Hello all my first cry for help after using the forum for several years.I am about to change timing belt on my SDi engine but have a problem with timing marks. There is no inspection window/plug on my bell housing to view when engine is at TDC, I am working to a Haynes manual! Do I just set TDC using the locating pin in the diesel pump sprocket and the camshaft locating tool in the slotted end of the camshaft, which also doesn't look like the Haynes picture either, or have I missed something?

The engine does lock via the camshaft with a plate (kinda M shaped, you have to remove the cam cover and vacuum pump to get it in) and the diesel pump takes the pin to lock that in place. The crank doesnt lock but as you say there is a mark on the flywheel that is viewed through the hole in the gearbox. The correct sequence is to lock the camshaft then undo the pulley bolt and let the camshaft sprocket freewheel (its not key wayed)then all the tension goes where it should. Once its all done and up to temp set/check the timing dynamically with VCDS/VAGCOM.

The engine does lock via the camshaft with a plate (kinda M shaped, you have to remove the cam cover and vacuum pump to get it in) and the diesel pump takes the pin to lock that in place. The crank doesnt lock but as you say there is a mark on the flywheel that is viewed through the hole in the gearbox. The correct sequence is to lock the camshaft then undo the pulley bolt and let the camshaft sprocket freewheel (its not key wayed)then all the tension goes where it should. Once its all done and up to temp set/check the timing dynamically with VCDS/VAGCOM.

Whoops I hit the wrong button. Thanks that agrees with what I was expecting to do but there is no viewing hole in my gearbox so I can't actually set the crankshaft at TDC and just have to depend on it being correct when I put the camshaft and pump timing tools in. That doe not feel right to me.

How odd, that would be the first one I've seen without a viewing hole.

With a brighter light and a bit more room I have now found the missing viewing hole so the job now looks OK.

Ta.