04 Passat TDI PD timing belt replacement.

[rotarykid]

I spent all afternoon looking all over the site, couldn't find a post that answered my question..

I'm reading and watching videos because my car needs the t-belt system replaced.

Today I watched a guy do the job, he removed the bumper cover, took loose the front assembly but left everything, water system, trans cooler and ac condenser attached.

Then with it still attached as described lifted the front up to give room in front of the engine he did the job.!.

Now here is my question, I didn't see anything that would make this undoable. Everything is reachable, he had no trouble setting the timing once re-installed. Reversed the removal steps and had it up in running a lot faster than it would have been if he had removed everything from in front of the engine assembly..

~45 years of doing t-belt systems on pretty much everything equipped with a VW/Audi diesel engine, from the 1.5/1.6 -2.0/2.4 first gen, same second gen after the stretch bolts,1.6 & 1.9(Canada only)eco-diesel TD, first gen VE 1.9 TDI, 1.9 TDI alh to my current 04 Passat TDI PD

My question is:

Has anyone else hear done the job this way? Did doing it this way save as much time and effort as it looks like doing it this way would...

Thanks

 

[zzdiesel]

Yes, it is called putting it in service position. You should have two long bolts to put in where the bumper bolts were removed to slide the front clip forword on.
There is an excellent description in the B5 how to thread on this site to put the lock carrier in the service position.

 

[oilhammer]

Yes, you pull the lock carrier assembly loose. Not hard at all.

 

[PickleRick]

The hardest part is getting the dumb quick release hoses out of the radiator

 

[Lug_Nut]

I found out that jack-stand support under the front assembly while it was pulled further forward was an added aid. My extenders were simple threaded rod I already had, were quite soft, and were bending under the cantilevered load.