AAZ how many with crank issue fixed? i dont see many?

[gribur]

It seems there is a lot of talk about the issues with the aaz crank and how it needs to be fixed.  but, I am seeing a lot of running good condition td's for sale or on this and other forums with like 300-450,000km on them and it hasnt been an issue.  Do I need to rush to get this done or can i just get my damn car on the road for now and not worry about it.  mine has 300,000 km on it and PO never mentioned anything out of the ordinary.  So how many here have done it and which way did you choose to fix it, and who has just left it with no issue?
cheers guys

[jack's lack]

I swapped a crank from a 1Z TDI in when I did my rebuild.

I discovered durring tear down that the engine had spun the #3 main and there was some blueing on the other journals as well. Maybe someone thought it wasn't necessary to perform routine oil changes . So in my case swapping cranks killed to birds with one stone so to speak.

[srgtlord]

You will be fine as long as
1.your alternator has the one way clutched pulley
2.The vibration dampnere in Your Crankshaft pulley is not worn out
3. Your serpentine automatic belt tensioner is not worn out

from the failures I have researched about the crank pulley bolt worked its way loose due to excess vibrations. Others may disagree .

[410]

I think that the main reason for the crank failure is the removal of the crank bolt during a timing belt change and not replacing the bolt and or not torquing the bolt to the proper spec, even though the crank bolt doesn't need to be removed to change the belt.  Extra load on the serp belt like a/c will definitely speed up the process as well.

I repaired mine myself when I had the engine out.  I removed the front crank seal and welded up the notch for the crank gear and filed the crank to fit the newer tdi style gear.  Worked like a charm and was very easy to do.

[blackdogvan]

I filed mine 180 to the notch & remarked tdc.

[GEE-BEE]

My dampner pulley had a lot of side movement, gone now with a new assy for 65.00
for 4.50 each I also added new bolt's

Clutch pulley installed also

I have a factory reman Bosch 90 amp with a new clutch pulley mounted ( fixed)type if your looking

GB

[Wayland]

I guess there's an exception to every rule. I took off the lower timing sprocket on my 93 AAZ with 390,000km on it. The crank and sprocket appeared to be as new. I replaced the bolt, harmonic balancer, and installed the clutched pulley at the same time and went on my merry way. Maybe I was just one of the lucky 10%?

[dieselweasel]

I've put around 200,000 km on two AAZs with stock crank sprocket set ups with no problems.  I install the clutched alternator pulley and replace the damper if untrue.  I also remove, inspect, and properly torque the sprocket at every timing belt change.  It's quick and easy to do.  That said, if I was rebuilding an AAZ I would definitely modify the crank nose for the TDI sprocket.  Just not worth the time and effort now IMO. 

[410]

This crank nose issue is definitely the worst on the aaz but I have seen this issue on some high mileage 1.6td and even some gassers just not as severe.  In my early days (15 years ago) as a mechanic I have removed that crank bolt thinking it had to be removed and ended up not torquing the bolt properly on assembly.  It was on a gasser rabbit and I never did see it again.  I'm pretty sure I'm not the only mechanic that has done this but you never know.