Every so often this crops up. Talk of locking kit etc etc. But today ,I watched Ed China(Wheeler Dealers) do a cambelt on a PUG 205. Just set the timing marks up and all will be well. Thinking back to my first OHC engine ,where I did a head gasket ( Austin Maxi, with  a chain), it was all very similar- set timing makrs and all is well.Then my next one- a Vauxhall with the last of the UK engines- set timing marks, and you used a high tech bit of kit- a bit of string to see that timing marks were in line. Similar story with Cavalier MK2, Both 1600 and SrI if same marque ,and my MK3. So what's the difference on the VAG engine?

On a TDI PD the camshaft pulley is a vernier pulley. So you lock the camshaft in its position with the pin and undo the pulley so it can freewheel (which the non PD also does as the gear is on a taper) so a timing mark would mean nothing.

Also the crank shaft locking tool is useful as it stops the engine rotating as you pull on the belt to take up the slack to feed it on.

If only the 1.8T had locking tools, would make life a lot easier.

Edited 29 July, 20169 yr by Tech1e

If only the 1.8T had locking tools, would make life a lot easier.

 

I didn't find it too bad, if anything it made me extra careful in making sure everything was aligned and did things like marking the old belt up and transferring the marks to the new belt so make sure I didn't have a really bad day. 

 

The tensioner set-up with that hydraulic damper is something that i have never seen on any other engine as well.

 

I would recommend the tools for the PD engine, like Techie says they are a vital part of the set-up procedure.

Locking tools make the job easier, not harder, it means even the apprentice can be trusted to get it right.

Ive seen the timing belt being changed by cutting the old belt in half all around with a blade, removing half, pushing the new belt pushing the remainder of the old belt off :P 

Ive seen the timing belt being changed by cutting the old belt in half all around with a blade, removing half, pushing the new belt pushing the remainder of the old belt off :p

 

...and I thought tippex everywhere was bad enough, it's certainly an ingenious solution but it means the water pump didn't get replaced.

Ive seen the timing belt being changed by cutting the old belt in half all around with a blade, removing half, pushing the new belt pushing the remainder of the old belt off :p

 

I was shown this at college, it was how not to do the job though

 

The tools are on ebay for around £10, definitely worth having. I changed my first one without the tools and just used tippex so of course its doable, but for £10, why not do it right

Ive seen the timing belt being changed by cutting the old belt in half all around with a blade, removing half, pushing the new belt pushing the remainder of the old belt off :p

 

Genius   

Thanks, Tech1e- I can see the problems on mine. on old Vauxhalls, I just slipped the belt off, whilst rotating  and on replacement ,set up marks and replaced belt whilst rotating, checking for timing marks matching, before a full rotation to check for any meeting of bits/interferance. Biggest problem was getting the cam belt covers off. Favourite one was to saw off the top cover so as not to have to remove cam pulley. So called safety failure, but I always looked on it as a way to check belt for problems, when changing plugs- just rotate engine and look for any signs of problems.

To prevent starting a new thread but keeping this slightly on topic:

Where do people recommend buying a cambelt and water pump kit from? Skoda / VW? Euro car parts?

JRJG

Be careful, when I had my 2001 sdi done, there were quite a lot of water pump options, easy to get the wrong one.

Not ECP, their kits are horrid.

To prevent starting a new thread but keeping this slightly on topic:

Where do people recommend buying a cambelt and water pump kit from? Skoda / VW? Euro car parts?

JRJG

 

I didn't get into the why's and wherefores, but the bloke who did the belt on my PD130 said on those, to always spend the extra for a genuine waterpump, the rest of the kit he fitted was Gates. The price was competitive, so I didn't argue. 

I didn't get into the why's and wherefores, but the bloke who did the belt on my PD130 said on those, to always spend the extra for a genuine waterpump, the rest of the kit he fitted was Gates. The price was competitive, so I didn't argue.

Looks like I'll give Skoda a call then.

Thanks for your reply

JRJG

Not ECP, their kits are horrid.

Fair enough, I assume you're speaking from experience, I will give them a miss.

Thanks

Edit: just spoken to the local skoda dealer; £146 for the cambelt kit and £50 for the water pump, does that sound about right? I had ~£150 for both in my head.

Edit edit: just spoken to a genuine vag parts trader; £61 for the cambelt kit and £46.54 for the waterpump. Much better.

JRJG

Edited 5 August, 20169 yr by Jrjg

Cambelt kit should be about £95 I think.

 

Water pump about right once you get the surcharge back.

 

To prevent starting a new thread but keeping this slightly on topic:

Where do people recommend buying a cambelt and water pump kit from? Skoda / VW? Euro car parts?

JRJG

 

Gates kits are quality and have many a good word said about them, some say the "best" not sure about that. I used gates timing kit and aux belt, and water pump.. all is fine and doing what it should.