2002 2.5 tdi Can Belt changed issue - Advice needed please

**f2raf** · 25-06-2011,02:11 PM

I shopped around for a timing belt change as my car reached 173,000 miles, the last timing belt was done by audi at 90,000 miles, so I thought I better get this done. I receieved a comptitive quote from my local at £500 for belt, kit, & Watrepump, and £50 cheaper from a garage close to work for the same job. As i didnt have to take time of work i decided to use garage close to work. Garage phoned me during the change and asked if i wanted the serpentine & aircon belt changing at the same time, sots £60 & £18 additionally, I said only if you feel necessary do it, Final bill was £635 as two additional idlers needed replacing. Collected car after work, didnt feel right, vibrations whilst standing & driving, phoned garage, they said, should be right we drove it, no probs, but bring it in. That evening, got home, tried to start car later that evening, cut out 3 times. Thankfully next morning RAC recovered the car back to the garage. They spent the day on it and confirmed the didnt change the diesel pump tensioner and that had knocked all the other timing out, they said they replaced it and they did not charge me anything extra. I took it for a spin, went back and explained its much better but i still feel there is a ever so slight intermittent vibration, but the rev counter does not move. He said its been thoroughly checked and its a 4 hour job to recheck. I explained I'm not convinced its right but I'll see how it goes over the next few days and come back if probs, they said no probs. Now ive asked my brother and friend to drive who said its fine. However as ive owned the car for 3 years, you just know how your car should feel. I have pinpopinted the issue to when just stepping on the accelarator there is a pull and when taking your foot of it from £40 mph or 50 mph there is a slight sequence of judders as it brings the speed down, again this is just a sensation not a huge vibration. Its something new and something Im certain was never there before. On the plus side the car is more responsive and Im pleased about that, they did use an SKF kit. My question is if the diesel pump tensioner they forgot bout is an additional item or part of the original kit, why they didnt charge me for it, beacsue they messed up the original job? and could that have caused the issues im facing now, after all i live 25 motorway miles away, which were driven after the first job. Any Advice would be appreciated.

**Crasher** · 25-06-2011,07:21 PM

I am sorry but this is what can happen when you shop purely on price not quality. If you had asked for a genuine VAG timing belt kit to be fitted, this comes with both belts and all timing belt tensioners. A failed pump belt can drop bits into the main belt and cause it to jump with serious consequences. I imagine if it was pegged and plated up it would be out of time as well. You get what you pay for.

**snapdragon** · 25-06-2011,07:23 PM

The fuel pump belt tensioner would not affect anything else as far as I can imagine, the fuel pump is driven by s small belt from the passenger side camshaft.
The most common problems would be the cams being out of timing, or the injection timing incorrect.
It is quite a job to check the camshaft timing, and even harder to reset, but easy to check and adjust the injection timing.
As the old belt stretches, everything goes out of timing, maybe yours has been reset back to baseline and so has changed subtle characteristics.

**f2raf** · 26-06-2011,05:08 PM

I shoped around but at good reputable garages, not dodgy garages, thanks for the advice all the same

**f2raf** · 26-06-2011,05:13 PM

I think it is a characteristic issue but one I'm uncertain about. When I first had the car 30 months ago, it was very responsive off the mark and over time became a little flat off the mark. However its the slight sensation of vibration that worries me a little, I took the engine cover off and watched the engine closely with the engine running,there was a vibrartion, i.e movement very slight after 10 seconds or so, i guess thats the vibe im feeling. Is it worth asking them to have another look at it, but as theyve had 2 go's now I'm not convinced they can sort it.

**Crasher** · 26-06-2011,10:00 PM

You need the basic cam timing checking which is not too arduous if you have the crank locking pin and the cam locking plates, if this is OK then the COI can be set accurately using a diagnostic computer.

**f2raf** · 02-08-2011,03:23 PM

sorry for the delay in reply, i was away. The car has been driving fine for last month since the belt was replaced but still get this vibrating, i dont know how to check the basic cam timing, where can i get this checked from cost efficiently or should i take it back to garage who replaced belt, im in north west area

**Crasher** · 02-08-2011,05:25 PM

The basic timing requires the vac pump tp be taken off, the right hand boost pipe and cam plug and then the block pin can be fitted and the cam lock plates, if they will fit. If not the front of the car will have to come off and the cam pulleys be released from the cams.

**f2raf** · 02-08-2011,05:38 PM

Originally Posted by Crasher

The basic timing requires the vac pump tp be taken off, the right hand boost pipe and cam plug and then the block pin can be fitted and the cam lock plates, if they will fit. If not the front of the car will have to come off and the cam pulleys be released from the cams.

Is there a youtube video, as i havent got a clue what any of those thinsg are and even how to check the timing and what to look for when i remove the parts.

**Crasher** · 02-08-2011,10:33 PM

I have no idea about You Tube videos but I have one to do tomorrow so I will take some pictures. I started it two weeks ago to solve a water leak which turned out to be the water pipe across the front. Unfortunately when I went to order it there was no UK stock and it only turned up today.

This is what the cam alignment slot looks like with the vacuum pump removed.