As a professional mechanic of over 40 years let me congratulate you on an excellent video. Actually one of the better automotive repair videos I have seen. Very thorough and precise. There's only one thing that I would do differently. I never crank the engine over with the starter. I turn the engine over by hand several several times to make sure I'm not coming in contact with a valve. And verify my timing marks. But excellent video thank you.

The only auto repair channel I watch. I never could understand people on different channels, so I quit wasting my time watching them. If I have questions, doubts, or need to learn how to do something - I always come straight to Matt's channel.

Hi Matt, greets from England. These are everyday fare over here, I`ve personally done 4 in the last 12 months, and they`re not too scary. Working at an independant BMW specialist, we tend to get a lot of "exotic" european marques, with some complex timing belt arrangements. But the way to be relaxed about it is to follow the universal golden rules. Always turn the engine manually TWO complete revolutions, as you did, but with the plugs removed, (I know it`s a pain, but it gives tremendous peace of mind) before you install the outer cover. If there`s going to be any kind of mechanical interference, you`ll feel it by hand, and you`ll have the opportunity to corect it. Once you`ve done that, always re-check that your timing marks/locking pins etc line up as intended, again as you correctly did. And if you want to be reassured more, do it over again. I`m not a fan of running the engine, or cranking it before I`ve replaced the cover and crank pulley. This requires you being away from the area in question there are often compenents within these that hold the belt in track, without them in place, belts can "walk" themselves off a pulley while the engine is turning if unattended. By following the hallowed golden rules, I have never had a failure. The only failures I`ve had, (and in 35 years, there`s been one or two) is when I`ve failed to follow the golden rules. As for the tensioner indicator, there`s no need to be too anal about the exact positioning, once the engine has run for a while, and the nap of the belt fibres have worn to a nice polished surface, you`ll find the the pointer will move away from the indicator anyway Hope that helps. On another note, I`m plain gobsmacked that the noise was mis-diagnosed elsewhere, ten seconds and a stethoscope, or a bar, or a screwdriver, or even a bloody pencil would have found that the noise was coming from the timing belt cover area, and about 15 minutes to get the cover off would have pinpointed the fault. Dolts.... Top show sir...Carry on... Show less ·

I am going to assume any thumbs downs are from people who have destroyed their engines or PCMs from watching my videos because they have no aptitude or don't know how to follow basic instructions... my latest known count of individuals who have done this to their own cars so far on my channel is 13. Let's see how many people there actually are like that... This should be fun!!!

MAN!!!! You just showed me how much mechanics actually go through to do this, but that it doesn't take two days to get it done either. Just marking and verifying all of your marking when doing it. Thanks for the videos.

You are bad ass bro!! After countless hours of trying to find a competent human being that I could at least comprehend let alone believe or trust. Just when I was about to Just give up and tackle it head on I stumbled on to your video. Thank God. You made it so easy and logical that it all made sense. Thank you again my good sir

Thanks to your attention to detail on the timing belt replacement you probably saved a whole family of little engine valves. Good job and great camera work. Thanks

Thank you for this video. I spent a day looking for info on the tension setting.

I think you have the best overall everything that makes a great tutorial: knowledge of project requirements, lighting, videography well done, simple explanation. I'm an electrician and being absolutely right when working on electrical components is absolutely essential. Being logical and smart really helps me understand with certainty, my timing belt replacement project will be done right. I believe also not coming back to a project after I have finished working on it. Well done, sir!

Still have my 2001 Jetta 2.0 manual, drives like a fucking champ. A lot of people don’t seem to understand that VWs are not racing cars. If you drive them correctly, they’ll last 20+ years. Cheers man.

I have watched several of your videos now. You are the most professional non-professional mechanic I have run across.

Excellent video! I like to watch videos before I do the job to gather as much info as possible and you helped me on loading the tensioner for the timing belt like a champ. I appreciate it and so does my girls vw beetle. Thanks!

Hey Matt. A great video. Watching you work it out as you go along with the scanner was reassuring. It was reality at work. I agree that you still need the knowledge just in case you cannot depend on your equipment. I am looking forward to part 3 with more of the same. You explain things so well and with commitment.

