Timing belt question

[Bill Jenkins]

Okay firstly I hope I'm posting in the right section, second I'm sure there are hundreds of threads with questions and answers in regards to the timing belt but mine is a bit more specific. I've been using edge motors timing belt DIY video for the past couple of days and everything been going well, I've used his videos in the past and they always seem like they know what they're doing. I decided I would follow his timing belt video word for word as when I haven't in the past things seem to go wrong, well when I got to the tensioner he said move the crank shaft back exactly one tooth as when you tighten the tensioner it will pull it back into place. (Would love to link the video with timestamp but I'm on my phone.) So I did exactly that and when I tightened up the tensioner.... nothing, the crankshaft gear didn't move at all so I had to take the timing belt back off and move it very carefully back to position... and all this has me a little worried. Did I do something wrong? He obviously didn't fake the crankshaft moving in the video so I feel it must be something I did, but I don't know what I could have possibly done that would cause it not to replicate what his did in the video. Also moving the crankshaft gear back has me worried I messed something up and now the timing isn't right, any help/suggestions are appreciated, thanks!

[mtroxel]

when I got to the tensioner he said move the crank shaft back exactly one tooth as when you tighten the tensioner it will pull it back into place. (Would love to link the video with timestamp but I'm on my phone.)

Found it, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RlrX3L_ACW0 at time stamp 33:40. I understand what the guy is talking about. I've done timing belts on quite a few cars, and on all Audi's I've owned. At the end of the day, the marks need to be lined up when the tensioner is set. How you get there is not important. But I've seen some systems (Subaru DOHC flat 4 comes to mind) where I've had to turn a sprocket or pulley off the mark so that the belt would pull it back when the tension was on. That's just improvising to get to the point that all marks are lined up. That's the goal. How you get there is not that important.

[aluthman]

Put it on snd tighten it. Spin it two full revolutions by hand and the marks shouldline up again. If they don't, you're off and you need to try again.

[HereInOhio]

At the end of the day, the marks need to be lined up when the tensioner is set. How you get there is not important.

For the most part this is correct and with Audis tends to be okay. Not so much for others, mainly cars with varialble valve timing (eg Volvos) where the cam sprocket can actually rotate while secured to the cam. Those cars you have to be very specific how you move to the marks, usually rotating the engine two revolutions and align the marks then go a half rotation past and then go backwards the half turn to align the marks again. This takes the tension off the vvt cam sprocket and assures when you line up the marks later the cam lobes ARE actually where the cam lobes WERE.

Ask me how I know....I don't want anyone else to be doing three timing belt jobs (on the same car).


Again, Audi's probably fine but be careful on other cars. I probably would've tensioned it then move it back a tooth and check the alignment but like mtroxel said it's six in one hand half dozen in the other in this case.

[oVeRdOsE]

^
This , lines need to be aligned.

You have to skip 1 or 2 tooths when you put the timing belt back on.
When you tight the tensionner, the lines will align. You can need few tries before getting it right.

have you remove the sparkplugs?

[DC5]

https://youtu.be/cTDOhyi9SkA

Check out this one ^^^ I'm getting ready to do mine too & watched the one from Edge Motor...This one from A1 is much clearer ;)

[S4NIK8]

Line up pulleys, mark old belt and pulleys, transfer paint marks to new belt and install. Verify timing marks line up and you're done.

[mtroxel]

Line up pulleys, mark old belt and pulleys, transfer paint marks to new belt and install. Verify timing marks line up and you're done.

I'm sorry. This is not good. Never, ever assume the last belt was timed right. Use the Audi marks. Bentley (who gets their instructions from Audi) will never tell you to rely on the last t-belt job.

[aluthman]

I'm sorry. This is not good. Never, ever assume the last belt was timed right. Use the Audi marks. Bentley (who gets their instructions from Audi) will never tell you to rely on the last t-belt job.

You can do it that way, but you still need to rotate the engine a few revolutions by hand and verify that the marks line up.

[S4NIK8]

I'm sorry. This is not good. Never, ever assume the last belt was timed right. Use the Audi marks. Bentley (who gets their instructions from Audi) will never tell you to rely on the last t-belt job.

If you're not getting timing codes there is zero issue doing it this way and you are still using the timing marks to verify your work. But hey I've only done about 60 timing belts on the 2.0t so what do I know.

[mscottdemarco]

+1 for making the marks on the belt. It can always help you out. You dont have to use them, but once the old belt is removed you lose the opportunity. I didn't make the marks when I did mine. Mine is even a "1/2 tooth off", I spent a few days trying to line it all up exactly, then figured f*ck it, it runs fine. Also +1 for pulling the spark plugs, its minimal work and will greatly improve the ease of turning those pulleys.

[Forge04]

Put it on snd tighten it. Spin it two full revolutions by hand and the marks shouldline up again. If they don't, you're off and you need to try again.

My buddy and I fought this for like 30 minutes. Pow, heard "turn it two revolutions" and I about lost a friend I was so mad lol