Octavia VRS TDI timing belt 07

Sh1tbag OToole

Has anyone here changed one and how awkward a job is it?

Do I need any special tools beside the yoke that goes into the flywheel? Drill bit will do to hold the other side in place?

Sh1tbag OToole

Anyone?

Bueller?

George Dalton

I would not recommend DIY-ing one of these.

Google "2.0TDI tensioner stud failure" and have a browse.

Sh1tbag OToole

George Dalton wrote: »

I would not recommend DIY-ing one of these.

Google "2.0TDI tensioner stud failure" and have a browse.

Do you happen to know if the BMN engine is affected?

Tony Beetroot

George Dalton wrote: »

I would not recommend DIY-ing one of these.

Google "2.0TDI tensioner stud failure" and have a browse.

This is scaremongering, if the op follows the correct protocol in doing the job he will have it done as good as yourself.

George Dalton

The BMN engine is affected yes. I would advise you to be very careful about who you get to do the timing belt job on this engine. For the record I'm not scaremongering, just making you aware of the major problems with the timing belt tensioner stud on these engines.

I don't know what your experience, abilities or qualifications are. But the fact that you asked such basic questions about the belt job on one of these led me to believe you probably weren't aware of this issue. I have seen main dealers, independent garages and DIY-ers all have problems with them. We have only ever had one fail ourselves after a belt change but have repaired several after the fact.

There are 2 potential pitfalls, firstly if the old stud is re-used it can subsequently snap off. Secondly the act of removing the old stud very often damages the threads in the cylinder head (which may not be obvious to the untrained or inexperienced eye) and the new stud can then subsequently pull out of the cylinder head. So in a way you are damned if you do and damned if you don't change the stud.

This is such a common issue that VW actually ran out of new cylinder heads about a year ago and had none available for about 2 months. That says it all really...

corkgsxr

I can do a huge amount mechanically but some things I think you have to do a cost/risk analysis

Like I could probably do a timing belt but if I mess it up its a huge bill. Me it's one of the things I'm happy to leave to others.

Sh1tbag OToole

I hadn't studied the job on this engine in any great detail before making the thread but having looked now it doesn't seem to involve anything I havn't done before in some form.

The belt on this car was changed before and pretty sure it was a main dealer that changed it, I don't know if that makes it better or worse for me and the timing kit I was going to get apparently doesn't include a stud anymore.

My understanding is that if the stud gave trouble it would snap off some time after the belt is replaced rather than on the day. So if I paid anyone other than a main dealer to do it I could whistle for my money and engine anyway.

George Dalton

Sh1tbag OToole wrote: »

My understanding is that if the stud gave trouble it would snap off some time after the belt is replaced rather than on the day. So if I paid anyone other than a main dealer to do it I could whistle for my money and engine anyway.

Why would it make any difference if it was a main dealer that did it or not?

You are basically implying that independent garages don't stand over their work whereas main dealers do. That's a pretty big generalisation.

In my opinion the risk vs reward equation on this job is not in your favour. You may save a couple of hundred quid doing the job yourself but if it fails then you are going to be paying out a subtantial four figure sum to get it sorted.

Sh1tbag OToole

George Dalton wrote: »

Why would it make any difference if it was a main dealer that did it or not?

You are basically implying that independent garages don't stand over their work whereas main dealers do. That's a pretty big generalisation.

In my opinion the risk vs reward equation on this job is not in your favour. You may save a couple of hundred quid doing the job yourself but if it fails then you are going to be paying out a subtantial four figure sum to get it sorted.

Jaysus lad I don't fancy my chances coming to a lad some time later and trying to blame him for something snapping that he replaced ages ago and trying to get him to buy me a new engine when times aren't great and he has mouths to feed at home. It's hit or miss, seemingly like the job itself.

Some people thrive on this sort of thing, these are paperwork people - they'll get onto the PTRB and the high court and Joe Duffy and will somehow get their new engine from a lad with no money. Even with a main dealer I run the risk that it doesn't snap on time for them to replace it for free.

Tony Beetroot

Op just give the job to George Dalton and be done with it.

dodzy

Tony Beetroot wrote: »

Op just give the job to George Dalton and be done with it.

In fairness, It's not GD's style to come in and tout for business by 'scaremongering'.

OP, simple. You obviously have a level of mech ability. Do your homework on the parts cost, and your time. Now factor in the labour cost of someone else doing the job. I'd guess about €200ish labour - for the peace of mind that would be the repair guy standing over their work and it if goes tits up, you wont be out of pocket.

Then make your decision.

PukkaStukka

Sometimes the cost and aggravation of doing a hard job make the expense of getting it done professionally well worth it. That before one takes the risk associated with these studs in to account.

@GeorgeDalton: Are Audi A4 2.0TDi's (2009 vintage) similarly affected? I ask as my brothers one is due it's TB replacement soon. On the face of what you've said here, I'd say it is....

George Dalton

No the newer CR engine uses a different type of stud and isn't affected. It's only the 2.0 PD engines that suffer from it.

enumbers

Sh1tbag OToole wrote: »

Jaysus lad I don't fancy my chances coming to a lad some time later and trying to blame him for something snapping that he replaced ages ago and trying to get him to buy me a new engine when times aren't great and he has mouths to feed at home. It's hit or miss, seemingly like the job itself.

Some people thrive on this sort of thing, these are paperwork people - they'll get onto the PTRB and the high court and Joe Duffy and will somehow get their new engine from a lad with no money. Even with a main dealer I run the risk that it doesn't snap on time for them to replace it for free.

I dont know what sort of independant garages are around you but any decent independent will give as long of warranty as the main dealer , and the labour on that belt is not going to be overly expensive either