This is going to be my next project, 2004 VW BEETLE DIESEL and you SIR...you are the MAN!!! Love your attitude!!!

Excellent video. I was slightly disappointed not to see the engine running after the noise video, and this certainly satisfied my need for the quick gratification of seeing someone else fix an engine!

I have a similar engine requiring a new belt, i will take it to a proper VW mechanic. As this is not a belt to be replaced by an amateur. Thanks for pointing this obvious fact to me, you saved me from potentially destroying my car.

Outstanding tuition. Hard to believe that no other video featured the importance of correct tensioning. But then again, no other channel on KZfaq can sport this guy's knowledge of the scientific aspect of auto repair.

I truly appreciate your absolute meticulous detail, and rechecking/verifying your timing. I have an 02 Jetta 2.0 that just quit starting, it cranks but won't start and I was going over all the possibilities, one of them being timing belt. Keep posting and minus all the negative comments I take myself as an old shade tree mechanic and as long as I have s reference to from I am not afraid to try and fix it, so saving this video and look forward to any others you may post

Fantastic. I am r/r my WP, Tensioner and elt today and this popped. I am very glad you posted this.

excellent video. I'm a mechanic trained specifically for gm and Ford and have recently moved to a dealership with several German products. the biggest bane of my existence is this specific engine and vehicle. Google, KZfaq, and Mitchell's has yet to give me anything near this informative. thank you for this vehicles video. I'm sorry I don't have a dollar though!

I’ve watched this video a few times in the last year. Christ just blessed me with a 1999 beetle AEG today and it’s got about 233,000mi. I ordered a gates belt kit and the tool for the timing tensioner. And I bid on a whole top end gasket kit. May as well. Valve seals and a new head gasket probably won’t hurt a thing. Thanks for the excellent content.

Great video! The reason I watched it is because I did a timing belt and water pump replacement on my 2003 2.0 VW Jetta approximately 2 to 3 years ago. I am now in the process of replacing the timing belt tensioner because the bearing is failing. Apparently, I did not install the tensioner properly. Thank you for your video.

I stumbled on your channel recently. As a professional mechanic I have to say this is one of the best channels out there for automotive information. Please keep making these entertaining and informative videos. You claim to be a do-it-yourselfer, well I work with other "professionals" who don't possess the skills you have. Nice work.

Well done, I love your style of teaching and your frankness about the shortcomings of other instruction video's...I didn't find the link to donate though

Thank you for your video sir. This is my first Volkswagen and I am in the middle of a turbocharger installation and I wanted to replace things like the timing belt, water pump, head gasket, and I also installed a set of ARP head studs while I was at it. Where I left off last night was at tensioning the timing belt and it's a good thing that I watched your video because I have the tensioner's tabs on the wrong side of the head (I went off of whoever installed the previous tensioner). Once again, thank you for your video!

hands down one of the best mechanics on youtube. there are 2 or 3 other honorable mentions. I hate watching people on youtube try to teach and cannot get it right. thank you for showing the PROPER way to do stuff. many will try, few will get right. subscribed.

This is with out any question THE BEST video on this topic ... thank you, thank you, thank you for making this ....... totally perfect! I am only days from doing my first AEG 2.0 engine timing belt service ... so glad I found your video first .... I will sure as heck give you a donation ...... so worth it

Lost how you aligned camshaft so relieved i saw this good video and agree with your youtube analysis of timing belt videos of present and yore.

A gentleman & a scholar! Thanks for the details!

This is the Best description, instructional video on setting the timing belt. Step by step, accurate instructions which is the most important of this job. Thank you.

What a precise work thanks for the class

This is the only video in the entire KZfaq video collection that guides timing belt change for a VW engine resembling my own car. See I own a Passat B5.5 with engine code AZM. A 2.0L petrol naturally aspirate engine. Thanks for the video, now I have the confidence to change my timing belt.

no I was very pleased to see this im a mechanic and this was a proper install which is near impossible to find on here thank u

I've done more than 50 of these without incident. The first one is the scariest. They're really not that picky. These motors are found and serviced in parts of the world where clean water and literacy are hard to come by. They may have been designed by Germans, but most are built in Mexico of crudely cast components and inexpensive materials.... and they still just go like crazy anyway. Gotta love'em!

