Author Topic: Timing Belt Snapped... How Much Damage? (Read 2172 times)

mikeshoup · « **on:** October 09, 2006, 01:41:52 pm »

I'm tired of gas and have been looking into getting a diesel for quite some time.

On a local craigslist, I found an 86 Jetta 1.6 N/A with a broken timing belt (http://denver.craigslist.org/car/215305520.html)

How much damage can I expect? I know its very likely the valves are bent, but is it likely that there's been damage to pistons?

Also, my knowledge of working on cars is limited to old school subarus (these are freaking easy to work on). How difficult is a VW Diesel to work on?

veeman · « **Reply #1 on:** October 09, 2006, 02:05:51 pm »

It somewhat depends on when the belt broke. If the belt broke at idle, there's likely less damage than if it broke at 3500 rpm.

My timing belt on the 1.6TD broke on me due to road debris and surprisingly even though the head was damaged (bent valves, broken valve seats, broken lifter bores), the pistons looked remarkably untouched. I think I was lucky... I ended up getting a brand new head, but on the one you're looking at, you may be able to have it rebuilt with new valves and then put on a headgasket / timing belt. You won't know unless you take it all apart...

The diesels are pretty easy to work on...similar to other VW 4 cyl's. I gu ess you could say the diesels are somewhat simpler in that there is no CIS fuel injection or ignition to work on, but at the same time, they demand a bit more precision when you time the engine / pump and valvetrain. Diesels do require some special tools, but are known to be durable and last a good long time.

I'd check out that car and see if the rest of the car is worth having... fixing a head / timing belt / head gasket is not that hard and you could get it for a deal...

jtanguay · « **Reply #2 on:** October 09, 2006, 02:30:31 pm »

you could probably drive the price down too... say it needs a lot of work to get running again .. unless the seller knows a lot about diesels.. hehe

monst · « **Reply #3 on:** October 11, 2006, 03:39:37 am »

Hey, Subies huh....
Yeah, I have owned 3 loyales.
ripped em apart and put them back
together....... I find that the Vw's
are easy to work on.... Get a Bentley
book and start reading.....
but yeah, see how the rest up the
vehicle is..... mileage??? maybe
you can get it for a song.......
You are the one taking the risk....
and it will be your project.......
Make it worth while.

mikeshoup · « **Reply #4 on:** October 10, 2006, 11:53:45 pm »

Well shucks. Its gone. I'm gonna have to keep an eye out for an old diesel I can afford.

Or find a way to fit a diesel under the hood of my wagon :lol: Maybe with a body lift on it I *might* be able to fit it under without a huge power bulge in the hood. :roll: