old96A4

Can some one tell me or send me how to adjust the tension on the timing belt for a 1996 A4 2.8 V6 timing belt. had a doc around here but can't seem to find it. Just want to know how to make sure the belt is adjusted, I must be doing it to tight , two water pumps in 75K miles. Something about turning the belt with your figures and you dont; want it going more than a 1/2 inch or some thing liek that. Thanks a head of time..

turbo510

Are you just checking tension, not changing the thermostat, pump, belt, or rollers? Even if just an adjustment check, you should use the cam and crank holding tools. If you don't have those, at least turn the engine to TDC with the cam holding plates lined up, larger holes facing inwards. Then mark the belt and cam sprockets, just in case. Ty-wrap the belts to the cam sprockets, then loosen the tension roller bolt. While the belt is loose, spin both rollers to feel and listen for dry/bad bearings. If they feel OK, then put the appropriate hex key in the socket on the tension roller's hub, and rotate clockwise until you have the 1/2 belt twist between the passenger-side cam sprocket and tension roller. I prefer to be a little on the looser side, adjustment-wise, because when the engine gets hot, the belt tends to tighten. (That's a benefit of the hydraulic tensioner/damper on the 30V, it compensates for expansion). I don't know what the Bentley says, but I use Loctite on that tension roller bolt. That is one critical fastener, and if it loosens, your engine is wrecked.

mtroxel

Bentley:

old96A4

hey thanks, I thought it was something like that. I'm only replacing the water pump, a whole timing belt roll etc.. was done 25 K miles ago. I must have tightened the belt to tight and it messed up the water pump.
Car's going down the road in Sept. anyway. Kid will be all done with it and in college. No need to keep it around. see what I can get for it then. still runs great. while I was doing the water pump I marked the belt with some paint. the belt fell off, I put it back on where I thought it should go , we'll see. will be putting it back to gether in a little while. seems to spin ok. I had it at top dead center doing the work.. passenger cam snapped toward the cneter of the car and had to move it back. everything looked lined up with my pain marks and cam holders so I hope I'm all right.