cambelt

[jond]

the car is a 1988 gt 8v carb i want to change the cambelt is it a straight forward job or should i get a garage to sort it if it breaks will it damage the engine cheers

[ianaudia4]

If you are unsure what you are doing then don't!
An old skool VW mechanic should be able to change a cambelt (and tensioner!) in an hour or less. Fit a decent make like Conti (made by Continental).
Where are you based as there may be someone on here that could recommend a decent garage in your area.

[Risocco]

It is easy-ish if you follow the information in your haynes. But as Ian says if you are unsure, then best left to a mechanic.

These VW engines are classed as valve safe, I believe, but my mate still had valve damage when his broke on an 8v MK2 Golf, but I've read of others on tinternets where no damage happened. Luck of the draw I guess.

[ianaudia4]

I had a cambelt snap in a Jetta 1.6 Gli back in the 80's, stuck on the hard shoulder on a German autobahn for hours waiting for recovery the 400km back to camp!
It had bent the valves and cost a fortune to get fixed.

For the cost of the belt, tensioner and someone who knows what they are doing.............!

[Nate]

It is easy-ish if you follow the information in your haynes. But as Ian says if you are unsure, then best left to a mechanic.

These VW engines are classed as valve safe, I believe, but my mate still had valve damage when his broke on an 8v MK2 Golf, but I've read of others on tinternets where no damage happened. Luck of the draw I guess.

i think autodata lists them as safe, but they are very close. if the head has been skimmed at any point, they stop being safe

[bengould]

Hi,

Autodata lists it as not safe...



Having said that it is not a particularly hard job to do, Just take your time and double check everything, Twice.

Ben

[klittle]

Yup, agree with all the above, if not sure then get garage to do it. It's a lot easier with the proper cam tensioner tool which most decent vw old school garages will have.

1.6 is non-interference, 1.8 is, make a mistake by a couple of teeth and kiss goodbye to your engine.

[james butler]

I have done the timing belt on the rocko many times and its easy! Hardest bit is getting the water pump bolts out without the whole thing spinning. But as long as u follow the instructions in the Haynes manual u won't go wrong.
Where abouts are you? I can give u a hand if you are near south Birmingham.

[mark1gls]

It's a lot easier with the proper cam tensioner tool which most decent vw old school garages will have.

I use circlip pliers, the 90 degree bent ones fit just right in the 2 holes in the tensioner.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/4-PIECE-COMBI ... 231cc873bc
To stop the water pump spining leave the fan/alternator belt on and the car in 1st gear, if the bolts are really stubon this won't work you will need something like an oil filter wrench, the one with the chain on to hold the water pump. Always worth putting some copper grease on the bolts when putting it back together. Leaving the car in gear also helps with removing the bolts on the crankshaft, only losen these at the begining.
The hardest thing about changing the cam belt is making sure the intermediate shaft does not spin (does this really easilly). Also it can be a bit of trial and error to get the tension right, to tight and it sounds like a supercharger is fitted to the car!
As said before, check and check again the marks all line up and make sure you use the right timing mark on the camshaft, there is one on either side.

I found either you put the belt on 1st time and every thing lines up no problem or your a tooth out and spend the next 20/30 mins trying to get it right!
If you are a tooth out you will notice it when driving, the car might start but will feel lacking in power as the timing will be out.