Would you change the timing belt...NEED PRO'S ADVICE ON THIS!!!

[zbrock06]

I was in the process of doing the timing belt and got to the point to see it and it looks new. Would you replace it? I have all the parts and i almost want to tell myself to just change it but why change it when everything looks so new? There is no cracks or anything in the belt and it looks amazingly good. My car has 78k miles and i have had the car since 63k miles. I want to sell it also, so that is going into my decision. Here are some photos. How does the water pump look? I can't really tell but does it look fairly new to the people that have changed theirs? Also if i do replace it how do you get the pulley off? I removed the 4 bolts but do you have to take the 19mm bolt off to get the pulley off, if so how do you remove that bolt?

thanks in advance to everyone!!

[zbrock06]

And the serpentine belt looked just as nice before it came out which makes me think it was done recently.

[Capt. Obvious]

It does appear to be in really good condition, but that's a lot of work to do for nothing. The timing belt is only like what, $35? I'd just change it while I was in there. It's good peace of mind. If you're really trying to save money, leave the water pump and tensioner pulley alone and just do the belt and tensioner.

[A4 TSCHUSS]

the crank pulley just pops off after the 4 allen bolts are undone. I dont understand if you already have it apart and already have the parts why you wouldnt change it .

[zbrock06]

i just dont see the point of replacing something that doesn't need it but it is a good piece of mind, my pulley is not moving was it hard for anyone to take it off?

[zbrock06]

It does appear to be in really good condition, but that's a lot of work to do for nothing. The timing belt is only like what, $35? I'd just change it while I was in there. It's good peace of mind. If you're really trying to save money, leave the water pump and tensioner pulley alone and just do the belt and tensioner.

i thought the water pump causes most belts to break? Am i wrong?

[J-jizzle]

Timing Belt looks better than mine did when I replaced mine at 72k. Can't see the water pump very good from the pics.

Someone might be able to confirm this for me. But would having a metal impeller on the water pump let you know if it has been changed? Cause I know mine was plastic before I changed it.

[passatkid]

I had trouble getting my crank pulley off also.

[afozzie40]

I was told before I did mine that the belt would probably look fine, but it should be replaced regardless because they tend to fail all of a sudden without warning or even signs of wear. So I would just swap it out, you have done the hardest part so just swap it out, it will also be easier to sell if you can say its been done. also you can know if it has been done by looking at the water pump, stock is plastic impeller new is metal. hope this helps

[Turb_Oh_A4]

when i bought my car, i replaced the valve cover gasket... when i pulled the valve cover off, it was BRAND NEW! so then i start reading about the timing belt, and i took that job on myself at a buddies house, we took everything off and i was like WTF... BRAND NEW everything, but i did have the car apart and all the parts i couldnt just send them back or else id feel like an ass... so i replaced all mine for the piece of mind, and i know exactly when it was changed so now i have no reason to worry for miles to come! just do it bud.

on your roller for the tensioner, i dont see paint marks, so i doubt that its the original one... I'd bet 10 bucks you have a metal impeller water pump already installed

[Turb_Oh_A4]

I had trouble getting my crank pulley off also.

Yea, what the hell is up with the morons that put them on? i was helping a friend do a timing belt swap on his passat and those bitches were on there. it started to round 2 one was alright then all of a sudden we stripped the last one!!! so we put the car back together, and have to get a few more tools to tackle it now.

[J-jizzle]

My crank pulley came off smoothly. I used an allen key with vice grips attached for added leverage.

[lookaught]

I had to use a pulley puller to get the "crank pulley" off my car. 80,000 miles in the northeast... the rust had it stuck! Others have used a block of wood (for protection) and a BFH to jar it loose. The gear puller worked perfectly in about 15 seconds.


And just change the damn TB and pump. That's a huge selling point when you do sell the car and you're done all the hard work already!

[zbrock06]

thanks for all the help guys, i will just change it. I just hope i can get the pulley off now, i will try a pulley puller.

[romell]

just change it.. better to be safe than sorry.

[05Audi1.8T]

is there any real way to tell if the timing belt has been done on the car, i bought my car with 80,000 and have 82 on it now. so im not real sure if its been done or not. any way to tell?

[VAG_4ever]

Someone might be able to confirm this for me. But would having a metal impeller on the water pump let you know if it has been changed? Cause I know mine was plastic before I changed it.

depends.. stock ones are plastic, however, dealerships and some shops will use oem parts and put another plastic one in..

[Mark]

you've done the work . . . change all of it out.