[Johnnyp]

Hi. I bought a seized 2004 4.2 with low km's. I read the fault codes and they were all related to camshaft position. So I assumed we had a 'valve touching piston' issue. The cambelt damper was completely US and the slack in the belt was all on the RHS of engine looking from the front. I've had a camera down the sparkplug holes and can't see anything untoward on the piston crowns.The camshafts are all free, the camchaim tensioners look nearly new and I cannot detect any stuck valves or tappets.

But, I cannot turn the crank.... its that tight. My first question to all you experts is;-
Is there a plate on the bellhousing where I can get in and try and turn the flywheel?
Do these engines have a history of crankshaft seizes?
and just to confirm, the cam belt revolves in an anti clockwise direction? Common sense tells me that, but I'm not taking it for granted.
Or do you think I do in fact have a valve firmly embedded in the top of piston number 2 which is the one at TDC?

Any tips or help would be gratefully received.

Johnny (NZ)

 

[TommiT]

The timing belt, tensioners, water pump and thermostat on the early V8s must be replaced every 80,000 miles or 5 years, which ever comes first.

If the belt breaks the engine is toast as it's an interference fit.

 

[Johnnyp]

Thanks Tommi. Belt isn't broken. Just failed damper.

 

[TommiT]

I stand to be corrected but even if the belt is intact, if the timing has gone out of synch the result might be the same?

It will be a pain but have you got the skill to take the heads off?

 

[Johnnyp]

Yep, heads off is no problem. I've already had the endoscope down the cylinders and can't see any damage to the piston crowns. I would just like to be able to turn the crank to see whether this is a full bottom end rebuild required or just the heads - hence my questions about accessing the flywheel.

If its bent a con rod or welded a big end to the crank I'll just take the engine out rather than taking the heads off in situ.

Any past experiences or suggestions are welcome.

 

[nickyt]

This might help out. Hopefully someone did not run it out of oil or something else stupid.

I have been following the Touareg since 2004. I have read almost everything here about the 4.2 V8 AXQ. I do not recall anyone posting that they had the bottom end go out.

Now the top end, the cam shaft tensioners, the little connecting timing chains, and the valves when the belt breaks... plenty of problems with those.

I guess I am saying that Statistically, your problem is not likely to be the lower end. But, I would expect the engine to turn over and something is stopping it.

Heck, other than the engine seizing, the only thing that would keep it from turning is if some dummy installed the timing lock bolt for a timing belt change, and did not remove it. The vehicle will go into neutral, correct?

 

[nickyt]

Hey, you have an endoscope. Remove the plug that covers where you insert the timing belt lock. See if you can scope the lower engine from there.

You need to open it anyway and make sure that Springfield Homer the Nuclear Engineer and Touareg Mechanic did not leave the engine locked down.

 

[Johnnyp]

The tensioners and chains are all like new. Whereabouts would the timing lock bolt be? That sounds a possibility. As I say, I bought it as non runner and the top belt covers were already off. Thanks guys!

 

[Johnnyp]

and yes, it goes into neutral with the ignition key in and a charge in the battery. Thanks

 

[Johnnyp]

Could the crankshaft locking pin still be engaged even if the engine is not a TDC? The engine is seized with number 2 piston at TDC

 

[Johnnyp]

I think I can answer that myself... looks like that there are several holes in the crankshaft. If someone has put the locking pin into the wrong hole, that may cause the crank to be locked up in a position, other than TDC.

 

[nickyt]

FYI: Pictures of locking pin plug location for timing...

I recently replaced the timing belt on my Touareg. I struggled to find the plug that needed removed to install the locking pin (VW tool 3242). I searched on several forums and found other people struggled with this as well and many timing belt repairs talked about not using this all together...

www.clubtouareg.com