Anyone planning to change a timing belt?

Anyone planning to change a timing belt?

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Discussion

nick31

Original Poster:

9 posts

99 months

Tuesday 26th July 2016
quotequote all
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.

Petrolhead_Rich

4,659 posts

198 months

Tuesday 26th July 2016
quotequote all
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!!!

nick31

Original Poster:

9 posts

99 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
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.

Old Merc

3,546 posts

173 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
What Passat do you have? transverse engined ones are fairly straightforward. The other ones you have to remove the front of the car just to get to the timing cover.

nick31

Original Poster:

9 posts

99 months

Wednesday 27th July 2016
quotequote all
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.

227bhp

10,203 posts

134 months

Thursday 28th July 2016
quotequote all
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? scratchchin

PositronicRay

27,483 posts

189 months

Thursday 28th July 2016
quotequote all
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? scratchchin
Depends on the yr, early ones were on an A4 platform, later on they used an extended Golf/A3 platform.

Penelope Stopit

11,209 posts

115 months

Thursday 28th July 2016
quotequote all
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!!!
Rubbish, complete and utter rubbish. Much can be learnt from watching and having each procedure explained

nick31

Original Poster:

9 posts

99 months

Thursday 28th July 2016
quotequote all
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? scratchchin
Yes, i'm very sure it's not a transverse engine. It's a 2004 model, you were probably thinking about the later models?
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.

227bhp

10,203 posts

134 months

Thursday 28th July 2016
quotequote all
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? scratchchin
Yes, i'm very sure it's not a transverse engine. It's a 2004 model, you were probably thinking about the later models?
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.
It just sounded strange having a longitudinally mounted engine which was FWD, never heard of that before.

Pickled

2,055 posts

149 months

Thursday 28th July 2016
quotequote all
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 few

kambites

68,309 posts

227 months

Thursday 28th July 2016
quotequote all
227bhp said:
It just sounded strange having a longitudinally mounted engine which was FWD, never heard of that before.
Audi still do it - everything from the A4 and upwards is longitudinal engined.

S0 What

3,358 posts

178 months

Friday 29th July 2016
quotequote all
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 laugh
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.

S0 What

3,358 posts

178 months

Friday 29th July 2016
quotequote all
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? scratchchin
Yes, i'm very sure it's not a transverse engine. It's a 2004 model, you were probably thinking about the later models?
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.
It just sounded strange having a longitudinally mounted engine which was FWD, never heard of that before.
Really ??
never heard of a reanault 20 or 30, saab 900 or Audi 80, 100, A5, A4, A6, Passat, FWD subarus ect ect

nick31

Original Poster:

9 posts

99 months

Friday 29th July 2016
quotequote all
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 laugh
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.

Old Merc

3,546 posts

173 months

Friday 29th July 2016
quotequote all
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 few
A Passat,Audi and Skoda model have almost identical longitudinal engines,and the rest of it for that matter.
The 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.

chryslerben

1,194 posts

165 months

Friday 29th July 2016
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Where abouts are you in the east of England Nick?

Hammer67

5,869 posts

190 months

Friday 29th July 2016
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Obvious answer is to Google it for a video.

I did a belt on a 1.4 Ibiza last year after finding it being done on a Youtube clip.

Was a great help.

Petrolhead_Rich

4,659 posts

198 months

Saturday 30th July 2016
quotequote all
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?!

Old Merc

3,546 posts

173 months

Saturday 30th July 2016
quotequote all


There are plenty of images and videos to follow online. Changing the cambelt is the easy bit,once you have unearthed it !!