Broken timing belt head question

[samuraitd]

I found a 2003 tdi for super cheap, really nice car, but the timing belt broke and you know the riff raff. My question is, can I get away with just a rebuilt head? Or can a dropped valve destroy cylinders and valves too? Need to know asap so I can jump on this car if I can just do a head.

 

[gquenstedt]

You could remove the cam and then see if the engine will rotate freely.

Usually the valves don't break the first time the timing belt breaks. They break when the timing belt breaks and someone puts a new belt on and keeps driving without pulling the head.

 

[Franko6]

It's always the same question. It is just a TB or what else is wrong? It's best to give yourself a margin of error in case something else is broken or worn out and not mentioned.

Oftentimes, cam, lifters, guides and a few valves and you are good to go. However, there are enough instances that a highway-speed timing belt break will damage rods and pistons. Always check piston projection. If the pistons are within .004" of each other, you can probably put it together and it's ok. Of course, you can't know about injectors, clutch, or auto; things like that unless it runs.

If the owner will allow you to remove the cam, the picture will be much more clear. The more shattered the lifters, the more you'll be paying to repair.

Good luck.

Anything from a bad crank, bent rods, clutch or flywheel... My best advice is buy it as it you are going to scrap it. Then you won't be hurt if something turns up that is a major fault.

 

[94x]

Without removing the head it's only a guess... Valves can break pistons, score cylinder walls, bend con rods, etc. It's a gamble, that's why it is "super cheap".

 

[AndyBees]

An '03 TDI with the ALH engine (with broken TB), that's really nice (we assume clean inside, virtually no dents, rust, etc.), and super cheap .... you better jump on it!

Keep in mind what Franko6 said......... he's the guru when it comes to TDI head work!

I've seen 'em pretty much the same as you described that only needed a rebuilt or new head......and still on the road today!

 

[jettawreck]

An '03 TDI with the ALH engine (with broken TB), that's really nice (we assume clean inside, virtually no dents, rust, etc.), and super cheap .... you better jump on it!

Keep in mind what Franko6 said......... he's the guru when it comes to TDI head work!

I've seen 'em pretty much the same as you described that only needed a rebuilt or new head......and still on the road today!

X2, and pay attention to Franko6's advice. He's the head guru.
I myself, bought my '03 in this condition, although the head was off already so an inspection was easy.
If the '03 TDI is a manual tranny and the price is right, I'ld buy it. If its an auto, I'ld steer clear, unless it's almost free and you have need of some parts.

 

[AutomotiveNoob]

I would second all the advice given thus far. I just recently had mine rebuilt after breaking a timing belt, and I tell you what, Frank is your guy. I sent him my head, and its been running great for 3000 miles plus now. Provided the bottom end isn't damaged and no valves dropped, destroying the cylinders...I would guesstimate $1000-1500 in parts/the rebuild. Frank acts as a one stop shop, and can send you a kit with all the rebuild parts you need. If the current owner is willing, pop the cam out and see how it turns over by hand. Maybe ask how fast they were going/engine load when it broke. Mine went pulling into a gas station, and I didn't touch the bottom end or cylinders.

Anyway, just my $.02. Good luck!

Kidron

 

[Lightflyer1]

I would second all the advice given thus far. I just recently had mine rebuilt after breaking a timing belt, and I tell you what, Frank is your guy. I sent him my head, and its been running great for 3000 miles plus now. Provided the bottom end isn't damaged and no valves dropped, destroying the cylinders...I would guesstimate $1000-1500 in parts/the rebuild. Frank acts as a one stop shop, and can send you a kit with all the rebuild parts you need. If the current owner is willing, pop the cam out and see how it turns over by hand. Maybe ask how fast they were going/engine load when it broke. Mine went pulling into a gas station, and I didn't touch the bottom end or cylinders.

Anyway, just my $.02. Good luck!

Kidron

Who in their right mind is going to let someone they don't know "just pop the cam out"? When I have a car for sale they can look at it, check the fluid dip sticks and test drive it with me. No one disassembles anything till cash is in my hand and the title is signed over. Then they can disassemble somewhere else to their hearts content.

 

[oilhammer]

I bought my Golf pretooefed like that, mainly because the previous owner couldn't seem to come to grips with the fact that we could not give him a price, to the penny, on what it was to fix the car until I pulled the head off. And his wallet was starting to squeak when I gave him a "worst case" scenario... so I bought the car.

From my experience, about 1 in 20 ALH timing belt mishaps results in lower end damage. My Golf, of course, was that 1 . Bent rods, shattered pistons, broken valves, MANGLED head.

I was still able to fix it. So really, if the price is right, go for it. Even if you have to replace the whole engine, you could still come out ahead. I did. I'm driving a $20k car that gets better fuel economy than a brand new $25k car and I only have about $5k in it, with some upgrades.

 

[AndyBees]

You do have to pull the cam to see lifter damage. Of course, the valve cover will have to be removed........ pretty straight forward.

The super cheap price and clean as you said, are more than enough to move on this rare find.

Heck ....... tell me the price and location in a PM. I might just head for Nebraska. .

 

[samuraitd]

I guess I didn't really pay much attention, it is an auto.

 

[MedicPatriot]

The vehicle I'm used to usually never causes valve damage on TB break. The rockers collapse as a weak point to save the valves. I'm assuming a TDI is much different though.

 

[belome]

The vehicle I'm used to usually never causes valve damage on TB break. The rockers collapse as a weak point to save the valves. I'm assuming a TDI is much different though.

The TDI almost always damages valves on a TB break. Granted lots of people think they lucked out and put a belt on it only to have a valve drop and destroy the entire block in 5k miles or so.

 

[jettawreck]

I guess I didn't really pay much attention, it is an auto.

That's too bad. Would make a real big difference to me. It would have to be super cheap to make it worthwhile when you consider the tranny could die after the engine repair expense, in which case it would be a lot more expensive than it's probably worth. At least that's my .02.

 

[MonsterTDI09]

The vehicle I'm used to usually never causes valve damage on TB break. The rockers collapse as a weak point to save the valves. I'm assuming a TDI is much different though.

The TDI is interference engine. That's why don't you cut no corners on a TB job