cambelt!

[rubjonny]

I assumed you meant the pulley on the pas pump itself?  Id call it/them the crank pulley(s)

It would be no good taking off the PAS crank pulley off and leaving the waterpump one on now would it

[jammac]

hey im doing my cambelt today. the haynes manual is very vague unless you are a mechanic and upto speed with all of the technical terms. and the pictures they give are crap. either that or im useless! 

1. how do you manually turn the engine? im not on axle stands so i cant engage a gear and turn a wheel.


ill probably be back with more questions throughout the day as i screw up!

[gteyes]

just turn the bolt on the crankshaft pully clockwise
do not turn engine via the cam pully 

[jammac]

gave up sometime ago and went for a sunny beer up the pub! i havent got the right tools at home to do this job!! i cant get the crankshaft pulley allen key bolts undone!!! grrr

ive got a big f-off breaker bar at work! so ill try again on my next day off!!

[Simon8v91]

Hard luck mate.  Fell at the first hurdle 

These are the bolts I mis-described.  Anyway, when you get then off give the threads a good look over and if you think they look worn replace the bolts.  I once had some worn bolts come loose causing the pulley to fall of when driving

Other than getting everything lined up on refitting this is probably the most tricky bit!

If you decide to adjust your ignition timing you will probably find your distributor to be just a stuck.  Get spraying round it now!

Better luck next time 

[rubjonny]

I always turn the engine over on the cam pulley, but only after the spark plugs have been taken out.  I found that if you dont the belt can jump.

[jammac]

kool all points noted! im just looking up some part numbers as theres afew bits im gonna replace when i get round to this again. crankshaft pulley allen key bolts for one as i dont trust em! the heads are going round so they wont be coming off at the torque their done up2 for much longer

every time i take something apart i find another bodge job on my golf! GRRR the small upper cambelt cover (inboard of the belt) was barely held on with the rocker cover nuts as the holes the studs go through arent holes anymore! until i get a new one its all held steady with cable ties! good old cable ties! 

[Simon8v91]

OK, I will check this with my pile of invoices when I get home tonight:

Semicircular cam belt cover mounting: 026 109 173 A  -  £3.19

the bolts I am not sure: I had some longer M8 bolts that I cut down 

[AlanD]

Don't you think its a little risky changing something has important as a cam belt if you have never done it before and aren't too sure . . ?

I know its a rip off at a garage, but its going to cost you a whole lot more if you get it wrong. I'm not saying I don't have faith in you, just pointing it out thats all.

[jammac]

not really no. its a learning curve. how will you ever know how to do it if you dont try ay??

whats happened is no big deal. ill just have another go when ive got some better tools, spare bolts and cover.

thanks for the part number simon, ill get onto vw straight away