Quickest AAZ failure test?

[Settings]

What's the quickest, and least invasive, way to determine if a non-running AAZ has had a crank nose failure? The engine is still in the car and the evaluation will be performed in in current owner's driveway. I don't want to tear into it too much, but want to confirm it's salvageable.

I've got my eye on a Passat that recently stopped running. It's got 370k on the engine so it's about ripe for failure.
I'm interested in the body and a bunch of the parts. That being said, I'd rather not have a completely shot engine.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

[Quantum TD]

What's the quickest, and least invasive, way to determine if a non-running AAZ has had a crank nose failure? The engine is still in the car and the evaluation will be performed in in current owner's driveway. I don't want to tear into it too much, but want to confirm it's salvageable.

I've got my eye on a Passat that recently stopped running. It's got 370k on the engine so it's about ripe for failure.
I'm interested in the body and a bunch of the parts. That being said, I'd rather not have a completely shot engine.

Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

To see if the crank gear has come loose, you simply have to a put a socket on the crank sprocket bolt (i.e. through the harmonic balancer). Try to turn the car over by hand (in neutral). You should feel compression build every 180 degrees (i.e. rotate crank 2 times fully). If you don't feel compression, or if it wants to bind, then the sprocket has cut through the keyway.

Or, just hit the starter. If the owner is cool with it, go nuts. If the timing belt broke/slipped, then the damage is already done. Take a look at the timing belt while it's being cranked over.

[Wayland]

It's got 370k on the engine so it's about ripe for failure.

Not necessarily true. Mine has 390,000 on it, and the crank and gear are mint.

[Settings]

Thanks for the tips guys. That's what I had in mind...check the cam position with the flywheel at TDC; and feel how the engine turns.

Wayland, I'm not saying yours is about to die because of high mileage...it's that this one is already not running and I'm checking to see if it's a crank failure.