Seat Tarraco Diesel VANOS Issue

VANOS failure on a Tarraco? Sounds familiar. I had a similar issue, though it was subtle at first. Check engine light appeared, and I noticed a slight dip in power, especially when accelerating. Did you notice any difference in engine sound or rough idling?

Interesting. No rough idling or strange engine sounds, just the check engine light and higher fuel consumption that I noticed on the last two tanks. You mentioned a dip in power when accelerating; was it constant, or only at certain RPMs? Did the error code also point to the VANOS?

Yes, the error code pointed to the VANOS, and the power loss was most noticeable in the lower RPM range, like trying to pull away from a stop. It felt like the engine was struggling. Given your higher fuel consumption, it really does sound like a variable timing issue. If you're not super comfortable working on the timing chain yourself, I'd advise getting it checked out by a workshop. Better safe than sorry when it comes to engine timing.

The shop confirmed a faulty camshaft solenoid valve. They replaced it, the check engine light is gone, and fuel consumption is back to normal. The cost was around 250€, as expected. Thanks for the assistance!