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Seat Altea VANOS Failure Symptoms

My 2004 Seat Altea with a gasoline engine is showing some worrying symptoms. The check engine light is on, and I'm seeing higher fuel consumption. I suspect it might be the inlet VANOS mechanics, likely a faulty VANOS solenoid or a power supply issue. Has anyone experienced similar VANOS failure symptoms? Thinking it might cost around 250€ to repair. I've read up on BMW VANOS systems, and I think it might be related.

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I had a similar thing with my Altea. Check engine light and low power, plus the fuel consumption was definitely up. In my case, it was also related to a VANOS failure, but I had engine misfire as well. Have you checked for fault codes relating to the camshaft position?

Yes, I saw the fault codes related to the camshaft position. You mentioned engine misfire. Was it constant, or did it come and go? And did replacing just the VANOS solenoid fix it for you?

The engine misfire was intermittent at first, then became more frequent. Replacing the VANOS solenoid did solve the issue, but it's worth checking the wiring too, as I believe a poor connection can also cause similar problems. Given the fault codes and your symptoms, it's likely the VANOS solenoid. However, a proper diagnosis at a workshop might save you time and money in the long run.

Big thanks for the confirmation and advice. I've just had the VANOS solenoid replaced and the engine misfire issue is now resolved. Fuel consumption seems normal now too.

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