Our $1500 LR4 5.0 Has Timing Issues (Part 2) "It Wasn't Just Chains & Tensioners"

We get everything cleaned up, replace the tensioners, chains and guides, new fuel injector seals and put it back together. But we are still getting a timing correlation error. We then have to replace one of the camshaft variators.

[@jooper99]

Idk why people say to replace those variators. I’ve opened and cleaned many of those, and have never seen anything that looks like wear.

[@f0x4nn3]

Often it's the locking pin that gets stuck and make them rattle at a cold start.
It's more rare for oil to leak between both sides, but often also has different behavior but easy to see with a scan tool you then say the actual timing jumping all over the place compared to the commanded timing.

[@mountainviewsgarage]

I was surprised that we had one faulty one. I’m going to tear it apart and try to figure out where it’s failing. The pin on the VW variator was obviously worn, but these didn’t seem have any signs of wear just sludging. I just did another timing job where the plastic guide on top of the spring was worn down to just about nothing.

[@robertledford7065]

I think the failure on these after cleaning has to do with how easily the parts move around during reassembly. Even with them sitting on the camshaft in a vertical position it was difficult for me to feel confident the plates where centered properly. I couldn't find torque specs for the 6 bolts either.