Check Engine Light

A6 All/ S6 All
#1

The other day I threw a check engine light and would like some help figuring it out. I’ve noticed that my car doesn’t like the cold but I have to park it outside as we are moving.

1 Fault Found:
000020 - Bank 1: Camshaft B (Exhaust)
P0014 - 004 - Retard Setpoint not Reached (Over-Advanced) - MIL ON
Freeze Frame:
Fault Status: 11100100
Fault Priority: 0
Fault Frequency: 2
Reset counter: 255
Mileage: 174703 km
Time Indication: 0
Date: 2016.12.07
Time: 07:33:14

         Freeze Frame:
                RPM: 867 /min
                Load: 26.3 %
                Speed: 0.0 km/h
                Temperature: 12.0°C
                Temperature: -4.0°C
                Absolute Pres.: 970.0 mbar
                Voltage: 13.716 V

Also would a bad oil separator cause me to eat oil? I went through about a qt in 2500 miles which I never do.

#2

A few questions to help.

Will the code go away and not come right back after you clear it… From the looks of it. it should not come right back but I wanted to ask.

Its not a good code to get but it can be one that you get in colder weather due to the oil pressure not building fast enough to get the camshaft back to home position. Make sure your using a good winter grade oil and not a thicker summer oil.

As for the oil separator would it cause you to eat more oil than normal. It can but these motors being aluminum they will tend to eat oil at a rate of about 1 quart every 3000 miles. In colder weather it can be a little more due to how there is going to be more blow by on colder motors. To help eliminate this make sure you dont let your car sit and warm up in colder weather. These cars are meant to be a start and drive car.

#3

I’ve cleared it and it stayed on. The car was running while clearing it so maybe I need to try it with it just in the on position and see.
Also It came on after work one day and I just started and drove. I have 2 small children that like a warmer car so maybe I’ll try and bring extra blankets or something to keep them warm while it warms up as driving. I’m using shell t6 5w40 oil.

I only ask about the oil as I’ve had the car for 30k mile and every 5k oil changes and hasn’t ever ate oil. I’ve replaced the separator but started to hear a high pitched sound and think that it has again gone bad.

What’s the best way to check the separator?

#4

That is not a good code indeed like Justin said. That was the code I got shortly before I had to replace my electrical cam adjuster. Doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll be in the same boat, but that’s a pricey fix so be prepared.

#5

Is the high pitched sound only present after a cold start? Maybe for the first 90 seconds or so? The secondary air pump might be on its way out, or perhaps one of the plastic hoses connecting the oil separator to the valve covers has a small crack in it. Those have a tendency to get brittle with time and if it was recently replaced, it would not have been terribly difficult for it to have gotten a very small crack that has grown with time.

#6

Well the engine light went off. As far as the high pitched I’ll have to pay more attention but being -6°out in not trying to stand outside under my good for to long.