High-pressure fuel-pump cam follower wear (S3)
Attaches to CDLA at engine level · Fuel · carried by 2 variants across 2 chassis
Overview
High-pressure fuel-pump cam follower wear (S3) is a common fault recorded against CDLA at engine level, typically from 40–120k km. It shows up as low fuel-pressure limp mode, hesitation and an EPC light; if the follower wears through it wrecks the pump and scores the camshaft. Where it's documented, the repair runs €40–€2,000 (€40 part; €800–2,000 if the pump and cam are damaged, costs dated 2026-07), and it can be checked before you buy. 2 variants across 2 chassis in this database inherit it.
What happens
Symptom. Low fuel-pressure limp mode, hesitation and an EPC light; if the follower wears through it wrecks the pump and scores the camshaft.
Cause. The bucket follower between the intake camshaft and the high-pressure fuel-pump plunger wears and can perforate. It's a service item that's often overlooked on hard-driven cars.
How to check it
Static checks
The follower is behind two bolts. A specialist can pull the pump and inspect it in minutes. Ask when it was last changed.
Engine off, ideally on a lift.
Every variant that carries this
| Variant | Chassis | Body | Years | Risk | Good buy | Cost as % of good buy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| S3 CDLA | 8P | hatchback | 2006–2013 | R3 | €8,750 | 12% |
| S3 CDLA | 8PA | hatchback | 2006–2013 | R3 | €8,950 | 11% |
The last column is the point. The same repair is an inconvenience on one variant and a reason to scrap the car on another. A failure costing a quarter of the vehicle's value changes the purchase decision regardless of how rare it is.