Re:VW 'Dieselgate' software developed at Audi in 1999: report
by sokoloff on Wednesday April 20, 2016 @06:18PM
(#11538157)
That would be timing belt, not serpentine belt, I think. (Just in case someone wants to go looking through service records or talk to a service advisor about the job.)
Re:VW 'Dieselgate' software developed at Audi in 1999: report
by sathackr on Wednesday April 20, 2016 @07:06PM
(#11538385)
Nope, it actually was the serpentine belt. The serpentine belt shredded, wrapped around the crankshaft and worked its way into the timing cover, caused the timing belt to slip, which, since this is an interference motor, was disastrous for the valves.
Forum threads:
https://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=424956
https://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=407745
There is a design flaw that allows a shredded serpentine belt to work it's way past the timing cover and wreak havok. When I took apart the engine, the timing belt was in-tact.
There is now available a guard that you place behind the main crankshaft pulley to stop this from happening but I can't find it right this second.
I'm a big do-it-yourselfer and generally avoid dealerships.
BTW If you haven't changed your serpentine belt lately, do it! Mine broke at 90,000 miles, wrapped itself around the timing sprocket, cause the engine to jump timing and broke 7 valves. Cost me about $3500 for a new head. Apparently it's fairly common.