Hi, changing my cam belt amongst other things 2m on my Mk2 1.3.

couple of things vary from the MK3 aparently.. The timing sprockets have key-ways in them with woodruff keys (haynes says) that right?.. little bit worried about dropping the keys I guess.

Also how does it work with the MK2 with regards to the crank pulley? I remember last time I did a MK3 there was a plastic cover in the way, which many people just cut and tape up afterwards.. whats the best way of doing it? I guess there is a tutorial somewhere but I'm damned If I can find it.

you take off the cambelt cover(if its metal there is three bolts i think) using a socket turn the engine until the timing marks are aligned pull the old belt off and carefully slip the new one on.

why does haynes ask me to take the crank sprocket off then?

not a clue :/ did the cambelt on my old mk2 that way.

seemed to remember the haynes for my mk3 tells u to do a lot of strange things.

you dont disturb any woodruff keys

4 bolts to remove the outer bottom pulley , then you can take off the plastic part

great thanks. So I wont really need to do the whole locking the crankshaft thing?

Also I'm pretty sure I'm still on my first change of G11. Whats up with the (VW) manual and insisting that you dont change it? It says its in there 'for life'. Now I'm guessing 20 years counts as a life hehe, so as I'm giving her a second will I not want to change it stil? I'm just worried about additives eating away at my H.G... I have halfrauds blue (it says suitable for cars older than 97 or something). I was told by the surprisingly knowledgable halfrauds worker that blue works best with ally heads.

The most important bit is making sure neither the crank nor cam moves while you've got the belt off. Just make sure the timing is perfect before you tension the belt and start engine. Check then double check!

I think you'll need to remove the alternator pulley to be able to get the new belt over. Can't remember that well though.

Whip out your spark plugs to make turning the engine a bit easier. Could check water pump while you're there too.

Edited 6 August, 201115 yr by Polo Will

turn the engine over at least 2 full turns with a spanner then check ...check again then start it up

ok thanks. The pulley wont come off... its hard up against the engine bay...

Also make sure you clean the allen bolts on the bottom alt pulley before you try loosening them. Hammer in the allen key or allen socket as well. They will be tight.

When I did mine, (on a 1300 mk2) I ended up rounding one of the socket heads, so I broke the lower part of the cambelt cover off. Thats your last option.

I've got them all off.. I cant get the pulley out though! argh. The 19mm bolt that holds the sprocket on is in the way! anyone know what to do? Haynes recommends you remove it by locking the crankshaft with a lever inserted into the starter ring gear.. how? I'm worried I've lost timing aswell. I know the timing mark is on the pulley.. is there only one way it bolts back on? damn I dont remember it being this hard..

You've undone the 4 allen bolts? I though the pulley would just come off then? I didn't get that far with mine as you know.

The starter ring gear is on the flywheel. But you just need to pull the pulley off the crankshaft sprocket so don't go undoing that 19mm bolt.

It's probably fused on, try and get some plusgas or wd40 down there to loosen it up, maybe a gentle tap with a mallet is in order.

nope the pulley wont come off. It was jammed on to a certain extent, but its come loose and its just obstructed by the 19mm bolt/ engine bay. I was thinking about levering the engine away from the bay a bit, but I dont want to scuff the paintwork!

Ah, have you taken off the front engine mount (above the alternator)?

That will mean you can lower the engine. You'll need to rest it on a block of wood on a jack though.

Just be careful as you don't want to damage the sump. Be very careful and lower it gently, and just enough to get the pulley off.

OK. So does the pulley have only one way of going on.. no locating dowel or anything? cos otherwise I will need to positively identify that the engine is still at TDC as I cant be 200% sure.. probs do it the old fashioned way and remove the sump as I need to change the oil (though ideally I would like not to do that as I want to flush the old oil through with engine flush).

I don't know about removing the pulley - I didn't manage to take mine off I'm afraid.

I think you can check if the engine is at TDC by removing the first spark plug and feeling when the piston reaches the top, but google this first.

edit.. http://www.wikihow.com/Find-Your-Engine...ad-Center-(TDC)

Edited 6 August, 201115 yr by runforrestrun

yeh thats what I heared. I've done this twice before.. dunno why everythings being so difficult today.. weather is pants :(

alternator is not coming off so I cant undo the engine mount.

I know there are loads of people on here who've done it a million times. anyone know the best way... seems like each way involves some sort of risk or damage. Cut the cover/lower the engine/ sitck a lever in the flywheel. what is the best way? surely there is a reason why I cant get this stupid pulley off cos haynes says nothing about lowering the engine etc.

silly idea to cut off the plastics

the front mount needs to be undone , then take the weight of the engine and lower it so the pully comes out

the pully only fits one way...

phew! so I haven't lost timing then. I was worrying one could erroneously put the pulley on in one of 4 positions hence 4 bolts. I guess the bolts arent quite aligned in a perfect square, so it can only be put one way.. am I right?

Ok so I have to lower the engine, that brings me on to the alternator. There is one of the three engine mounting bolts which is obstructed by the alternator, so I need to get it off. The alternator is stuck on around the pivot bolt.. is it just a case of tapping it off with a drift? I'm worried I'm going to break the mountings through which the pivot bolt goes...

silly idea to cut off the plastics

the front mount needs to be undone , then take the weight of the engine and lower it so the pully comes out

the pully only fits one way...

can I just check by pulley we mean the one that turns the alternator vee-belt NOT the cambelt sprocket.. just double checking.

yes the one on the engine that drives the alternator

4 allen head bolts ...then lower or force the engine towards the passenger side and tap it off , it might need a bit of hammering to get it off

once off theres 1 or 2 bolts that hold the plastic cover on