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Timing belt replacement duration

12946 Views 26 Replies 13 Participants Last post by  nmJbyrd, 
tdi-guy
I am attempting my first timing belt replacement and interested in what people think it will take me to complete the repair. It depends on loads of factors so here is a little info to help color your estimate. I am a marine engineer so I have worked on many diesel engines but usually with connecting rods as big as I am (6 ft), cylinders with 5ft diameters, and you can stand inside the crank case (I have a picture of that somewhere). I am doing this on my 2006 BRM engine, Blauparts parts kit and their special timing belt tools. I have read chittychittybangbang's articles twice for this repair too and it seems straight forward. I will be doing it at my friend's shop where I have access to a lift, air tools, torque wrenchs, engine lifting beam and a helping hand when I need it. I am not trying to race through this, I will be thorough and methodical in my work but I just am not sure if its going to take me three days or four hours. Oh, I guess i should say oil changes take me about 20-30 minuters and changing my brake pads is usually an hour from start to clean up.

Another reason I want to know is because I will be at my friends shop at 3 ish this afternoon and he said he wants to go home at 9 and I am not sure if I can finish it tonight in the 6 ish hours I have. I dont want it to go over into tomorrow morning but if it must I want to mentally prepare to ask my wife to come pick me up!

Thanks for your help with estimating.

Byron
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tdi-guy
how long it takes

I was looking at how long it would take me to swap it out along with all th other goodies. I was hoping 4 hours at a good easy but focused pace would get it rolling out the door. I have 118K on it, I bought this rig at 80K and the timing belt replacement cost was probably something to do with the sale. I realized this after the fact but truth be told it probably would not have detered me, I have wanted a TDI for a long time and this one became available. I was holding off because I didnt have $1,500 to give a shop and then I stummbled onto the kits and tool rentals to do it yourself, then this site and the instructions here. I am not a huge car buff by any means but good with my hands, have an ability to read and understand directions and enough brain power to stop when something seems off and do a little more research.

So in your opinion other things I should do at 118K where otherwise I have no service history on the car. I am thinking of replacing the manual transmission fluid replacement, brakes and clutch fluid?

Thanks for the advice.

Byron
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tdi-guy
I had three quotes in the Baltimore/DC area of $1,500 from stealerships and independents. I also heard there is a bad track record for doing it correctly and thought if i did it myself i would know it was done if not very well at least with some concenr for the condition of the vehicle after the first drive away. It took me 7 hours from start to finish, taking my time and reading the instructions well at every step.
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tdi-guy
The job took me just over 7 hrs from start to finished clean up and engine running.

"I also heard there is a bad track record for doing it correctly" means bad craftsmanship from the repair dept at the dealership. engines making it another 5-20K and the timing belt coming loose or breaking after the job is done or supposedly done. Have you ever asked to see the old parts when they are done repairing your car? some places, no problem, they are in the trash but they can pull them out. other places hem and haw about why you would want to see the old parts leading me to believe they may or maynot have even done the job. The repair places make the most money on parts mark up. not to mentions if they charge you for a part that doesnt even have a wholesale cost (not even purchased). for example. I recently had tires put on and the guy told me I needed front pads and rotors for $400. I bought the parts for $90 and the rotors were beautiful, with enough meet for tons more miles, he just wanted to throw parts in so he could charge me the mark up. I replaced the pads for $30 and returned the rotos!
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