Thread: How does an ECU patch fix a faulty camshaft?

So VW has a recall for some of the 1.8T cars. one of the cam shafts drives both the HPFP and the vacuum booster for the brakes. one of the lobs sheers off causing the vacuum pump to fail, reducing break power, and putting the car in limp mode.
pretty sever failure. VW finally has a fix.... An ECU reprogram.... How the hell does an ECU reprogram account for faulty camshafts?

The same way using tap shift throws rod bearings?

Originally Posted by Slick2500

The same way using tap shift throws rod bearings?

Im genuinely not sure what you mean.

You must have missed that thread. Some dude bought a Comp G then the engine blew up 12 miles later, seller claimed it was from using the tapshift to downshift the car....

Originally Posted by Slick2500

You must have missed that thread. Some dude bought a Comp G then the engine blew up 12 miles later, seller claimed it was from using the tapshift to downshift the car....

Yeah Ive been off for about a month or two. Dealing with the new job and school.

The part that I don't get is that it all seems mechanical. The HPFP has to run no matter what the computer says its mechanically driven by the cam, as far as I can tell so is the vacuum pump. If the failure is metallurgical does that mean that the cam should be replaced? The only thing I can thing of is that the tune changes how the VVT functions, which in my mind would alter the power output.
My brother is a VW tech and he has no idea what the tune does.... shows how well VW briefs their techs.

Maybe the cams aren't the cause. Maybe they are the effect of another issue.

I would assume it's due to vvt.

I wont even bother to check the VW forum. Those people cant even change their own oil, the probably wouldn't even recognize a camshaft

could be a pressure spike on the HPFP, they could be changing the ecm controls of the pressure solenoid to reduce the pressure/spike upon startup/etc.

reduce the load, increase component life till out of warranty

could be a pressure spike on the HPFP, they could be changing the ecm controls of the pressure solenoid to reduce the pressure/spike upon startup/etc.

reduce the load, increase component life till out of warranty

anyone who's dealt with the old school "turn on thump" of older amplifiers....knows what a tiny change of a signal delay on power-up on component life.

a small change can have quite the effect

Interesting, didn't think about that. It kind of reinforces my desire to ditch the car when the warranty runs out.