VW Scirocco Engine Sync Issue Causing Multiple Problems

Had identical issues on my 2014 VW Golf GTI. The symptoms perfectly match a failing crankshaft position sensor. The engine light came on during highway driving, followed by significant power loss and increased fuel consumption. The sensor was unable to properly detect the reference value between crankshaft and camshaft positions, causing the engine timing to be off. This led to rough running and poor performance. The fix required replacing the crankshaft sensor and clearing the fault codes. The repair is relatively straightforward but critical, running the engine with a faulty sensor can potentially cause timing issues and engine damage if left unchecked. The sensor feeds crucial data to the ECU about engine timing and rotation speed. The timing chain was also inspected during the repair to ensure no additional damage occurred. A failed crankshaft sensor can sometimes indicate other underlying timing-related issues that need attention. This is a known weak point on several VW engines from that era. Getting it diagnosed and fixed promptly is important to prevent more serious engine problems.

Thanks for sharing that detailed response. I had almost identical symptoms on my Scirocco last winter, poor engine synchronization, constant misfire issues and the dreaded engine light. The crankshaft sensor replacement fixed everything and the car runs perfectly now. Curious how much the repair cost you in total? Also wondering if youve had any other sensor or timing-related problems since getting it fixed? My mechanic mentioned something about preventative camshaft work but I skipped it since the basic fix solved the issues.

After getting the crankshaft sensor replaced and the reference value corrected between crankshaft and camshaft, my GTI has been running flawlessly. The total repair came to 340€, which included diagnostics and replacing the faulty sensor. No additional timing-related problems have surfaced since the fix. The engine synchronization is perfect now and the engine light hasnt returned. While preventative camshaft maintenance was suggested to me as well, I chose to skip it since all symptoms cleared up completely after the sensor replacement. The timing chain was inspected during the repair and showed no signs of wear, so there was no need for additional work. If youre experiencing normal performance now, you likely made the right call focusing just on the sensor issue. My advice would be to just keep an eye on engine performance and address any new timing-related symptoms quickly if they appear. The crankshaft position sensor repair seems to be a common fix that resolves these issues completely when properly diagnosed.

Thanks for the input. Finally got my car sorted after dealing with similar frustrating symptoms. Took it to a different mechanic who immediately spotted the engine synchronization issue with the crankshaft sensor. The repair ended up costing 380€ including parts and labor. They also did a quick check of the timing belt and cam sensor while they were at it, which was reassuring. The engine light is now off and the car runs like new again, no more rough running or excessive fuel consumption. Much better experience than my first mechanic who kept suggesting expensive fixes that werent needed. Really glad I got a second opinion instead of throwing money at the wrong problem. The car has been perfect for the last 2000km since the repair.