Any body wrench on new VWs??

[cmitchelli]

  I'm in the process of changing the timing belt on my 1.8t New Beetle.  The damn thing is a PITA.  I'm way pissed at the difficulty this thing is giving me.  If there are any of you out there who wrench on these things I'd like to talk to you.  I'd even be willing to pay to get the damn belt installed correctly( Honestly this thing has pushed me over the edge).

[elmo]

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA. Sorry about that, I feel your pain. They aren't too bad after the 3rd or 4th time.

[cmitchelli]

  Elmo do you have experience with the subject?  I'd like to ask you a few questions if so.

[armchair]

I think that's why they-and most new cars-have big plastic covers bolted over the engine-so you and I do not attempt repairs!

[neil68]

I recall a thread on www.vwvortex.com go to Passat B5 forum I believe...

[Richard Roth]

I changed the timing belt on my 1.8T Beetle recently myself.
Wasn't any trouble at all.
What is giving you problems ?

[cmitchelli]

  Richard, I've been trying to get the tining marks to line up for days(literally!).  I'll line the marks up and then put tension on the BIG tensioner pulley and go back to check that nothing has moved. At this point the crank sprocket is off by at least a tooth!!!   This thing is kicking my a$$.  I'm going by the cam sprocket and the flywheel. The accessory pulley seems to be off for some reason.
   One other thing is that I've tried to turn the cam sprocket and found that it is quite hard to turn when the crank is off TDC and the belt is off.  Is this normal??

[Richard Roth]

Have you removed all four spark plugs ?
This will relieve the compression and make it easier to turn.
Are you sure you are aliging the timing marks while the No. 1 piston is at TDC on the compression stroke ?
( simultaneously align the marks on the camshaft sprocket with the rear timing cover and the marks on the crankshaft damper with the TDC mark on the front cover.)
Are you peplacing the timing belt as part of normal maintenance, or did it break ?