Anyone planning to change a timing belt?
Discussion
Hi, I was wondering if there are any DIY enthusiasts or mechanics in the east of England who are planning to change a timing belt and wouldn't mind me coming along to see the process? I've bought a service and repair manual for my VW passat and the instructions are good, but I still feel a little out of my depth. If I could see someone in action it would help a lot. Thanks very much.
nick31 said:
Hi, I was wondering if there are any DIY enthusiasts or mechanics in the east of England who are planning to change a timing belt and wouldn't mind me coming along to see the process? I've bought a service and repair manual for my VW passat and the instructions are good, but I still feel a little out of my depth. If I could see someone in action it would help a lot. Thanks very much.
watching doesn't teach you, and timing belts are not the place to start your mechanic learning process, there is limited access, it requires you to get everything right first time and failure will result in a hefty bill!Thats not to say don't take up the opportunity if someone offers, although perhaps offering to get your hands dirty too might encourage some offers, someone just watching over your shoulder asking questions might be a bit annoying!!!
Alternatively, why not ask if anyone would be willing to come and do yours whilst you assist? You'd learn alot more about your own car and also know your timing belt is done correctly!!!
I didn't literally mean "stand and watch", of course I would offer to help in any way I could. Also I didn't ask someone to change the belt on my car while I assist because I thought that would be a bit too cheeky of me, but of course if someone was willing to do that I would be very grateful.
Unfortunately it's not a transverse engine, so the timing belt is at the front. it's a front wheel drive car, so I don't no why VW needed to install it this way.
However the service manual does have detailed instructions on how the put the front of the car in the "service position", which will improve access.
However the service manual does have detailed instructions on how the put the front of the car in the "service position", which will improve access.
227bhp said:
nick31 said:
Unfortunately it's not a transverse engine, so the timing belt is at the front. it's a front wheel drive car, so I don't no why VW needed to install it this way.
Are you sure? 
Petrolhead_Rich said:
nick31 said:
Hi, I was wondering if there are any DIY enthusiasts or mechanics in the east of England who are planning to change a timing belt and wouldn't mind me coming along to see the process? I've bought a service and repair manual for my VW passat and the instructions are good, but I still feel a little out of my depth. If I could see someone in action it would help a lot. Thanks very much.
watching doesn't teach you, and timing belts are not the place to start your mechanic learning process, there is limited access, it requires you to get everything right first time and failure will result in a hefty bill!Thats not to say don't take up the opportunity if someone offers, although perhaps offering to get your hands dirty too might encourage some offers, someone just watching over your shoulder asking questions might be a bit annoying!!!
Alternatively, why not ask if anyone would be willing to come and do yours whilst you assist? You'd learn alot more about your own car and also know your timing belt is done correctly!!!
227bhp said:
nick31 said:
Unfortunately it's not a transverse engine, so the timing belt is at the front. it's a front wheel drive car, so I don't no why VW needed to install it this way.
Are you sure? Although if I had a later model that was worth more, there's no way I would attempt to change the timing belt myself. I'm only looking at this option because it's not really worth paying for a professional given the car's low value.
nick31 said:
227bhp said:
nick31 said:
Unfortunately it's not a transverse engine, so the timing belt is at the front. it's a front wheel drive car, so I don't no why VW needed to install it this way.
Are you sure? Although if I had a later model that was worth more, there's no way I would attempt to change the timing belt myself. I'm only looking at this option because it's not really worth paying for a professional given the car's low value.
Shame your not near Herford i do 3 or 4 cam belts a week, going through the job with somone who's done it before IS a great help (thats why shcools have teachers after all) mind you you wouldn't have wanted to be here for the 106 1.5D cam belt, took 2 hours to get the water pump out the frikken block so you would have been on tea or hammer duty for a ages 
Passat you dont need to fully remove the front, i made some pins to fit in the holes in the front crash bar to sldie the whole front end forward to give access to the cam belt, it's the way they do it at the dealers and the quickest way IMHO.
Passat you dont need to fully remove the front, i made some pins to fit in the holes in the front crash bar to sldie the whole front end forward to give access to the cam belt, it's the way they do it at the dealers and the quickest way IMHO.
227bhp said:
nick31 said:
227bhp said:
nick31 said:
Unfortunately it's not a transverse engine, so the timing belt is at the front. it's a front wheel drive car, so I don't no why VW needed to install it this way.
Are you sure? Although if I had a later model that was worth more, there's no way I would attempt to change the timing belt myself. I'm only looking at this option because it's not really worth paying for a professional given the car's low value.
never heard of a reanault 20 or 30, saab 900 or Audi 80, 100, A5, A4, A6, Passat, FWD subarus ect ect
S0 What said:
Shame your not near Herford i do 3 or 4 cam belts a week, going through the job with somone who's done it before IS a great help (thats why shcools have teachers after all) mind you you wouldn't have wanted to be here for the 106 1.5D cam belt, took 2 hours to get the water pump out the frikken block so you would have been on tea or hammer duty for a ages
Passat you dont need to fully remove the front, i made some pins to fit in the holes in the front crash bar to sldie the whole front end forward to give access to the cam belt, it's the way they do it at the dealers and the quickest way IMHO.
3-4 cambelts a week!!? You must be able to do it blindfolded by now.Passat you dont need to fully remove the front, i made some pins to fit in the holes in the front crash bar to sldie the whole front end forward to give access to the cam belt, it's the way they do it at the dealers and the quickest way IMHO.
Pickled said:
227bhp said:
It just sounded strange having a longitudinally mounted engine which was FWD, never heard of that before.
Quite a lot of cars over the years have had this layout, Audi, SAAB, Renault to name a fewThe guide pin idea mentioned above is a good one.When I did one I (two man job) very carefully moved the whole front forward,without disconnecting water and AC pipes,and balanced it on stands.Then getting at the timing cover and doing a cambelt change is a piece of cake.
Penelope Stopit said:
Rubbish, complete and utter rubbish. Much can be learnt from watching and having each procedure explained
I didn't say you wouldn't learn anything from watching, I said you won't learn how to do the job by watching alone!If you could learn how to change timing belts by watching then the kits would just come with a DVD and everyone would do their own?!
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