Words fail me

[Paul Heneghan]

>From: "Phil Payne" <quattro at isham-research.com>
>Date: Tue, 5 Feb 2002 01:33:50 +0100
>
>... an Audi 200 (1988, 1B engine - MC with smog removed) that wouldn't
>start.
>... It's a "Jim Haseltine" engine - sheared crank Woodruff key with the
>fragments destroying the crank seal.  Obviously some twat had changed
>the belt and not tightened the bolt properly.  There's also no trace
>of AMV 108 001 02 or any equivalent - some tatty old Loktite or
>something.

I brought my old Avant to a fairly reputable garage about 7 years ago to
have the cam belt changed.  A couple of months later, the engine lost almost
all power.  This was accompanied by the econometer indicating that there was
a serious problem with the vacuum.  I worked out that the valve timing was
out by a few teeth, assumed that the belt had jumped, and reset it.  It was
fine for a day or two, and then the engine gradually lost power again.  This
time, I started dismantling the timing components and discovered that I
could almost undo the crank bolt with my bare fingers!  Inside the crack
pulley was no sign of a Woodruff key, only a few iron filings.  Obviously
insufficient torque was used to do up the crank bolt (AUDI should NEVER have
specified that torque figure obtainable with their special extension and
torque wrench - they should have given the correct figure and also the
figure obtained with their setup!).  I don't think any locking compound was
used either, but I can't be sure.

It's the last time I've used the 'professionals' to fix my car  I've done
all my own maintenance on two old high-mileage (180K and >250K) Audis and
they have been ultra reliable ever since.

It's a bad state of affairs when you're put into the position of either:
a) neglecting to change your cam belt and bursting your engine
b) paying the professionals to change your cam belt, having them cock it up
and then bursting your engine.

Paul






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