[Pete1]

There's a shrader type bleed valve at the other end of the fuel rail under that blue cap. might be an easier way to see if fuel pressure is building at appropriate times.

I'm just off out unfortunately, but check fuses in case one for e.g. ECU relay or something has popped. Can check wiring diagrams later to be more specific.

 

[Pete1]

If it's a 12 valve you can check the chain timing by taking the end covers off the cams and looking at the slots that the locking tools fit into. They should be at the same "o'clock" relative to each other; and if you put the engine to tdc they should align with each other.

 

[Pete1]

Or bore wash from many failed attempts to start it?

 

[Pete1]

I think temporarily, the oil film that helps the rings seal may have been washed away by excess petrol during failed start attempts.

Not sure what you can do about it other than try to spray a little oil in through the other plug holes too, but that wouldn't necessarily solve the non-start situation, but worth a try just in case it does?

Seems really unlikely to me that rings could fail in all three cylinders suddenly.

Crank sensor?

I'd offer to plug in my VCDS for a look at things if I thought you were near?

 

[Pete1]

When you checked the cam alignment, did you try also getting no.1 cylinder to TDC (can do quite accurately with a pencil or similar down the plug hole and move crank pulley round in normal direction of rotation until the pencil is at its highest point) to see if the cam slots were in a straight line?

 

[Pete1]

Like the third picture in this post? https://www.briskoda.net/forums/top...eband-lambda-on-12-12v-azq-egr-valve-in-the-end/?do=findComment&comment=2785312

If you don't do it at TDC of No.1 cylinder the cam-to-cam correlation may be correct while cams to crank timing might not be.

 

[Pete1]

OK, sounds like chain timing is OK then.
Can't think what to suggest next to be honest.

 

[Pete1]

I'm thinking the chain is OK, from what he's checked, Crasher?

 

[Pete1]

He's confirmed cam-to-cam timing is OK, but hasn't yet confirmed that the engine was at No.1 TDC when he did that. Was it John?

 

[Pete1]

Nice pics.