First off, I am not a rookie on timing belts, this is my 4th one on an A4. However, I am in serious trouble on this one. I think I got complacent and I am now hosed big time.

Prior to taking the belt off I pulled the #1 plug and confirmed that the marks on the cam pulley matched TDC.

I got the belt on, rotated the engine and found that the marks for TDC are no longer accurate. I had taken the crank pulley off and like a dummy didn't mark the crank bolt.

I am 3 teeth off from top dead center (using a 1/4 extension in the #1 plug hole to tell me where I am.

Can anybody please tell me what to do. I have read a lot of posts that say make sure you don't screw the marks up, but none with how to fix it if you do.

I don't know if I should rotate the crank without the belt installed and use trial and error until the cam matches TDC or if I should put the crank pulley back on and turn it until the marks on the pulley match TDC. I did not verify that the mark on the crank pulley was accurate, but it may be.

I am really leery about just turning things, not fully understanding how it all works.

If I turn the crank do i always turn it clockwise, or can I turn it back wards.

Any advice or suggestions are appreciated.

 

Well, I know with the regular 350 small blocks you just rotate until you reach your TDC again, but these engines have two camshafts per bank so IDK if the VVT would interrupt, plus you run the risk of tapping your valves on the cylinder heads. The logic seems solid: just rotate in the proper direction until you reach it again but do you want to try it? I would but just in case I'd expect the worse. I know it's not much help is it? Maybe Auditech79 can chime in...???

 

I would pull everything off and start over.

You can turn the cam independently of the crank aslong as your close. I would pull out all the plugs because you have to go slow and you don't want to mistake compression for valves on cylinder contact. If you feel resistance stop, but a few teeth you should be fine. And you can turn backwards if you go to far it doesn't effect anything. Just make sure you mark the crank this time around

 

Thanks for the replies.

I needed the car for work and hadn’t gotten any replies yet so I put it back together on Saturday. I think I am ok, but I will tell you what I did and you can tell me if you think I am ok.

I should have specified in my original post that this is the 1.8T engine, and the 3 teeth I was off was on the cam sprocket.

I put the lower cover on the crank and then the crank pulley. I used the factory mark on the crank pulley to figure out how far I was off, pulled the pulley and cover, pulled the belt off and turned the crank back (5 teeth…don’t ask me how I got that far off…I have never been off more than two, but I was). I then put the belt back on and verified TDC.

I probably turned the engine over at least 10 times, every time double checking that when the extension was at it highest stroke both the marks on the cam and the crank were aligned with the mark on the valve cover or timing belt cover, which they were. I did not pull all four plugs as you suggested; I only used #1 to verify TDC.

I then set the tension correctly, buttoned it up and started it. No odd noises, no CEL and the car has run fine. I have a 60 mile commute so at this point I have driven 200 miles since the change.

The question….should I be comfortable with this or should I tear it back down and start over? My thinking is that if I was mistimed I would have had a CEL by now.

I appreciate the help and the replies

 

Right now.... If your turn the crank to its mark.... does the cam line up?

It can take awhile for the light to come on. But atleast your not in any immediate danger at the moment.

 

Thanks for the reply.

To answer your question, yes when I turn the crank pulley to the mark on the lower cover the mark on the cam sprocket and the extension both indicate that I am at top dead center.

I am now over 300 miles since doing this, still no CEL light