumpy idle at traffic lights, occasionally stalls
- Stop/Start stops working (ECU disables it once cam correlation drifts)
- Turbo feels lazy or flat below 2,000 RPM — timing is retarded to protect the valvetrain
- MPG drops 4–8 mpg with no other obvious cause
- Code P0011, P0014, P0017 or P0341 stored alongside P0016
Repairs that clear P0016
- Measure cam-to-crank deviation with manufacturer-aware scan tool
- Plan full timing chain kit if stretched
- Replace cam phaser if mechanically faulty
For the generic, all-makes explanation of this code — meaning, every known cause and UK cost bands — see our P0016 guide.