Timing Belt question - general

[soc]

Got a quick general question - if the timing belt snaps on a car the car won't start right?

Wife was starting her 00 polo this morning and as it turned over I heard a low popping sound and not it's dead as a doornail - turns over fine but won't fire. Immediate suspision is timing belt but it was too early and all my tools are elsewhere right now.

Anyone ever popped a timing belt before? If it is the timing belt thankfully it would have snapped on startup and there was not major noises so fingers crossed no major damage - and there's only 27K on this car.....

[CJ]

Got a quick general question - if the timing belt snaps on a car the car won't start right?

The engine shouldn't turn over, if you're unlucky, you'll have bent valve stems and piston and cylinder damage. If you suspect the timing belt has snapped, don't even consider trying to start it up.

CJ

[soc]

Got a quick general question - if the timing belt snaps on a car the car won't start right?

The engine shouldn't turn over, if you're unlucky, you'll have bent valve stems and piston and cylinder damage. If you suspect the timing belt has snapped, don't even consider trying to start it up.

CJ

mmmm, fingers crossed there's been no damage cause I tried starting it a few times - sounds like starter motor spins but nothing else - although to be honest I didn't have a very close look so the engine could be turning over and just not firing. Have a guy coming out this evening to have a look so hope it's something simple....... maybe I can convince the wife it's time to change her car and pass the golf over to her... then I could go get that manual GPX

[Dave]

always the opportunist!!!

[soc]

always the opportunist!!!

hehe, yea - the trouble is that the more I drive the golf the more I'm starting to like it. It's actually very easy to drive it fast in normal circumstances driving thanks to the low down pull - feels breathless over 4K rpm so I do really miss that FTO surge at high revs

[Dave]

it's the turbo.... why not have best of both worlds, get a nice 98-99 GR manual and we'll turbo it for you.

it's a lot easier to turbo a GR than a GPX, so you'd have the pull and torque at low down revs and the V6 pull in the higher rev range!!!!

[soc]

it's the turbo.... why not have best of both worlds, get a nice 98-99 GR manual and we'll turbo it for you.

it's a lot easier to turbo a GR than a GPX, so you'd have the pull and torque at low down revs and the V6 pull in the higher rev range!!!!

yea, it's the best of both worlds but the hassle involved in maintaining such a hybrid might be too much for me - I need a garage....

[Dave]

complete bolt on and basically maintenance free.....

[JD]

Dave, is the turbo kit only available for the GS?
JD

[steelroe]

Damage due to timing belt snapping would depend on whether the engine is interferance or non interferance type, i.e Interferance type will can get damaged.

[soc]

Damage due to timing belt snapping would depend on whether the engine is interferance or non interferance type, i.e Interferance type will can get damaged.

yea, I read up on this on the web - turns out it was dodgy leads, <phew> but boy did I feel stupid not spotting this myself

[Dave]

the kit will be available for the GR very soon. We're going to be doing some work with RPW in developing it, only a matter of sorting our the pipe work really. the GS will be done in around a month and it's basically the same kit as that.

[Mustang]

Shane
FYI the leads on the polo commonly fail, (have this on good authority from the local VW dealer) especially with the type of weather we are experiencing at the moment. I replaced the leads on a polo a few years back (my others half's car at the time by coincidence).
I was able to buy a complete set of after market leads for the same price VW wanted for one individual lead.

Mustang

[Myfeckin FTO]

Shane
FYI the leads on the polo commonly fail, (have this on good authority from the local VW dealer) especially with the type of weather we are experiencing at the moment. I replaced the leads on a polo a few years back (my others half's car at the time by coincidence).
I was able to buy a complete set of after market leads for the same price VW wanted for one individual lead.

Mustang

Ya - same here - replaced leads on my girlfriends polo a couple of years back. You'd think VW would do a recall at this stage- or at least offer replacement leads at cost for a well known fault.

[soc]

Shane
FYI the leads on the polo commonly fail, (have this on good authority from the local VW dealer) especially with the type of weather we are experiencing at the moment. I replaced the leads on a polo a few years back (my others half's car at the time by coincidence).
I was able to buy a complete set of after market leads for the same price VW wanted for one individual lead.

Mustang

Ya - same here - replaced leads on my girlfriends polo a couple of years back. You'd think VW would do a recall at this stage- or at least offer replacement leads at cost for a well known fault.

yea this is what we were told alright - and the problem even spills over to the lupo's as well. VAG seem to have a real problem with ignition - the coil packs on most VAG 1.8T engines were prone to failing which affect a huge number of cars (A4, TT, golf, passat, etc)

Anyway the guy looking at the car said leave it and see how things go cause the VW leads are pretty expensive - I might try to source some aftermarket ones though.

Still feel like a total nonce for dragging him out in the weather last night...... a real novice.

[Dave]

better to be safe than sorry in my opinion!

[Mustang]

Shane wrote

VAG seem to have a real problem with ignition - the coil packs on most VAG 1.8T engines were prone to failing which affect a huge number of cars (A4, TT, golf, passat, etc)

Yes so I believe. One of my colleagues runs a passat 1.8T (company car).
Told me he had awful trouble with the ignition coils on his motor.

[soc]

Shane wrote

VAG seem to have a real problem with ignition - the coil packs on most VAG 1.8T engines were prone to failing which affect a huge number of cars (A4, TT, golf, passat, etc)

Yes so I believe. One of my colleagues runs a passat 1.8T (company car).
Told me he had awful trouble with the ignition coils on his motor.

touch wood I ain't gonna have the same problems although I believe they have to be replaced under warranty or as a recall.... having said that I'm sure if the problem was gonna surface it would have done already in the past 3 years - maybe the previous owners got them done