TB job outside of car, other stupid questions

NervGS

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 30, 2008
Location
Bay area, CA
TDI
Golf 3-door, base 5 sp.
Hi all,

After a catastrophic failure with my 2nd engine (runaway turbo - long story), I am in a rush to get this thing back on the road as I have things I need to take care of out of town that have been put off for weeks now......

I have an '01 manual. I have a lead on a AHF automatic block with basically everything on it to ensure a straight swap from the ALH - I'm guessing that will workout 100%, correct?

With this AHF block, I am planning on doing a timing belt swap for the first time, starting this weekend. How hard is it with the engine outside of the car and on the ground or on a stand? Is it possible to do it without the proper TB tools? I ask because I am not sure I can get the tools in this short amount of time, and will have to work with what I have (which is a good amount).

When the physical job of the swap is completed and everything is buttoned up, and this is going to sound really dumb, but how important is it to get VCDS needed to get it at least running to get 10 miles home? Could there be a possibility of leaning the engine out and destroying it?

I might have some other dumb questions since this is my first time.

Thanks,

-glenn
 

pkhoury

That guy with the goats
Joined
Nov 30, 2010
Location
Medina, TX
TDI
2013 JSW, 2 x 2002 Golf, 1995 F450 7.3L
I recently sold the ALH from my wrecked 2003 Golf to someone on ebay (that I think is also in this group, or on the FB group anyways). That said, I did have the proper tools, but just evaluating how things would be with the engine sitting on top of a pallet... You're really gonna want those tools - whatever that long tool is called for advancing the camshaft, the sprocket buster, and the tool that locks the cam in place. You could technically get away with not using the pin to lock the injection pump, but I'd still use it anyways. I found that when everything was dead on set to TDC, I still had to slightly advance my IP, otherwise the IP was too retarded to get the engine started.

As long as you get everything perfectly in time, you don't really need VCDS. VCDS is primarily to check timing of your IP. Of course, the car could run like $hit if you have it too retarded or too advanced, or not run at all.

The other hard part is the crankshaft. I'm told there's a timing mark on the harmonic balancer, but I partially figured that one out. There's a timing mark on the flywheel, and that makes the most sense, when finding where you set the crank to TDC. And I almost forgot - you need the tool to set your TB tensioner too, in addition to a 13mm combo wrench.

In theory, you could probably wing it without the proper tools, but I wouldn't chance it and risk f**king something up. I guess I was technically chancing it when I drove my recently acquired 2002 Golf from Calabassas in April, but I really didn't want to spend all day doing a TB in my dad's driveway in So Cal (and risk forgetting some of my TB tools).
 

Nuje

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Feb 11, 2005
Location
Island near Vancouver
TDI
2002 Golf 6MT; 2015 Sportwagen 6MT; 2016 A3 e-tron 6DSG
Getting the tools: You might not get ALL the "perfect" tools, but there are like $40 kits on Amazon (typically next day delivery available) that will have cam lock and injection pin lock which will make your life much easier.

TB change on the stand: If you can get engine to TDC (only sure-fire way is with transmission attached to view flywheel mark through viewing port on bell housing), then it's pretty easy, with those tools. Definitely have something to counterhold the cam sprocket for removal and tightening - anything with a leverage point and two strong "pins" would work (although you'd have to careful not to have the pins not slip out of the sprocket arms).
 

pkhoury

That guy with the goats
Joined
Nov 30, 2010
Location
Medina, TX
TDI
2013 JSW, 2 x 2002 Golf, 1995 F450 7.3L
Don't forget @Nuje about a sprocket buster. I'm sure you *might* be able to slip on the belt without taking that sprocket off, but what a pain in the ass!
 

Zak99b5

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2021
Location
Albany NY
TDI
2003 Jetta TDI
A smaller 3-arm puller will take the sprocket right off the end of the camshaft.
 

Nuje

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Feb 11, 2005
Location
Island near Vancouver
TDI
2002 Golf 6MT; 2015 Sportwagen 6MT; 2016 A3 e-tron 6DSG
The manual actually shows using a hammer / drift to give the camshaft sprocket a whack from the transmission side of the sprocket. So figured that’s be easy to get together.
 

NervGS

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 30, 2008
Location
Bay area, CA
TDI
Golf 3-door, base 5 sp.
Ahh, thanks everyone!

I actually decided to really slow down on this as rushing this would only lead to more problems..... I picked up a cheap Prius to get me around, towed the VW back to my place, and I will working on it (I previously was thinking of having the shop do the engine swap, but there are waaaaaaay too many things I need to look into now), everything from the belt job to the engine swap, and whatever other things that can be done while the engine is out....

Since I have the time now, I'll be renting the proper tools, and will be buying a VCDS cable to check the timing.

I briefly read something a while back about a power steering line that is very difficult to replace while the engine is in, and is super simple if it is out - is there any truth to that? Any other lines/parts/components that can benefit being replaced while the engine is out?

pkhoury: you mentioned Calabasas, and I am not far from there at all. I used to actually ride my road bike through town when commuting to and from work that was in the next town over.

Nuje: thanks for the tip on the flywheel and TDC, I was completely unaware it had to be attached.

Thanks!!!

-glenn
 

pkhoury

That guy with the goats
Joined
Nov 30, 2010
Location
Medina, TX
TDI
2013 JSW, 2 x 2002 Golf, 1995 F450 7.3L
Hey Glenn... I actually worked in Calabasas at an IT gig 20 years ago, right off US-101. In fact, I think this shady Audi dealership is also off US-101. They did a hard inquiry on my credit report, under the BS guise of "to protect against fraud/money laundering, etc", even though I bought my car in cash.

And I don't think the power steering line is difficult to replace. That power steering fluid is some nasty stuff and pretty slippery, but I don't think you'll have any problems otherwise.
 

NervGS

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 30, 2008
Location
Bay area, CA
TDI
Golf 3-door, base 5 sp.

pkhoury

That guy with the goats
Joined
Nov 30, 2010
Location
Medina, TX
TDI
2013 JSW, 2 x 2002 Golf, 1995 F450 7.3L
He sounds as crooked as that Audi dealership, so I hope he gets some time in Club Fed.
 
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