how difficult to change timing belt in 80's VW golf diesel

[guava]

Saw this as a project but don't know abou the VW's. Guy says the timing belt went. How hard is it to do by yourself... . what kind of damage happens when it breaks? Is it like my honda where the whole head blows up?



Thx

 

[HoleshotHolset]

As far as I know - the old 1. 6L (indirect injection) VW diesel are an interference engine... I know the 1. 9L TDI's are. So, when the belt breaks - the pistons become acquainted with the valves.



The job isn't impossible - but having to keep the cam, crank, and pump all locked in place while attempting to put the belt on can be a real pain. Messing with the pump timing isn't too bad, though - there's some fudge room built into the brackets so that you can rotate the pump fore and aft.



Matt

 

[RKerner]

I don't know about the interference part, the gassers were free running when the belt broke up until multi valve heads I believe. The belt is about a one to 1 1/2 hour job without AC in a shop including a cup of coffee and a smoke. The diesel is aided with an alignment pin (special tool) and sometimes a dial indicator to set injector pump timing. Otherwise, the cam gear lines up with the head/block junction and the crank pulley lines up with 0 on the timing cover or there might me a punch/dot on oil pump cover to line up with a similar dot on the crank gear. Hope this helps, it's been a few years since I've done this.

 

[JLEONARD]

I did one on my old VW several years ago. I didn't have the locking pin, but I made one that worked ok from a piece of threaded rod that I ground (really hacked) on a taper using a bench grinder.

It helps to mark the position of the pulleys with respect to the head ot block BEFORE you take the old belt off... . just as a back up reference.



I vaguely remember that to line up the timing if you get screwed up you use the slot on the rear of the camshaft... keep it level (I used a flat file and shims) while you rotate the cam pulley.



Hope this helps a little.

Jay

 

[mhenon]

Saw this as a project but don't know abou the VW's. Guy says the timing belt went. How hard is it to do by yourself... . what kind of damage happens when it breaks? Is it like my honda where the whole head blows up?



Thx

You don't want that timing belt to break. I'm sure you would run a valve into the top of a piston.

As to the job itself... go to "Freds TDI" web-page. Bet there's some info on changing out the belt. I think it's a pain in the *** though. . especially without the right tools.

Mike

 

[JoeBioDiesel]

If the belt broke, it amost certainly did some damage. It can range from bent valves or broken lifters (on the cheap end) to broken pistons and scuffed block (on the expensive end). Don't get it unless the price of another engine doesn't scare you.

good luck,

Joe