Unexpected detour

[kirinn]

So yesterday on the way home from work, some bits of my car decided to come loose and half-disintegrate themselves against the freeway pavement. Fun times. On inspection when I got home, I found plastic panels under the engine had come half-unbolted. They were too far gone to salvage, so I just cut them off with gardening shears to keep things

Comments

[david_f_smith]

At the very least, you might could save a buck or two on the timing belt by buying the parts yourself. What model Golf is yours again?

[kirinn]

'99 2-door hatchback. Not TDI or GTI, which I looks like it means it has the 2.0L L4 engine. I think made in Germany rather than Mexico, if that makes a difference.

[david_f_smith]

Cool. You could snag something like Gates part number TCKWP296, with a new timing belt, tensioner, and water pump, for about 90 bucks plus shipping, it looks like. (Usually it's a good idea to replace the water pump along with the timing belt.) When you're calling around, ask 'em how much the parts would cost, see if it's any more than that.

[kirinn]

Ok, where would I go about getting that from? And how do you find this shit in the first place? If I go to Gates' site I can look up that product number and identify it as a barely helpful "Automotive -> Belts -> PowerGrip® Timing Component Kits", which doesn't really even tell me what's in it. And of course they don't sell directly anyway. Man, I hate specialized sub-genres of retail/supply that seem to thrive on *not* making any information easily accessible to the non-specialists if they can possibly help it.

[pmb]

Do you need transmission work (automatic) or your clutch replaced (manual)? The main expense for timing belts is the work of accessing the timing belt, which means that there is often a discount on combined work that needs access to the same areas.

[kirinn]

Manual, and hasn't been giving me any particular trouble. Very occasionally it has trouble going into first with the clutch in when starting up, but going into another gear fixes it.

They did suggest I might want to get the water pump replaced at the same time for that same reason, though.

[protension]

my clutch went out around 110k, which I've read is typical for german cars. if you're replacing your timing belt around 60k, then save the combo work for your 2nd new timing belt :)
just don't let them steam-clean your engine

[kirinn]

Uh, no, I *am* at 110k, and have had neither replaced so far. Hrm.

Did your clutch start giving you trouble gradually, or go all of a sudden?