Thanks and congratulations to those who suggested a broken timing belt.
Well, really thanks to everybody who chimed in--I appreciate your help
so much.
My wife finally got home from a 3-week trip, so I had somebody to spin
the motor while I watched the cam thru the oil filler. It's funny I
didn't recognize the change in the engine sound as it cranked. Maybe
because it's always started on about the first half rotation!
So now I have to decide if I want to take this on myself or not. It
might be worth the cost of renting a tow trailer for a 40 mile pull to a
shop with experience (in Madison, WI). I'll have to make some phone
calls. On the other hand, if you guys tell me it's not that big a deal,
maybe I'll tear into it. The Haynes manual does cover the job,
miguelito
Well congrats on finding out WHAT is wrong. Now you know the sound it makes
when the belt breaks! lol
You might want to take it to a shop that deals with either VWs or Audis.
OR of course can be done by you if you are up to a little challenge AND a
good learning experience. Not sure if I have ever done a timing belt for a
5 cylinder engine in a 4000 body even though I owned a coupe/GT. There
should be enough room to do it easily though. The hardest part is
reinstalling the lower crankshaft pulley bolt tight enough so it does not
come off in a few months. You will have to lock down the
flywheel/driveplate and then you can torque down that bolt. I use a brake
spoon to lock the flywheel down through the upper access hole. Works quite
well too! :-)
To loosen that bolt you can use the tool or with a long flex bar and socket
the starter will provide enough torque to loosen up that bolt. Be careful
with this procedure though. ;-)
MAYBE your crank pulley will have four bolts on it that will allow it to
come off of the crank sprocket. THEN you don't have to deal with the bolt.
8^)
IIRC you will need:
timing belt
water pump (it adjusts the timing belt)
idler bearing
seals (if you are replacing them)
V-Belts (if they need replacing)
coolant

Signature
later,
(One out of many daves)
> Thanks and congratulations to those who suggested a broken timing belt.
> Well, really thanks to everybody who chimed in--I appreciate your help
[quoted text clipped - 12 lines]
>
> miguelito
TonyJ - 20 Aug 2008 21:22 GMT
> Well congrats on finding out WHAT is wrong. Now you know the sound it makes
> when the belt breaks! lol
[quoted text clipped - 27 lines]
>
>
I have done T belts for myself and friends on at least six T44s (5
cylinder inline).
It is fairly straight forward job that takes six ot eight hours for a
first timer with the right tools. The right tools include renting or
inventing a tool to hold the crankshaft for loosening the bolt ( most
seller of the parts will rent these for about $40 plus a deposit
Blaufernugen, north of Milwaukee is one good source for you in WI)
You may want to check with the parts sellers to confirm that your engine
is not an interference type which would have broken valves. I am quite
sure that it is not but you should check before buying parts or towing
to a mechanic if that it your choice.
I would guess that an independent mechanic would replace the T belt for
$600 - $700 including parts. Parts themselves from an on-line source
will probably be about $300 and add the cost of tool rental.
I am located in Minneapolis but occasionally get over your way.
dave AKA vwdoc1 - 21 Aug 2008 01:53 GMT
WOW $300 for parts, I must have missed something on my list! lol
Or I just have not done a 5 cyl T-belt job in many years, so I am out of the
loop! ;-)
snip
>> IIRC you will need:
>> timing belt
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
>
> I am located in Minneapolis but occasionally get over your way.
miguelito - 21 Aug 2008 03:40 GMT
> Blaufernugen
Yes, I've dealt with those fine folks. I think I remember they have
"kits" for timing belts and main seals...
Just quick found their website and it looks like they have something
that does include tool rental. Cool! Thanks. I'll explicitly ask whether
this is an interference motor. I didn't hear any clatter when it shut
down.
> I am located in Minneapolis
So you understand why I want to keep this thing going!
miguelito - 21 Aug 2008 03:40 GMT
> IIRC you will need:
> timing belt
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
> V-Belts (if they need replacing)
> coolant
Thanks Dave
Should I replace the water pump and idler bearing routinely, but seals
only if necessary? My front main seal leaks; this is probably the time
to replace that, I bet.
dave AKA vwdoc1 - 21 Aug 2008 04:09 GMT
Well if your seal(s) are leaking then of course change them. Water pump is
a good idea since you are right there and might have to move it to adjust
the tension on the belt. About the same amount of labor that you will be
doing just buy a new water pump. Probably if you don't then it will go bad
in 3 months and you have to do almost all of this work again. 8^)
>> IIRC you will need:
>> timing belt
[quoted text clipped - 9 lines]
> only if necessary? My front main seal leaks; this is probably the time
> to replace that, I bet.