Crank Trigger Wheel Sheared

[considerik]

Turns out the pressure plate loosened itself up and sheared the 3 bolts off. So can I ask for suggestions. I know I need to pull the crank and get these screws out to replace them, so where can I find these? Are they stretch bolts, what are the chances this will happen again?
External mount trigger wheel? Does that need a stand alone system to make work? I just want this thing going again. Also I can't find one of the screw heads. Any funny spots these like to hide?

By the way the brown crap is plastic, any clue what it is?

[considerik]

bump

[Anony00GT]

Take the advice in your own sig

I'm confused as to what happened exactly. The pressure plate loosened and sheared 3 bolts, and you need to pull the crankshaft to get them out? I can't see how that would mess up the crankshaft sensor trigger wheel though? If you're going to pull the crank, I believe you can get just a new trigger wheel.

You may have to go to the dealer to get the proper pressure plate bolts, they're M10x1.0, which isn't exactly common at your corner hardware store. I don't know if they're technically stretch bolts or not, but I'm going to say no because I've re-used countless pressure plate bolts (install them with a drop of loc-tite) and never had a problem. I'd say if you put them back nice and tight with a little loc-tite, this problem won't repeat itself.

[considerik]

Haha yeah.

The pressure plate bolts became loose and the slack that was there when I downshifted, must have slapped the crank so hard that it sheared the trigger wheel screws right off from the momentum. The trigger wheel looks physically intact, but I don't see a way of getting a drill and screw extractor in there to get the body of the screw out of the crankshaft. Without pulling the shaft, and wanting to replace bearings and seals and all. I just hope the PP bolts didn't oval anything out

[Anony00GT]

Yeah you're going to have to pull the crankshaft then.

They might have ovaled out the pressure plate, but might as well replace the clutch assembly while you're in there.

[considerik]

Pulled the trans out of the way and realized there is just enough room to get these screws out and back in without pulling the crank out. The pressure plate turned out to be just fine. The clutch and all is new so it would have been a shame to have to replace if it was all torn up.

But I am going to replace it since the little 190mm doesn't grab very well. I will just hold on to it.

Do you by chance know the orientation of the flat spot on the trigger wheel as to where it lines up on the crank?

As in, I have three options for installing the wheel to the crank.

[Anony00GT]

IIRC , the gap in the teeth should coincide with #1 TDC.

[considerik]

That's my guess too. I'm picking up the screws tonight, I will see if it lines up to that.

[jettatech]

Sensor gear For Engine Speed (RPM) sensor -G28- Always replace
bolts-10 Nm (7 ft lb) plus additional (90°) turn Always replace

as per repair manual.

Now, on my OBD1 ABA crank sitting in a box, the missing teeth line up with #2 and #3 TDC. I never had the wheel off. use loctite on the bolts, hardcore builds have even tigged em in place. I know for a fact if the wheel is off, the car may run like poop, or not at all. V6 Passats ATQ engine code have reluctor wheel on the drive plate. I have seen 2 cases where aftermarket shops force the driveplate on wrong, causing the missing teeth to be located improperly. On the ATQ passat V6 engine, when you set the motor up to TDC its actually #3 TDC, where the missing teeth can be seen from crank sensor hole. HTH bern

[Anony00GT]

Now, on my OBD1 ABA crank sitting in a box, the missing teeth line up with #2 and #3 TDC.

Interesting. I'm going to look this one up tomorrow when I get a minute, see what my service info says on the subject.

[considerik]

Nice thank you, I was looking for the torque spec on this.

This is one instance where you wish the holes were offset so it only went one way. It will be cool to see if OBD II is any different. Seeing as I am OBD II.

[Anony00GT]

Jettatech is correct, I also can find nothing telling what the orientation of that gear should be.

[considerik]

Looks like it lines up the exact same way for OBD II. Everything is all loctited up and almost ready to run again. Just waiting for some clutch parts. Thanks for your input.

[Anony00GT]

Looks like it lines up the exact same way for OBD II. Everything is all loctited up and almost ready to run again. Just waiting for some clutch parts. Thanks for your input.

Where did you find that info? Or just trial-and-error?

[considerik]

Where did you find that info? Or just trial-and-error?

Well I don't know if it runs yet, but the flat spot lines up with 2-3 TDC as well. I assume it's the same.

[jettatech]

my obd2 crank doesnt have the wheel, or else i would have looked at that one for ya. fingers crossed.

[Anony00GT]

Well I don't know if it runs yet, but the flat spot lines up with 2-3 TDC as well. I assume it's the same.

So trial-and-error. Word

[considerik]

Trial-and-error sure worked! (But no error)
It runs again! Thanks for the help