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Engine Specific Info and Questions => IDI Engine => Topic started by: Brian Rages on December 06, 2007, 09:16:30 am

Title: Cheap Timing Belt/Tensioner Horror Stories?
Post by: Brian Rages on December 06, 2007, 09:16:30 am
Hi,

I'm just getting started on a project to replace the timing belt and reseal the injection pump on my 1986 n/a Jetta.

I bought the big timing belt change kit from http://www.dieselvw.com/ - this guy has been mentioned a few times here.

I got the kit with the timing belt, tensioner, dial indicator, and locking tools.  Pretty sweet deal, then I see this:
http://vwdieselparts.com/cheep.htm

on "Jack's" site:  We have reports of the tensioner's coming apart in 15,000 miles and somesooner. Belts breaking at way under 40,000 miles.


 :o

What to do?  Use the cheap parts, but check the TB every 3k or so?  Or consider it a lesson learned, and get the OEM stuff?
Title: Cheap Timing Belt/Tensioner Horror Stories?
Post by: jtanguay on December 06, 2007, 09:22:23 am
i would only buy the tools from that guy's site.  the prices are too good to be true...   you can take your chances but i wouldn't... not with something as critical as that.
Title: Cheap Timing Belt/Tensioner Horror Stories?
Post by: bert on December 06, 2007, 10:44:35 am
only gates,dayco,continental for me and tensioner wise theres only 2 littens or INA  :wink:
Bert
Title: Cheap Timing Belt/Tensioner Horror Stories?
Post by: Smkin85Turbo on December 06, 2007, 02:37:25 pm
Are the tools from http://www.dieselvw.com/  the best place to get the tools required to change out the timing belt? I am going to replace my timing belt soon and was also wondering where the best place to buy a belt would be? Do you replace the tensioner at the same time? What are all the parts that I need? Any good place to buy a water pump?
Title: Cheap Timing Belt/Tensioner Horror Stories?
Post by: BleachedBora on December 06, 2007, 02:47:47 pm
I had a shipment of water pumps come in a while back from a new vendor--turns out they were Chinese. I ended up sending most of them back once I figured it out. Point is that when dealing with timing belt parts most of the TDI vendors stick to OEM or OEM+ from known sources only. I have a guy who is looking at a new engine now due to his TB snapping after 20,000 miles, supposedly it was a 100,000 mile belt, but when he says he paid $150 for the entire kit on Ebay one wonders where the source of the parts was...  :?
Good luck!
-BB
Title: Cheap Timing Belt/Tensioner Horror Stories?
Post by: jtanguay on December 06, 2007, 09:23:29 pm
Quote from: "Smkin85Turbo"
Are the tools from http://www.dieselvw.com/  the best place to get the tools required to change out the timing belt? I am going to replace my timing belt soon and was also wondering where the best place to buy a belt would be? Do you replace the tensioner at the same time? What are all the parts that I need? Any good place to buy a water pump?


probably not the best, but the price is right.  things like cam locking tool and injection pump locking tool are pretty much indestructible and i think it would be impossible to really 'screw' them up.  however the dial indicator could be damaged if dropped etc.  it is pretty sensitive.  

myself, i can't see why the timing tools themselves would be bad.  just take care of them and you should be fine.
Title: Cheap Timing Belt/Tensioner Horror Stories?
Post by: Brian Rages on December 07, 2007, 06:38:36 am
The tools in the kit don't look SUPER, but they are ok.

The cam locking tool is just a flat plate of steel.  Mine is a really tight fit in the cam - no feeler gauge needed.  (you can use a door hinge -- rhymes with "orange" -- instead, though)

The injection pump locking tool is just a short steel rod with a knurl on it.  Nice tight fit (you can use an 11mm socket instead, though)

The dial indicator is a pretty nice setup, it's about equal to the homemade setups I've seen people post on these forums.

I might sell my tools when I finish the job...