Timing Belt Half A Tooth Off

[Denio24]

Finally got to my timing belt today, and with the crank pulley perfectly centered on the crank sprocket all aligned with the factory timing cover marking by the dampener pulley, looking at the exhaust camshaft it is off half a tooth. Is this due to the belt stretching? Should I leave it as is, replace the belt, and see where the timing stands?

[AudiTechS4]

well there is a little play in the crank pully. do you have timing faults ?

[Denio24]

nope... i guess this is really a non issue since my powerband is good in the low and high end. Just wondering why the factory marks don't match up exactly....

[allstock]

You can hook up your vcds and do some running logs to see if your ignition is advanced/retarded. You can use vag scope as well.

[mscottdemarco]

Impossible. Your timing is fine. I've spent an entire day moving crank 2 or 3 turns to the right, camshaft 1 or 2 tooth to the left. It doesnt work in fractions, that one tooth gets passed right along to the next sprocket. Mine is off "half a tooth" too. This has to do with the tensioner. If you have a code telling you about timing or are getting a -12 at any rpm, it is off one tooth. No code or retard, no problem. I think the only way you could really fix what you are looking at would be to lock them both in place where they need to be and take the slack straight to the tensioner. Man i wouldnt worry about it.

[johnruan]

https://youtu.be/RlrX3L_ACW0

I saw this video did you did what he does set one tooth back b4 tighten the tensioner

[Denio24]

https://youtu.be/RlrX3L_ACW0

I saw this video did you did what he does set one tooth back b4 tighten the tensioner

Honestly i aligned the marks exactly how they appear with the covers, installed the belt tight on the water pump side, the part where there is the tensioner there was some slack. I don't think it matters if you have it loose on the water pump side or the timing belt tensioner side, because in the end the tensioner evens things out. I installed the new belt yesterday and it looks dead on now on the cam marks. This is most definitely due to the belt stretching over time. Also, why over complicate things like in the video setting the crank timing back one tooth...haha. Up next my clutch & flywheel when i get some time in the winter. Thanks everyone for the replies.

[diagnosticator]

Timing belts do not stretch. They are made with glass fiber tension cords that prevent stretching. If the timing belt was able to stretch, the engine timing could not be maintained.

Timing belts are called "Synchronous belts," because they maintain a fixed timing relationship between the drive and driven sprockets, the same way gears do.

[mcfaroff]

The suggestion to set the crank pulley back one tooth is absolutely spot on!