timing belts and VW/Audi similarity

[Buchholz, Steven]

> -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.

As well it should!  If you're going to loosen the water pump then you should
plan on replacing the o-ring ... I always do the pump ... good grief they
are readily available for something like $35!  

Given the fact that you have to remove the crank pulley to do the timing
belt, there is some chance that you could swap the timing belt without
loosening the water pump (this is what I got from the earlier posts.  I know
that I've also been able to work the timing belt off the cam pulley and back
on again.  The thing is that you have got to remember that while trying to
make all of this happen you've also got to make sure that the timing between
the crank and cam are correct ...
> 
> -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.

... yes, the Quantum GL5 has a water pump that is identical to the part in
the Audi.  I must say that I find that 10% surcharge policy to be something
I would question ... as both VW and Audi have the same part system!  

HTH!
Steve Buchholz
San Jose, CA (USA)