Service Cam Belt ETC

[dazza]

Just read a similar post.

I've now owned the car a year 

So its time for another dodgy DIY service. Problem this time the cam belt needs doing.

What i did in april 2014.
Engine Oil (Castrol Magnatec 5W-40).
Oil Filter.
Air Filter (Im now running a chav intake).
Pollen Filter.
Fuel Filter.
DSG Oil & Filter.
CAM FOLLOWER.

I changed the pads, discs and brake fluid later in the year.
I Added R8 Coil packs and NGK Iridium BKR7EIX Plugs when i bodged the cam chain/tensioner/ adjustor.

Since then i've done a massive 5000 km. (She's an 05 now at 148,323km)
The PCV in not the original not sure when it was changed.

So what should i do this service?
I'm thinking
millers nanodrive 5w40
oil filter
Magnetic sump plug.

Should i change the cam-belt myself. Chances of me f*cking it up??

[doylebros]

Dazza from the jobs you've already undertaken and completed with utter professionalism I would say "just add it to your list of jobs to do"!

The timing belt job is well documented but does require the purchase of further specialist tools.

[dazza]

Dazza from the jobs you've already undertaken and completed with utter professionalism I would say "just add it to your list of jobs to do"!

The timing belt job is well documented but does require the purchase of further specialist tools.

Thanks for the vote of confidence mate. I always seem to get there in the end. Mainly thanks to you guys on here helping me out when i bodge something up.

I've read through a few DIY's but not seen any specialist tools??

[Tfsi_Mike]

I think it's the cam timing/ alignment blocks that you need.

[doylebros]

The second poster here gives links to the two types of covers and the how too's

http://www.golfmkv.com/forums/showthread.php?t=103715

It list the tools in the PDFs

[dazza]

Thanks guys. I suppose the older cars have the non divided belt guard?

By the looks of it all the tools apart from the torque wrench are for lifting the engine. 

I will use a jack underneath as I bet these would cost an arm and a leg.

[dazza]

I'm still indecisive about doing the cam belt so went to a local garage today €740 WTF.

At that price i may as well DIY it. Thats nearly half a new engine.

[Boycee]

Hi Guys, I took mine to the VW dealer as I wanted to keep the main dealer service record - the price was £402 + VAT which is steep but not too bad I thought as half was the cost of the (genuine VW) parts. 

[BigAl]

Having just done the timing belt myself, I'd like to pass a few hopefully helpful comments.

The timing belt itself is very easy to change and no timing tools are needed, just make sure you tippex the existing timing marks to make them visible.
The main difficulty in the job is raising the engine high enough to remove the bottom bolt of the front engine mount. I was not able to raise the engine enough without chickening out, it's very difficult to see if hoses, wires etc are being excessively strained. I solved it by drilling a smallish hole through the inner wing which allowed me to pass an extension bar through to unscrew the bottom bolt. I can supply a photo of the holes position if wanted.

The guide at http://www.golfmkv.com/forums/showthread.php?s=67076ed25668a4f7d44592d2d9027b03&t=135872&page=1
is very good.

Finally don't forget to replace all the stretch bolts on the crank pulley and the engine mount.

Good luck

[Phil_H]

If you don't lock the engine it can be very easy to slip a tooth when tensioning the belt. My car was a tooth and a half out when I got it, there was no apparent power loss, but after VW replaced it and timed it correctly there was a big difference in MPG and the idle was far smoother and quieter.

The old belt had "tipex" marks on it meaning it wasn't locked last time, in conjunction with that it had a new chain put on at some point (no history of that), and that was also slightly out (hence the "half tooth")

I'm not saying it can't be done by just marking it....but be very careful when you tension it, thats usually when it can move slightly.

[dazza]

Thanks for your input guys i'm going to push ahead with this just waiting on all the bits to arrive.