You have to do what!!!

[Jeremy airjer W]

I finally had an opportunity to document a Volkswagen timing belt. It's always kind of fun tackling these because of the steps involved just to gain access to the timing belt. The front clip believe it or not with some experience will come off in about 30 minutes including disconnecting the upper and lower radiator hoses, which is the hardest part.

First the bumper cover is removed

Remove the lower hose and let the coolant drain while removing the bumper cover support and the bumper. Once the coolant is done draining remove the upper hose.

There are about 11 nuts and bolts that hold the front clip onto the car. Once there out and you have several connectors removed you can swing it off to the side.

Know you finally have access to the front of the motor.

Once the engine covers are removed along with the serp belt and fan, you can remove the timing belt covers that go over the cam gears. Then rotate the crank until the big holes on the cams are on the inside (cam gear inset on the left is actually the right side gear as you're looking at the engine) and the timing mark on the crank pulley lines up with the arrow on the lower timing cover (see right inset).

Once everything is lined up you can take the tension of the belt and remove. You can then replace the components like the water pump, t-stat, idler pulley, tensioner pulley, hydraulic tensioner, and pivot arm.

Now the new timing belt can be installed. Double check the alignment. Rotate the engine through a couple of revolution by hand and then triple check the timing marks!

Then you just simply put it back together!

[Big Buck Buster]

Fun, aren't they!!

[jwhjr]

Nice details! I'm glad it wasn't me doing it

[zamboni]

Why don't they switch to chains??? Can't tell me people love doing this if they didn't have to. Is it because the more VW has to change, the more money VW dealers make?

[shizzy]

thats actaully a pretty neat design. I wish more cars had velcro holding the front clip on like that....

[jeffreyd]

did you do the water pump while you had it all a part? just wondering.

[JohnMickish]

Thats pretty cool. What kind of time is involved in this? Obviosly you want to do the water pump and all while you are there. How many miles between changes?

[Jeremy airjer W]

did you do the water pump while you had it all a part? just wondering.

[deadeye]

Once you get past all the weird stuff, VW's aren't that tough to work on. I still haven't got past that myself (lol) but if you do they are cake. The way the motor sits and having the front clip come off sure gives you a lot of room to work. I gotta admit, I like that. Better than trying to delicate work reaching through the wheelwell.

I just did the t-belt and water pump on a v6 solara and I was supprised at how new the belt looked at 130k. It looked like it was brand new. There wasnt a crack or a chunk missing at all. Amazing to me as some of them I have seen at 100k were really beat up (I suppose it may have to do a little with the driver too).

Who is going back to chains? I know the new turbo mitsu motors are but I guess I havent really followed who else was? If toyota and honda did that they would be mint. Talk about low maintenance.

[Jeremy airjer W]

You nailed it. Honda and Toyota are putting chains in there new motors. Its really weird to see when you open the hood. Kind of sad that the gravy t-belt era will be coming to an end!

[Ralph Wiggum]

Honda and Toyota are putting chains in there new motors.

As a guy who had the timing belt in his Sequoia and Accord replaced this summer, my wallet says, "Thanks!"

[deadeye]

So, another question. Are they running the water pump off of the chain, and/or is it under the timing cover? (just for curiosity's sake)

I know there are some odd balls like my 4g63t mitsu motor that its under the cover but run by a small serp belt. Im just not up to date on the brand new stuff I guess.

[Jeremy airjer W]

All the Toyota's 4 cylinders I think are serp belt driven. The v-6 is also but I think the motor and trans have to be dropped to replace. I don't know about the new 4.6 liter v-8

I think Honda is the same with ther 4 cylinders.