BEV with a lot of Timing Belt teeth missing.

[Joshua D Chadwick]

My friends 2.0 wouldn't start and threw a PO342.The garage he toke it to said the belt slipped and the valves were most likely bent. They offered him $300 for his 2004 Jetta with 133k that is in great condition. So I offered double that and brought her home.

I have no problem buying a rebuilt head for it since they are cheap. my question is what is the chances that there is any piston damage? I can't do the work myself. I could remove the head no problem, but I know I could not re-install correctly or do the timing belt job.

[Glegor]

My friends 2.0 wouldn't start and threw a PO342.The garage he toke it to said the belt slipped and the valves were most likely bent. They offered him $300 for his 2004 Jetta with 133k that is in great condition. So I offered double that and brought her home.

I have no problem buying a rebuilt head for it since they are cheap. my question is what is the chances that there is any piston damage? I can't do the work myself. I could remove the head no problem, but I know I could not re-install correctly or do the timing belt job.

replace the timing belt/tensioner/water pump, and re-time the engine..

we could SPECULATE whats wrong all day, but until you check compression with a new belt on it, or take the head is OFF, there is NO WAY OF KNOWING for sure..

what i would do, is buy a new timing belt, tensioner, and water pump, and re-time the engine, and take a compression reading.. that will tell you right there whats wrong, if anything at all..

if there is low, or no compression in any cylinders, then there ARE bent valves.

if there is good compression, put the engine the rest of the way back together, start it up, and drive away in your new $600 '04 Jetta!

[Joshua D Chadwick]

I was thinking of installing another belt just as a test. Then if it ran okay I would purchase the rest of the parts from GAP.
But I had other people tell me that If I re-time the engine and there is already bent valves I could damage it more? I can set time on that engine. Only thing that looks like a pain is removing that stupid motor mount.

[Glegor]

I was thinking of installing another belt just as a test. Then if it ran okay I would purchase the rest of the parts from GAP.
But I had other people tell me that If I re-time the engine and there is already bent valves I could damage it more? I can set time on that engine. Only thing that looks like a pain is removing that stupid motor mount.

how are you going to damage parts that are already damaged?

i could see more damage happening if you put the timing belt back on just as the engine stopped, and didnt bother setting the mechanical timing.. but again, i dont see how you are going to further harm parts that are already FU**ED..

the vast majority of the damage will happen as the cam is slowing down much faster than the crank shaft.. once the cam and crank are not in time, the valves like to open and close at the wrong times, and that lets the pistons contact them..

as long as you have a belt on the engine, and the mechanical timing correct, there is NO POSSIBLE WAY to harm the engine any more than it already is..

but like i said, re-time it with a new belt, and TAKE A COMPRESSION READING. dont just try and fire it up.. because if the compression check doesnt pass, then its sure as hell not going to run correctly.. and you can do a compression test just after you get the timing belt re-installed.. you dont even need to finish re-assembling the engine to do a comp test..