I was wondering why the belt was so loose !!!! I guess this video saved it from disaster !!! Thanks so much !!!!!

Thank you, I seriously was looking for a video on how to set the tension.

PS: this does have a timing mark on the outer crankshaft pulley (it should be at 12 o'clock, and there's a mark on the block to it)... i hope i'm not annoying... cheers!!! Kudos for the excellent work, usually the water pump is replaced with the belt and tensioner...

Because I read a guide on a reputable forum that said to tension clockwise, I’m now praying I didn’t kill something in my engine. Thanks for the information! It’s mildly horrifying that the wrong information is SO popular.

Just bought a 04 Jetta 2.0 and it runs great no check engine light on.However I really want to change the belt and water pump and tensioner for peace of mind.Your video will be watched several times before I start and I will reference to it as I do the job.Thanks from Baltimore Maryland .

thanks for the info on the belt's tension, good video, just did a '98 beetle last night, really helpfull!

Thanks bud for posting this. I have a 99.5 GLS and a friend has a 01 gl that both need belts soon. couldn't find shit for info on how to do it motor in the car the right way!!! probably watched 15+ videos. time to embark into what was once the unknown.

Awesome job...TY for taking time to show us the correct way!

excellent video! I'm getting ready to change a camshaft position sensor and timing belt on my 99 Jetta 2.0 AEG..wish me luck!

Thank you! This was an epic video. Doing this Saturday

Schrondingers Box thank you very much for a such a detailed video. I didn't know how important that tensioner setting was until I watched your video. I was about to drive my car and I noticed that the tensioner isn't in the right settings after installing a new timing belt... you saved my car and lots of cash for me.. I will throw a few dollars for you in the donation box! Thank you

I'll be doing this repair next week under basic maintenance. Last time it was changed was 80k, and we are at about 157k currently. Car still runs like a top! Oddly enough we where at a pick and pull yard today, and I decided to inspect the timing belt on the Beetle it had in the yard. If that belt wasn't already gone? It was darn close! Back of the belt checkered with tiny splits, some pretty deep. Looks like no one paid attention to it. Probably wouldn't have lasted to long. Looked more like dry rot was starting to set in. Thanks for the detailed information on this.

Awesome!!! Thanks for the detailed recording.

Actually a great video. I did run into exactly that issue when i changed a timing belt on a passat last winter, it was my first time doing a timing belt and i had no idea how to set the tension. Just about every video i watched did skip this part.. (oddly enough in all my search i didn't find this video, would have helped me a lot!) Based on a vague forum post regarding a totally different vw engine that said something about aligning arrows i figured out how to set the tensioner by myself, i just turned every moving part in every direction it could go until i figured out how this thing works.. Tension was set perfectly.. sadly didn't help the engine, it was retired due to high oil consumtion soon after.

awesome! video! agree nobody else did the tensioner description you did! love it

Great video awesome channel am a mechanic in the uk been so 20 years and have learned some great information from this channel . Always learning.

I have one of these in my future. Thank you for the info.

Brilliant stuff thank you best wishes from the UK

I work as a tech in a dealership and man you are professional! would totally get my car fixed by you if I didnt fix it myself :)

Thank very much for showing my how to set the tension. VW dealer wanted $2048 to fix the po343.

Lol i know this is an old video but it popped up when i did a search. Anyway, i have the aptitude to do a timing belt replacement BUT I watch the videos for tips and tricks. I save a lot on my own time watching someone take off all the stuff needed and whatever helpful stuff they mention about the job along the way. So don't diss the simple stuff you should know if your doing this job

I got a minute in on another video detailing this process, but the guy was evidently a complete hack... Glad I found your clip, thanks!

Thanks for the torque specs!!! Same engine as Seat Ibiza 2015 2.0L The serpentine belt pulley that bolts on the crankshaft socket has a notch the lines up with a notch on the inner timing belt backing plate. This is your #1 piston at TDC.

