I had a quick question to ask. I just put the front end of my car back together after doing a timing belt, water pump and such on my 2001 A4 1.8t. Well it’s all about back together now and something finally struck me as being a little strange. I put the belt on and it looked and felt like all the belt teeth lined up (extremely hard to put on) but when I turned the crank by hand (lots of resistance) every ¼ turn of the crank I heard a clicking noise (like two metal parts contacting each other) that only seemed to happen four times on a full rotation of the crank. I just wanted to know if anyone knows what this issue could be before I start the car or if it is even anything I should mind. I have heard the stories about the valves and such going horribly wrong.

 

i don't remember a clicking on mine when i turned the crank. did you use a punch and mark the pulleys? you might want to verify that they are still lined up correctly.

 

did you put the belt on in the correct position...

 

i marked the top gear and the bottom one, both did not move when i put the new belt on. i also had somone looking at the top gear to make sure. i just done know what that could be.

 

here is a pic of how it looked right before i took it off and this is just how i put it on, i did not move both pullys, kept them just the same way as it was when i turned the car off.

 

No ideas before i start the car? i guess it really does not matter what is said if im going to start it anyways.

 

how was changing the timing belt anyway?? is it just like most cars or is more complicated?? cause i think im gunna have to do mine soon. i hear a clicking that sounds like the timing is off a little.

 

I wouldn't start it if I were you. Wouldn't you think that is the piston contacting a valve, four click- four pistons- two intake valves and two exhaust valves. $1500 worth of head work would make it worth taking apart again and checking everything.

Can you tell where the clicking is comming from?

 

Three intake and two exhast. 5v ftw!

 

yeah so i started the car, it seemed ok but i still have a CEL from the cam position sensor, do i have to clear that? well here is a vid on youtube on the car when i started it, tell me if this is all normal,and if something would have happened would it have gone wrong by now? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siirVtRn1x0