Author Topic: 97 Golf TD - Possible timing belt/crank bolt failure (Read 6521 times)

jimbrown618 · « **on:** November 30, 2006, 03:07:08 pm »

I was driving to work early this morning & accelerating to 100kph onto Hwy 5 in Hull QC when the engine just lost power & died. Got it off the road & after a minute tried to start & no go; it would turn over but that's it. Then I tried pulling the timing advance/cold start lever out & it fired right up as if nothing happened. The car drove / sounded normal & I then managed to get to the parking lot at work & then the engine died again just as I parked it. This time, nothing would make it start. Anyway, got it flat-bedded to HuntClub Volkswagen in Ottawa & I should know the bad news by mid-day tomorrow.

The timing belt was halfway to 100k & there was no inducation/symptoms of wobble at the crank. Engine has 352k on it...

Jim

burn_your_money · « **Reply #1 on:** November 30, 2006, 03:21:18 pm »

Sounds like a crank failure

Here's hoping it's not

jimbrown618 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 30, 2006, 03:32:18 pm »

Thanks.... Anyway, when the crank fails, is it normal that the engine just dies? There was no stumbling/strange noises from the engine or anything. I would have thought if the valves were touching there would be a ticking/metallic sound or uneven running...I guess I'm just grasping for straws. Hopefully there is no major damage & I can get a local Ottawa shop to repair it.

Jim

burn_your_money · « **Reply #3 on:** November 30, 2006, 04:02:26 pm »

The 1.9Td that I just got died the exact same way, except once it stopped it never restarted. The crank pulley is insanely loose though. I wasn't in the car when it happened but he said it just kept loosing power and then once he shut it off it never started again. There were broken lifter pieces in the vavle cover area.

A headgasket failure is very similar to what you described, I've had that happen to me.

jtanguay · « **Reply #4 on:** December 01, 2006, 03:04:29 am »

the '97 1.9 engines do not have the 'crank fix' ? that really sucks...

i would like to believe that it is a head gasket problem. increasing the timing helped it run more, until the problem got worse? how far were you able to drive it with the cold start pulled out? was there any signs of power loss? it sounds almost timing related...

then again i have no experience with crank failures etc... so i do not know the symptoms first hand. if it was a crank failure, would you not hear valves slapping pistons, of course unless the valves are so badly mangled they do not touch the pistons anymore... :shock:

hopefully its just timing related, or something simple... even a head gasket wouldn't be too bad considering worse case scenario! I'll drink to that!

jimbrown618 · « **Reply #5 on:** December 01, 2006, 12:18:37 pm »

Good news.

..the VW dealer found the problem. The wire to the injection pump solenoid was broken. When I had pulled on the cold start advance lever, it had pushed the broken/frayed wires together enough that I made it to the parking lot before severing completely. They replaced the wire set assy & a few conectors for $209 total. (I know...I know...I could have done it myself for $10 in parts... :roll: .)

So burn_your_money, I owe you a beer for the hope..(& jtanguay too...)
.Thanks...

Jim

burn_your_money · « **Reply #6 on:** December 02, 2006, 03:58:03 pm »

Quote from: "jimbrown618"

So burn_your_money, I owe you a beer for the hope..(& jtanguay too...)
.Thanks...

Jim

Paypal is...

Glad to hear it was something very, very simple. That's a definte bonus. To bad it wasn't cheap though

Didn't the AAZs get the upgraded tdi crank in 96?

jimbrown618 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 02, 2006, 04:36:56 pm »

No, there was no upgrade to the crankshafts until the TDI's came out from what I've read on the forum here. As for my problem, I guess I expected worst case & was very very happy when the local dealer phoned me. We're moving to Halifax in Janurary (I'm in the military & this should be our final posting prior to retirement...) & I plan on getting the timing belt done there & also getting the crank-mod done also. Cheers.

Jim

Jetta Fan · « **Reply #8 on:** December 04, 2006, 05:32:59 am »

Jim, glad it wasn't too serious. And welcome to Halifax!

Ok, so I'm early...

jimbrown618 · « **Reply #9 on:** December 04, 2006, 04:12:02 pm »

Thanks,

We'll be there around 19 Jan...It will be good to be back in my home province (Cape Breton actually...). Cheers.

Jim

Golf_III · « **Reply #10 on:** December 05, 2006, 07:01:06 am »

I Have a '95 vw golf mk3 1.9L diesel without turbo and last year my crank bolt cracked in 2 pieces and damaged 2 injectors, & some other parts. I was going to shift to second gear, and at exactly when i shifted to 2nd gear, the engine shut it down and heard a noise like the engine fell on the ground. Few weeks ago I was checking the engine, and saw the alternator pully had a bad alignment, and I changed it with a second hand one but still running badly.

I think my crank needs to be replaced, but I have to check with a vw mechanic specialist to confirm it..

I was told that the mk3 generation suffer from these two problems:
1. The crank bolt.
2. The crank replacement.

Is that true??

ricosuave · « **Reply #11 on:** December 05, 2006, 02:18:00 pm »

^

yes, specifically with the aaz engine

do a search for crank bolt or crank pulley and you'll see

Brad · « **Reply #12 on:** December 10, 2006, 08:41:49 am »

Quote from: Jetta Fan

Jim, glad it wasn't too serious. And welcome to Halifax!

Ok, so I'm early...

diddo!!