Ok so I need some help. I really want my son and his wife to love their new 01 A4 1.8 fwd, but I was supposed to have been finished a month ago.

I have been turning wrenches my whole life and I have been stuck on several things with this car. Right now I am in the middle of changing the timing belt, but I also got Cam and Crank seals because of the oil leak.

I do not have and cannot get the tool to hold the crank in place while I remove the crank bolt. Does anybody have any experience with removing the crank bolt without using the special tool? (Money is an issue.....)

I have done some serious searches but cannot find anything on topic. I would love to hear from anybody who can help. Thanks for you time.

 

If it's a manual I would put it into gear and use an impact, failing that you could stick something into the starter or crank sensor hole against the ring gear and keep the motor from turning that way, that's how I got my flywheel bolts on with the motor out of the car. I've also removed crank bolts by attaching a breaker bar to the bolt, bracing it against something really solid and cranking the starter for a split second, though that method is a bit dangerous and probably not the best for the motor.

 

Thanks Mad Cow... Good ideas

I tried putting it in gear and had somebody apply the brakes, but that did not work like it has on every other car I have worked on. The crank still gives.

Bumping the starter will not work because of course I removed the old timing belt already and am too worried that could end in castrophe. I thought about putting on the new belt (because I have already shredded the old one trying to fashion a tool to hold the crank), but then I remembered I would have to pull the pin on my new tensioner and I am not buying another one.

I have bent a good box end wrench wedging it in between a pulley bolt and the shaft housing and snapped a hardened steel chisel doing the same.

I can pull the starter in the morning and try the old flywheel trick but none of my other old tricks have worked on this car and figured maybe somebody else could chime in with what they always do.

If I do not hear anything else I will give that a whirl.....of course that trick is always fun by yourself......Where is the crank sensor, but my motor is in the car.

 

Anybody????

I really wanted to finish this today. I am going out to remove the starter now. If anybody happens to be in the Triangle are of North Carolina and has a tool to to hold the crankshaft in place, please let me know. I could come borrow the tool, pay you for the rental, and return it to you. Yes, I realize this is a longshot but I have seen stranger things.

Thanks

 

Without an impact wrench it's futile, crank bolts are never easy, especially when they likely haven't ever been removed. You can also compress the tensioner in a vise, you just have to do it very, very slowly, as in quarter turn and wait 10-15 seconds, then repeat until it's compressed.

 

Don't know if you're still having problems but here's an idea: Crank Pulley Holding Fixture to Tighten Crank Bolt - TDIClub Forums

 

your gonna need an impact. sorry. a good option would be calling a local diesel shop and asking them to send over their service truck to zip the bolt out for you as they should have a compressor on board. let them know you a need a 19mm 12 point socket, as they may possibly need 3/4inch drive. those crank bolts are in tight as hell. the torque spec is ithink 90 ft lbs plus 180 degrees. thats a lot.

 

Thanks to everybody for the extra input. I ended up having a buddy bring over his compressor and impact. It eventually broke loose.