In the next few days I'll be replacing the TDI engine in my Fiancé's fabia.

The car is a 2003, and the replacement engine is a 2001 with 51k on it. I don't know the history of this engine, so I am considering changing the timing belt while the engine is out. I'm confident I can do this without any bother, but I'm not sure whether other bits will need changing due to its age.

A full kit comprises of water/oil pumps (apparently), belt, rollers and tensioner. If the engine was older I'd consider changing the whole lot, but since its not covered too many miles then I'd be happy just changing the belt.

What should I be checking for on this engine before fitting? If it's already had a belt in its past, then how would I be able to tell?

Dave.

Dave, considering that you could get the whole kit, including water pump for around £150, it is a small price to pay for the piece of mind. The engine is out, if you have the right tools and knowledge it will take you no more than 45 minutes. Just do it (no copyrights infringement here :sun: )

Just my thought....

/\ What he said. If it's out do the lot and know it's been done properly, you don't know when/if the pump was last done and personally i'd see £150 as a small price to pay for peace of mind. Well unless you're planning to loose the Fiancée in the next 12-18 months, in that case just do the belt

Cheers, that's fair enough. If it was my car then I'd do it, but we're not exactly rolling in it and the car has already cost more than it probably should have. Since its out then I might do just the belt, I was considering re-using the tensioner from the knackered engine, since as far as I know, the later type is more reliable?

The Engine is in the car, I replaced the belt and used the water pump from the old engine as it was newer than the one that was in the replacement engine.

I didn't use the official tools to time up the belt, just did it by eye using an allen key to lock the cam and lined up the crank by eye (and the TDC mark).

Started and seems to run fine, although the driveshafts/clutch/cearchange etc aren't hooked up yet, so I'll see if it drives ok tomorrow.

When I removed the old engine I looked down into the exhaust ports and cylinders 2 and 3 we're definintely 'wet', looks like oil or more likely diesel that's being spat out of the cylinders. Exactly why I don't know.

Am I right in thinking there has been some change in the camshaft bearings etc in the past on these engines?

Dave.