Timing belt change mk3 abf

[RichardBaronGolf]

Hi everybody! The golf'a going through a massive maintenance stage atm been doing all the jobs that need doing! Next up is the timing belt, when I bought the car I have receipts for it being done and a head rebuild but haven't got the date! The engine runs lovely and the last thing I want is the cambelt or any other associated parts going so me being a bit OCD was wondering if there's anything else I could change whilst at it! Someone mentioned something about 4 Allen bolts in another thread  woodruff key is it? Also do the tensioners need changing is this the standard thing to do? The cars got 117k on it now thanks in advance! 

[Luke1981]

I personally would change the pulleys, tensioner and water pump if doing the timing belt.

[ToddyGTi]

I'd leave the pulleys, there is no known common problems here.


Just the tensioners and the water pump as standard personally.

Check the bottom Crank Pulley, it has a rubber damper piece inside it if i recall correctly. If this looks buggered then I'd swap the pulley.

[matt@onlychargeddubs]

tensioner every time with cambelt and the water pump is well worth doing, but while this is off get a new thermostat and housing, thermostats are a common weak point on the cooling system and when you replace it with a new seal the plastic elbow housing is a complete pain to get back on without cracking it!

the 4 allen bolts are the ones that hold the ribbed belt crank pulley to the cambelt pulley, they're very common for rounding off once being old and rusty so well worth swapping these for stainless versions