Jack4688's S2 Avant

[Jack4688]

Had a delivery from quattro corner today



Also had a pair of cams arrive earlier from Error404

[Jack4688]

Fitted S2 Recaros to the Avant this weekend



They are surprisingly different from the MkIII Golf Recaros I had in before. More side bolster and more leg support. My knees are a little bit higher than before which will take some getting used to but these are still better than the old ones!

Not sure what to do with the old Golf ones now. Thinking of either selling them or I might get a B4 quattro once I've settled in to my new house, turn it in to an S2 lookalike

[Jack4688]

I've been procrastinating today - should be re-writing my CV, filling in some life assurance docs and renewing my driving license. But on the plus side I did tax my A4 when I've had 10 days to do that So right now instead of doing all that boring stuff I should be doing I've been looking into my cambelt change.

I picked up a set of crank locking tools from JMLAudi today and have had both a new cambelt and crank position sensor from Error404 for a while now. My question is: what else do I need for this job, regardless of time since the last cambelt change on this car? If my memory serves Tristan and Kit did the cambelt change before I bought it as we couldn't see any service history for some ridiculous number of years, knowing it had most likely been done but just wanted to be on the safe side.

I've 'lost' my torque wrench but I'm sure it didn't go up to 200Nm anyway and I'll need a bit of scaffold for undoing some of those pesky bolts. Are there any other parts I should change as a matter of course, such as seals, aux belts/pumps, general bolts/nuts/fasteners or any extra tooling/consumables I haven't thought of? The item that needs replacing is the crank position sensor but I thought changing the belt would be advisable rather than putting the used one back on. I've had a read through the Timing Belt Renewal pdf on S2central and noticed one of the stickys under Engine & Turbo recommending that the crank pulley be changed.

The time since the last cambelt change is just over 2 years and around 10-12k miles. Also, given that the car is SORNed and the MOT expired I have no reason to set myself a time limit on getting it done (hence procrastinating), but on the other hand I don't want to create any unnecessary work for myself given that this is my first crack at doing a cambelt change.

[andy10v]

Are you changing the cam position sensor? The crank position sensor is at the back of the engine on the bellhousing.

If you are doing the cambelt I would do

cambelt
crank pulley
tensioner
water pump
thermostat
aux belts

crank seal only if leaking

I think cam belt is 60-70k/5 years or so

[Jack4688]

Yes cam position sensor is what I meant

Looks like I've got some more parts to buy...

[andy10v]

At that time/milage you can replace the sensor without replacing everything else. Or do you want to not have to go back in again anytime soon.

I forgot coolant if you do the thermostat and water pump.

[Jack4688]

I don't mind going back in in a couple years, it's just the cam position sensor needs replacing as it was stopping the engine from restarting if it had got up to normal operating temperature. If I do a minor job of it doing something a whole lot more thorough might not seem so daunting in a few years time.

I thought, from reading the walk through on S2central, that the coolant would need doing anyway as the rad needs removing to get to the belt?

[Trist28]

From memory........

I changed the crank toothed pulley, waterpump, timing belt, tensioner, thermostat and aux belt. Crank oil seal was dry.

I did mine and the one you bought at the same time. If you want to learn, take it apart and change again, but with the mileage done its really not needed

[Error404]

The cam sensor is quite an easy job, you only really need to take off the front belt cover and the cam cover.
Remove belt cover and release belt tension
Remove cam cover & counter hold ext cam with mole grips (or use an appropriate locking tool)
Undo cam pulley bolt and remove cam pulley
Change hall sender
Refit etc

No need for bumper and cross member off, or crank locking tool etc

[Jack4688]

From memory........

I changed the crank toothed pulley, waterpump, timing belt, tensioner, thermostat and aux belt. Crank oil seal was dry.

I did mine and the one you bought at the same time. If you want to learn, take it apart and change again, but with the mileage done its really not needed

Didn't realise you two did all that That's good enough for me I'll just do this c***ing cam sensor!

[Jack4688]

The cam sensor is quite an easy job, you only really need to take off the front belt cover and the cam cover.
Remove belt cover and release belt tension
Remove cam cover & counter hold ext cam with mole grips (or use an appropriate locking tool)
Undo cam pulley bolt and remove cam pulley
Change hall sender
Refit etc

No need for bumper and cross member off, or crank locking tool etc

That sounds more my speed

[Jack4688]

On a different note, I now have a Garrett GT3582R





Because why not

[Error404]

Want some rods and JE pistons to go with it?

[Jack4688]

Do I need them? Or can I get non-silly power from it with just changing the injectors and fuel pump?

[Jack4688]

Is this a crack in my exhaust manifold?