alphaseinor
TDI Innovator, Gone but Not Forgotten
- Joined
- Jul 30, 2006
- Location
- Denton, TX
- TDI
- '03 Jetta TDI 780,000 miles (totaled out), 01 Audi TT 225 Quattro 230,000 Miles (runs great!), 00 Cabreetle Beetle dash, ALH & MK4 harness Swap
Well, I'm replacing a head, and timing belt now... just thought I would share the experience with unknown parts.
The Story
I have a client that brought a car to me about eight months ago, needed a belt change. I used his parts, which I notified him were not my preferred type (generic... This is the first time I've used them... and now I know why...). He just needed it for about a year of driving.
He called me last week and said his car was running kinda rough, gave slowdown shutter symptoms. I was going to go out and see it... however yesterday his belt popped at the lower idler.
2000 miles since my belt change...
The Parts
I'm not going to name any names, but let's just say it's no one I know here on the boards... 100% generic, no part numbers that match... cheap junk.
What I'm doing for him
I'm not admitting any guilt on the installation... this puppy failed... it's the parts fault...
Since I put in junk (which I suspected) instead of waiting on "real" timing belt parts, I'm volunteering my time and my money to fix his car. This problem will not happen again.
The Damage
Here's the funny part: Tensioner, all rollers, camshaft, crankshaft, water pump and injection pump are "normal" no unusual feel, no grittyness, no locking.
Head: I haven't even looked to see how many valves hit
Timing Belt: Yes... it snapped... very unusual how clean it broke...almost as if it was at a seam... couldn't find any damage to the belt other than it's got a clean break.
The Moral
Don't use junk parts under any circumstance, even for short periods of time!
This is my first belt failure... ever... all of my other customers are cooking along nicely... no problems
I've kept my preferred vendors, and I will refuse, as usual to install anything that isn't what I recommend for their car.
The Story
I have a client that brought a car to me about eight months ago, needed a belt change. I used his parts, which I notified him were not my preferred type (generic... This is the first time I've used them... and now I know why...). He just needed it for about a year of driving.
He called me last week and said his car was running kinda rough, gave slowdown shutter symptoms. I was going to go out and see it... however yesterday his belt popped at the lower idler.
2000 miles since my belt change...
The Parts
I'm not going to name any names, but let's just say it's no one I know here on the boards... 100% generic, no part numbers that match... cheap junk.
What I'm doing for him
I'm not admitting any guilt on the installation... this puppy failed... it's the parts fault...
Since I put in junk (which I suspected) instead of waiting on "real" timing belt parts, I'm volunteering my time and my money to fix his car. This problem will not happen again.
The Damage
Here's the funny part: Tensioner, all rollers, camshaft, crankshaft, water pump and injection pump are "normal" no unusual feel, no grittyness, no locking.
Head: I haven't even looked to see how many valves hit
Timing Belt: Yes... it snapped... very unusual how clean it broke...almost as if it was at a seam... couldn't find any damage to the belt other than it's got a clean break.
The Moral
Don't use junk parts under any circumstance, even for short periods of time!
This is my first belt failure... ever... all of my other customers are cooking along nicely... no problems
I've kept my preferred vendors, and I will refuse, as usual to install anything that isn't what I recommend for their car.