Timing Belt Tensioner???

**Miccheck02** · 12-11-2008 01:43 PM

i have tried searching and can't find out what to look for or how to tell if my timing belt tensioner had failed or if the water pump failed? The reason i want to know is so i know if i should bring it to audi and it is def the tensioner. The car turned off and wont start, and the timing belt is still intact but a little loose

**b5v6** · 12-11-2008 01:58 PM

what year, how many miles? my '99 had about 75K on it and the timing belt was loose enough to skip a tooth using my hand with nothing other than the timing belt cover removed. what is your definition of a little loose? if your tensioner failed or your water pump caused too much resistance for the timing belt causing enough skipage for the car not to start you may be able to tell. my suggestion is to put the lock carrier in the service position and turn the crank with the bolt and the crank pulley. if you have head damage you will likely feel the "interference" during this procedure.

**Miccheck02** · 12-11-2008 02:27 PM

its a 01 1.8 79k im pretty good with working on it i would just need a little help on specifics... would you be able to tell me how to do that i would love to check to see if my motor is ok??

**b5v6** · 12-11-2008 04:14 PM

this will get the lock carrier into the service position.
http://www.audiworld.com/tech/eng35.shtml

once there i think it will require a 24mm 12 point socket to fit on the crank pulley bolt. use a breaker bar for leverage and turn it clockwise (you don't want to loosen it, just trying to simulate the engine turning). if the timing is off and it's hitting valves you should be able to feel/hear the resistance. good luck.

**quattro16** · 12-11-2008 05:21 PM

^^^ All 1.8ts have a 19mm crank bolt. And turn it clockwise.

**b5v6** · 12-12-2008 08:38 AM

Originally Posted by quattro16

^^^ All 1.8ts have a 19mm crank bolt. And turn it clockwise.

lol, thanks....just shows recalling things from memory regarding a task completed almost a year ago isn't accurate. just be sure you have a 12 point 19mm.

**dwi_gti** · 12-12-2008 01:05 PM

um loose timeing belts = no good. do a compresion test, you probly bent vavles. which is why it wont start.

**Miccheck02** · 12-12-2008 03:18 PM

ok i think i see something that shouldnt be. below the cam on the tensioner pulley i just see a washer on it with no bolt, this is on the tensioner pulley, isnt there supose to be a bolt on there??

**InTTruder** · 12-12-2008 05:39 PM

Bad juju. The tensioner is what actually fails most times. You've at least found your self in need of a completely rebuilt head. Audi had to install an ENTIRE motor in my TTQC (US$6K) when a tech failed to install a new tensioner. WHen I disengaged the cruise control 200m later, there was this awful silence.

Why did you not change the belt, tensioner, and water pump at 70K?