timing belts and VW/Audi similarity

[Eyvind Spangen]

On Mon, 21 Aug 2000 13:35:46 -0700, you wrote:

>I have a couple of questions about timing belt replacement:
>
>-As soon as the special tools arrive (Thursday UPS willing)  I am going
>replacing the timing belt on my '87 4kcsq.  I had planned on leaving the
>water pump in and just loosening it to slack the belt, am I asking for
>trouble?  Some of the resent postings make me nervous.

Yes, you're asking for trouble. I've tried this a few times on
different cars - it _always_ starts leaking. Better to replace it.
Remeber to sand the block too, to remove rust.

>-If I do decide to remove the water pump, does anyone know if I can tell the
>VW dealer here in town that I want the water pump (or maybe just the "o"
>ring) for an '87 5 cylinder Quantum and get the correct part?  I have heard
>that they are very similar, but are the engines mechanically identical?   I
>would rather work with an Audi dealer, but there aren't any around and I
>would like to have the dealer option if I can't get it elsewhere.  Also if
>the VW dealer orders the Audi part they charge a 10% fee which is silly to
>pay if I can get the same part with a VW number on it.

I have to pay $70 for a pump, but it is in Europe - probably a lot
cheaper in the US..

-- 
ES