I had my timing belt changed last October (100k miles) after a noise which was diagnosed as possibly the water pump (which Audi didnt bother to change when they did the TB at 75k).
Since December there was this slight ticking noise coming from the engine bay, driver's side bank, which has been driving me crazy.
It has lately got slightly noisier, so I have been searching the forums to figure out what it is.
To cut a long story short, I concluded its either the cam chain tensioner, or the timing belt was put on wrong. So yesterday I opened up the timing belt covers and guess what, I saw those tell-tale tip ex marks Ben warned us about.
Here is a youtube of the noise (sorry its at night), at second 0:14 I moved to the other bank where there was no ticking.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTF47DCHxdk
Could it be that local mechanic put the timing belt on without the cam clamp or crank bolt?
Also further proof they didnt use the clamp is that when the big holes on the cam sprockets are on the inside, as per Elsa, the tip ex marks are on the bottom of the sprocket. Unless it was the Audi dealer that put on the tippex when he did the belt for the firs time 4 years ago? Do they normally change the sprockets for new ones?
Ben heeeeeeeelp!!!