DSM Timing issues

[ThePrimerSuspect]

A friend of mine did a timing belt on his tsi. He didn't really know what he was doing so it didn't surprise me 6 months later when it needed valves. Turns out the brand new autozone tensioner went bad. Over the summer I put a head on it, did the t belt, all the pulleys and a new tensioner. It jumped timing while I was cranking it. Turns out the new tensioner was bad again. He got another tensioner (factory, but used) seemed like it was fine. I put it together and it was fine. He hasn't really driven it since, maybe a couple hundred miles. Well, the other day it jumped while cranking again. Haven't taken it apart again yet, but I'm just wondering if there is anything else I should look for if the tensioner is ok. I know its the right belt. The head is supposedly worked (cams, valves,etc.) But I don't know much about these cars, so I don't know. I can't see the head being milled, if it is, effecting timing that much. Any help is appreciated.

[Got Insulin?]

That's usually the sign of another bad tensioner. Tell him to pony up and go get the OEM parts, nothing else comes close and the 4G is known for being finnicky about timing components. I'm assuming you checked all the timing markings when you redid the timing?

[jpalamar]

I did my tbelt service(belt, pullies, tensioner, H2O pump) on my non-turbo 1G with all Autozone parts. Put probally 25k miles on it afterwards with no issues. Hard to belive that you got that many bad tensioners in a row. You either have really bad luck or are doing something wrong.

When I did mine, I used a paint marker and marked the belt and the pullys to make sure when I put the new belt on it was a perfect match. Also double check that you have the timing all lined up properly.

[ThePrimerSuspect]

I've done hundreds of timing belts so its not like I don't know what I'm doing, but I've only done 3 or 4 dsms.I kinda figured it was a tensioner, but I don't know if I'm even gonna get involved again. He's pretty insistant on getting another cheap tensioner when I told him to got factory in the firfst place. What do I know, anyway. If this one breaks I'm not putting another head on it.

[knochgoon24]

You might not be getting the tension correct before pulling the pin.

When I do my timing, I get it all set, leave the pin in, turn it by had 6 times, check the timing again, then check the tension on the pin. Should be loose. I pull the pin, turn it over a few more times by hand, check the marks, then see if I can put the pin back in.

I've never had issues with the timing on my car.

This is also a pretty good writeup. http://www.vfaq.com/mods/timingbelt-2G.html

[Willdue]

You might not be getting the tension correct before pulling the pin.

When I do my timing, I get it all set, leave the pin in, turn it by had 6 times, check the timing again, then check the tension on the pin. Should be loose. I pull the pin, turn it over a few more times by hand, check the marks, then see if I can put the pin back in.

I've never had issues with the timing on my car.

This is also a pretty good writeup. http://www.vfaq.com/mods/timingbelt-2G.html

what he said. and go OEM

[SpendOne]

Did you tension the tensioner pulley correctly???

[kthackst]

http://www.jayracing.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=17_229&products_id=214

This is worth every penny.

And when tightening the eccentric tensioner make sure you rotate it to the right and apply the correct torque value on the bolt.

Notice where the two holes are on the eccentric tensioner. One direction is correct and one is incorrect.

Incorrect.
http://josegutierrez.myiadtsa.net/images/2010-09-20%2016.08.42.jpg

Correct
http://www.projectzerog.com/images/timingBeltInterference1.jpg

[kthackst]

Let me see if i can find a better/smaller picture.

[ThePrimerSuspect]

Did you tension the tensioner pulley correctly???
Meaning what, exactly? I turned the motor over by hand probably 3 or 4 times, held tension on the crank as I pulled the pin, then turned it over again.

[ThePrimerSuspect]

Ok so the tensioner and the idler pulley should be even. I have no idea if I did that. I never would have noticed.

[Driven]

Ok so the tensioner and the idler pulley should be even. I have no idea if I did that. I never would have noticed.

No, they don't have to be even. The tensioner pulley has to be properly torqued to set the hydraulic tensioner in its proper range.

If you have that many failed tensioners, you're doing something wrong (ie not setting the tension properly). Read the VFAQ above, it tells you the proper procedure for setting the tension. DSM timing belts are easy, as long as you follow the correct procedure.