Sounds like they were talking about the accessory belt and it has one tensioner pulley. Cannot refer to that pulley as “passenger side”…Easy and quick repair, definitely not worth $1000
If they were talking about the timing belt, it’s a little bit more complicated because you need camshaft pulley locking tool and crankshaft locking pin. There’s one tension pulley (asymmetrical centered pulley) and then a hydraulic piston tensioner pulley, both in the center. Not easy as the accessory belt but nothing that special if you follow the steps and have the 2 locking tools. Water pump and thermostat must be changed while doing the timing belt, usually they come with the kit.
And then there are the camshafts chain tensioners, driver and passenger side. Reading your symptoms I don’t think they were talking about those tensioners, but definitely don’t overlook them especially if your Touareg sounds rough when started. My oem ones lasted for over 200k miles. A more complicated repair, torque wrench is a must and you need the 2 locking tools too because you cannot do it without removing the timing belt…
I did those three repairs at the same time plus new valve cover gaskets and tensioner gaskets…
If they were talking about the timing belt, it’s a little bit more complicated because you need camshaft pulley locking tool and crankshaft locking pin. There’s one tension pulley (asymmetrical centered pulley) and then a hydraulic piston tensioner pulley, both in the center. Not easy as the accessory belt but nothing that special if you follow the steps and have the 2 locking tools. Water pump and thermostat must be changed while doing the timing belt, usually they come with the kit.
And then there are the camshafts chain tensioners, driver and passenger side. Reading your symptoms I don’t think they were talking about those tensioners, but definitely don’t overlook them especially if your Touareg sounds rough when started. My oem ones lasted for over 200k miles. A more complicated repair, torque wrench is a must and you need the 2 locking tools too because you cannot do it without removing the timing belt…
I did those three repairs at the same time plus new valve cover gaskets and tensioner gaskets…
