92 jetta crank bolt

[oprn]

I am wanting to replace the timing belt on my daughter's '92 Jetta 1.8L gas engine. The bolt that holds the pulley to the crankshaft seems extremely tight and I have not been able to break it loose. Is it possible that it is a left hand thread? Anyone been there/done this?

Thanks in advance. Merv

[ps2375]

That job does not require that center bolt to be removed. Just the four bolts that hold the pulleys to the sprocket need to be removed, and they may need to have the heads drilled off, as they tend to be soft and round out if the hex bit doesn't fit well or they are stuck.

[TDCTDI]

PS2375 is correct, the center bolt does not need to come off unless you want/need to replace the crank seal. If you need to, the Down & dirty way is to put a breaker bar on the crank & brace it against the ground or subframe & "bump" the starter to break it loose.

& if the Allen head socket bolts strip, it's not necessary to drill them out. The easiest way to extract those is to buy a Snap on (others will break) T45 torx socket bit & hammer it (I use a 48oz BFH) into the stripped fastener & remove fastener. (It's now a Torx head)
_________________
Everybody born before 1975 has a story, good, bad, or indifferent, about a VW.


GOFUNDYOURSELF, quit asking everyone to do it for you!


An air cooled VW will make you a hoarder.


Do something, anything, to your project every day, and you will eventually complete it.

[Vanagon Nut]

I doubt the fluid would creep in far enough (to threads) but it can't hurt to apply good quality penetrating fluid to the Allen head bolts. If time permits, apply, wait a day or two. Be mindful of excess fluid and belts. Before attempting Allen head bolt removal, clean Allen head socket with a pic tool and flush out dirt/grease with brake parts cleaner. Dirt in the socket is one main reason these fasteners get rounded out. Well, that and well intended Loctite.

If the job is done right, you won't need to do this, but if you need to turn the engine by hand, turn it clockwise via engine crank pulley bolt. (NOT cam gear bolt).

Neil.
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1981 Westy DIY 15º ABA

1988 West DIY 50º ABA

VE7TBN

[oprn]

Thanks all!

It is a bit dark under there and it didn't look like the pulley would clear the bolt head but that is indeed good news! I did the timing belt on my '76 Rabbit but that was many moons ago so I didn't recall that part though it is most likely the same.

I have a fresh set off Allen wrenches and did get the ones for the power steering pulley off so... with a bit of care all will be good.

Thanks again, Merv.

[oprn]

I finally got back at this project. Yes the pulleys do come off without taking the center bolt off. That is the good news.

The bad news is that I found where the antifreeze is leaking. Under the timing belt cover the head gasket is leaking! Is this a common problem? Is it a sign of a warped head or just a failed gasket?

[Butcher]

Cast iron blocks and aluminum heads shift a lot during heating/cooling. It would not surprise me that the headgasket is leaking. The newer metal gaskets do work surprising well. A PG gasket [G60 Corrado] should work if you want to spend that kind of money. The head may be pitted due to corrosion if you are not good with coolant changes.

[ps2375]

If you have good compression numbers, I'd say it is just a HG leak and not a warped head. It takes a lot to warp one of these heads.

[oprn]

Thanks all, I will give it a compression test and see how it is.

[oprn]

I got a high of 160psi and a low of 145psi. Not that shabby for an engine with well over 300,000 kms on it!