[Vwdiesel] snapped a head bolt

[LBaird119 at aol.com]

In a message dated 1/31/2010 10:45:54 AM Pacific Standard Time, 
william at taygan.com writes:

> Had a few bubbles in the coolant reservoir on the '91 eco, thought that
> tightening the head bolts might help extend the gasket life.  Used a
> breaker bar.  First one snapped immediately, close down to the block it
> seems (haven't got the head off yet).  Lots of rust on the bolt.  Maybe
> I should have run the engine hot before trying??  Oh my, another
> project.  4F this morning, parked outside.  Guess I'll wait a month or
> so for it to warm up a little before I tear into it..

  Well, that sucks!
  At least a head gasket is about a 2 hour job.  Drain the coolant 
at the straight hose out the back of the water pump.  Disconnect 
the vertical hose to the side of the head and remove the top rad 
hose at the same fitting.  Pull the end hose from the head, sensor 
wires, injector lines, return hose, set to TDC, mark or pin the pump, 
loosen the tensioner and pull the timing belt and/or cam sprocket.
Pop the throttle cable off and out of the way, pop the exhaust spring 
clips or unbolt from the turbo (only if you know they'll come off instead 
of breaking) then pull the head bolts and the head.  :-)
  It was always considered a gravy job at the dealer at 2 hours.  I 
never made gravy on it but I made book.  If you get desperate you 
could always throw a tarp over you and the  hood, put heat and a 
light underneath and get-er-done!
  Vise Grips will probably get that broken bolt out fairly easily, so long 
as it didn't break flush, which they generally don't.  Starting on a warm 
engine is always nice but not mandatory.  Keeps your hands warmer 
anyway.
   Loren