VW Golf TDI Timing Issues Causing Power Loss

Had almost the exact same issue with my 2011 VW Jetta TDI last year. As someone with moderate experience working on VW diesels, I recognized those symptoms immediately, especially the poor acceleration and increased fuel consumption. The engine synchronization problems you describe match my experience perfectly. After some initial misdiagnosis, it turned out to be a faulty crank sensor causing inconsistent signals to the ECU. The symptoms started gradually but got worse over time, particularly affecting engine performance during cold starts. The repair at my regular workshop took about 3 hours total and cost 340€, including parts and labor. They had to remove some components to access the sensor location, but it was a straightforward fix once they confirmed the diagnosis. Before suggesting more specific solutions, could you share: Current mileage on your Golf, Whether the check engine light is constant or flickering, Any error codes from your diagnostic tool, If the problems are worse during cold starts While the timing belt replacement timeline sounds good, a failing crank sensor can definitely cause misfire-like symptoms youre experiencing. The cam sensor could also be involved, but based on the symptoms, Id lean toward the crank sensor being the culprit.

Thanks for the feedback regarding the crank sensor issue. The engine light is constantly on, and cold starts are definitely worse. The code reader shows P0016, which seems to confirm the crankshaft-camshaft correlation issue. Last service was at 14000km where they did an oil change and general inspection, but didnt spot any sensor-related problems. Engine synchronization issues started appearing about 2 weeks ago, getting progressively worse. The cam sensor makes the most sense given the symptoms, but interesting to hear about your crank sensor experience. Hoping the repair costs stay in that range, would be relieved if its just a sensor replacement rather than deeper timing issues.

Having experienced this exact issue with my Jetta TDI, I can confirm that the P0016 code strengthens the case for the crank sensor being the problem. When my engine light came on with similar symptoms, the cold start issues were a major red flag pointing to sensor-related timing problems. The progressive nature of your symptoms matches perfectly with how my crank sensor failed, first affecting engine synchronization subtly, then becoming more noticeable with poor acceleration and increased fuel usage. The constant engine light, rather than intermittent, also mirrors my experience. After my repair, the misfire-like symptoms disappeared completely, and fuel consumption returned to normal. The reference value between the crankshaft and camshaft normalized once the new sensor was installed. Given your mileage and maintenance history, this timing really fits the typical lifespan of these sensors. The repair cost should be similar to what I paid (340€), assuming no additional issues are found. Most shops can complete this in one day since its a common repair on these engines. Just make sure they perform a thorough diagnostic to verify its not a wiring issue before replacing parts. In my case, the new crank sensor resolved all symptoms immediately.

Thanks to everyone for the detailed input. After reading through the responses, I scheduled an appointment with my usual workshop for next week. They quoted roughly 400€ for parts and labor, which seems fair based on the feedback here. The engine light is still constantly on, and the misfire symptoms during cold starts have gotten slightly worse. The P0016 code keeps showing up when I scan, confirming the engine synchronization issue. Its reassuring to hear that a crank sensor replacement fixed similar symptoms for others. Will update once the repair is done, but feeling more confident now that its likely sensor-related rather than a major timing belt problem. The reference value issues and overall symptoms match exactly what others described with their crankshaft sensor failures. Really helpful to get real-world experiences with these specific timing problems. Nice to know I can expect the car back within a day if its just the sensor replacement they suspect.