2001 Volkswagen Jetta CAM Belt Replacement

Tiny
JRAILTON
  • MEMBER
  • 2001 VOLKSWAGEN JETTA
  • 4 CYL
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 60,000 MILES
Hi

I have just had my cam belt replaced in my 1.9L TDI. When I collected the car, it had the check engine light flashing (the glow plug light) but went off about 2 miles down the road. Then a week later, while I was overtaking (about 3000 RPM) there was a violent jerk, then check engine light came back on and there was a vast decrease in power from the vehicle. Checked the engine bay, nothing leaking that I can see and vehicle drives fine except turbo no longer boosting and no power at all. Any idea what might have caused this? Thanks!
Monday, March 15th, 2010 AT 5:13 AM

7 Replies

Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
Hi there,

You may have suffered a mechanical failure or the turbo, I would have this checked out first.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Monday, March 15th, 2010 AT 5:18 AM
Tiny
JRAILTON
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Hi Mark

I believe the vehicle is in "limp mode" whereby the turbo is disabled (its a VNT turbo) and am HOPING its not a blown turbo! Might that violent jerk have been caused by a failing turbo?

Thanks for your help
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Monday, March 15th, 2010 AT 5:26 AM
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
Hi there,

If a turbo fails you will get a sudden drop in power, the jerk is a bit strange, but with no turbo boost it will be very sluggish to drive, a visual check of the turbo impeller and a boost pressure check will be a good place to start along with a diagnostic scan.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Monday, March 15th, 2010 AT 7:46 AM
Tiny
JRAILTON
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I really hope its not related to the new cam belt fitment though!

It felt like a misfire in a petrol vehicle - is that possible in a diesel?

Thanks again for your assistance.
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Monday, March 15th, 2010 AT 7:53 AM
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
Hi there,

If the timing belt was at fault I feel that the engine would not go at all, normally any problem with the timing belt would cause a serious valve timing issue, a n injector pump problem could be the cause but we have to eliminate one thing at a time, hence the turbo and a scan, the scan will pick up any engine management issues.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Monday, March 15th, 2010 AT 4:06 PM
Tiny
JRAILTON
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
Hi again Mark

I spoke to the VW agent here who suggested that without a computer, the "commencement of injection" wouldnt have been set by the mechanic that installed the new cam belt. Do you know anything about that? Repercussions of not having it set properly?

Thanks again
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Wednesday, March 17th, 2010 AT 8:47 AM
Tiny
MHPAUTOS
  • MECHANIC
  • 31,937 POSTS
Hi there,

I just had a read up on the Jetta timing belt installation, The dealer is correct, with out a scanner the injection timing will be incorrect, this in it self will not have a detrimental effect on the engine in the short term, but this must be corrected as it will give you performance problems, I am not a VW mechanic, but my timing belt installation book dose give you a warning to use the scanner or the injection timing will be out, this mechanic should of read up on the procedure before doing the job.

Mark (mhpautos)
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Wednesday, March 17th, 2010 AT 9:04 PM

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