how the hell did this happen?
how the hell did this happen?
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Discussion

Mikeyplum

Original Poster:

1,646 posts

186 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2011
quotequote all
as the title says!

Timing belt on a VW Bora TDI PD130 split completely down the middle!



Any idea how it would have happened? scratchchin

Tyngwndwn

12,549 posts

198 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2011
quotequote all
It's old?

Mikeyplum

Original Poster:

1,646 posts

186 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2011
quotequote all
Tyngwndwn said:
It's old?
it was only changed about 6K miles ago, by a reliable mechanic...

joewilliams

2,004 posts

218 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2011
quotequote all
Is something fouling on it?

Buzz word

2,028 posts

226 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2011
quotequote all
Maybe he got half way through the split it down the middle method. Got distracted put the cover back on thinking it was done. That or I would be looking for debris or something pushing in on it.

boobles

15,241 posts

232 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2011
quotequote all
Mikeyplum said:
Tyngwndwn said:
It's old?
it was only changed about 6K miles ago, by a reliable mechanic...
Reliable mechanic you say scratchchin

Which one so I can stay well clear!

In all honesty, I would be taking it back to the garage & asking them to sort it out.

sherman

14,535 posts

232 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2011
quotequote all
Mikeyplum said:
it was only changed about 6K miles ago, by a reliable mechanic...
Are you absolutely certain it was changed and as is said it looks like he was going to change it and forgot to.

Did you leave the car at the garage for more than one day when it was changed previously. The mechanic may have started the job near the end of the day, got half way through before clocking off time and then in the morning either the same mechanic was dozy or another mechanic thought it was replaced and just put the cover back on.

aka_kerrly

12,492 posts

227 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2011
quotequote all
My guess is its catching on a pulley/tensioner cover that hasn't been put back on properly. You could put a blob of paint/tip ex on the belt and then turn the engine over by hand and you should be able to tell if its catching becuase the paint will smear. Then its a case of identifying which part of the casing has paint on it an that should solve the mystery.

That said with the amount of damage to the belt you will probably have quite a obvious score mark inside the plastic cover!

HellDiver

5,708 posts

199 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2011
quotequote all
aka_kerrly said:
then turn the engine over by hand
Yes, good idea He-Man. You ever tried turning a PD engine over by hand?

aka_kerrly

12,492 posts

227 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2011
quotequote all
HellDiver said:
aka_kerrly said:
then turn the engine over by hand
Yes, good idea He-Man. You ever tried turning a PD engine over by hand?
How did you know i'm He-Man it's meant to be a secretwhistle

Anyhow, I cant say I have tried to turn a PD unit by hand so im not right to assume that it is possible then, even if the glow plugs were out?

It wasn't essential to turn by hand I just thought it would be easier to spin the engine slowly an actually keep an eye on the belt as it goes around.

dave

Mikeyplum

Original Poster:

1,646 posts

186 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2011
quotequote all
The guy who done it is a family friend, and lives about 20 miles away, so cant really take it back to him.

Yeah, tried turning it over by hand... not going to happen...

I might try putting it in gear and rocking the car back to turn it over that way...


thinfourth2

32,414 posts

221 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2011
quotequote all
Its not something catching as the rubber either side of the cut is coming up if it was catching then it would be worn down.

Most likely is a loose fibre has come out and got snagged and then been pulled out of the belt.

I would photograph everything and remove the belt without cutting it and return it to the belt maker as I imagine their QA department would be very interested

Mikeyplum

Original Poster:

1,646 posts

186 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2011
quotequote all
thinfourth2 said:
Its not something catching as the rubber either side of the cut is coming up if it was catching then it would be worn down.

Most likely is a loose fibre has come out and got snagged and then been pulled out of the belt.

I would photograph everything and remove the belt without cutting it and return it to the belt maker as I imagine their QA department would be very interested
Good shout...

im getting it changed tonight hopefully so will have a look when its off the car

Rich_W

12,548 posts

229 months

Wednesday 2nd March 2011
quotequote all
"Turn it over by hand" is a bit of a misnomer. He means use a ratchet and a 19mm 12 point socket. (you'l need to remove the undertray on the OS at the very least to see the crank pulley.

As for the splitting. Probable cause is something rubbing. But knowing these lumps very well, I can't imagine what they've done wrong! Only wild guess is that they've bent the lower belt cover putting it back on. And its been scoring n the belt on teh water pump side. But you'd have to be a cretin to do that! Maybe it's been over tensioned. Easily checked. On the tensioner there's a pointer to line up.

Or maybe it's just a bad belt. If it had been fitted by a dealer. You'd have a decent shout of a warranty. As it wasn't a dealer will say "poor fitment" not our fault.