The mark on the flywheel can be very useful. You can check your timing without having to take off the crankshaft pulley (in a pinch)! Great explanation on the tensioner!

I love your attitude. I'm ASE certified but I consider myself a DIY mechanic because I've never been formally trained by a dealer etc. One thing I do personally is I use the Crank to tension the left side of the timing belt. Where there's a gig gap between teh Cam(s) and the crank. This is generally the reason why people end up 1 tooth off. To use teh crank as a tensioner it's fairly simple. You just turn the crank clockwise about 5 degrees. So the timing marks will no longer line up on just the crank. You do this AFTER removing the old belt. All other timing marks should line up. Then you install the new belt and get it as tight as you can by hand. When your ready to tension the belt you turn the crank counter clockwise this time until the timing marks line up. This will tension the belt on the left side and remove the slop between the cams and the crank. Make sure all timing marks are lined up before you adjust the actual tensioner. This tensions other side where the water pump is. I essentially use the crank as a second tensioner. Now turn the engine over 4 complete cycles and check the timing marks. Everything should be perfect and the belt should be properly tensioned.

Subscribing. Finally.....I searched for a long time before you had made this video. Just happy someone with knowledge finally made a BA video!!!!

Intelligent explanations. Wow. What a concept. THANKS!

Hey man thank you very much for this. I recently bought a 01 golf with a 2.0 and the tensioner is squeaking so i think its time to replace all of it. Only 117k miles., and this video makes it a whole lot easier 👍

you are the best man , thank you very much for all the video you post i watch mostly all of them

so glad i found this video!!!

Turning the tensioner either direction 5 times is to settle the belt, and cam and crank sprockets into position and removes some of the slack that may be present so your belt doesn't skip when turning it over to confirm the marks, I also release the lock nut on the tensioner after barring the engine around 360 and re-tension the belt and re-set the tensioner marks once again. Just a tip from a VW tech. Nice vid and you certainly saved your friend from a catastrophic failure.

Excellent video! Great job!

Gracias. I have some issues with the tensioner, but now I am ready to do that job in my Jetta.

I'm a firm believer in the Dayco timing belt book. If anyone ever needed all data it would be you S...the v6 has an awesome setup for a timing belt...that would make a slick video...thumbs up!

Thank you for the Video from Germany :)

Great video on this specific application. You did great detail about the tensioner and position. I am a mechanic myself. The window at the transmission is another timing mark that you can use as an option. However, I do have just a couple of remarks. It is easy to run the belt starting at the crank like your instructions say. Your not going to rotate the crank when you pull the belt. You're the only person I have seen to bump the motor over by the switch and not have what you took loose reinstalled. And also I have never seen anyone start the motor without the motor mount installed to check your work. But you did hit the mark about the tensioner. I have seen one other video that a guy mentioned about it and that was all.

VW's 1.9 Diesel is slightly easier to do as it does have the timing mark on the crank pully. Also the tensioner has a hole for an allen key to rotate it instead of the need for a special tool. Really goods videos, and love your explanations. Thank you

excellent video excellent cut to the chase repair

Excellent video! Perfect explanation for an amateur mechanic like me to allow me to properly set the timing and timing belt tensioner. Unfortunately I just finished doing this job yesterday and I did not discover this video until today. Needless to say, although I feel I followed the main details of the procedure, this video points out to enough detail that I did not focus on so that I may be re-doing the job this weekend :(. Great job on the video and explanation! Thank you.

wow i can onystly say this video was very helpfull especially with the tenshion puller!!

Great thorough video

you’re a great person for this

I just did this job same car yesterday and it went well. The water pump was difficult to remove because one Neanderthal rolled the o-ring out of place putting it in last time and another Neanderthal ran it on straight hose water.

thanks , good info on tension set up had no idea.

great video man thanks I did not know about the tensioner position

You're awesome man!!! Thanks so much!!

awesome video. thanks for the great camera angles.

By the way, great video! Very informative.

unlike other, keep doing just as u have,love it.

this may be five years old now but its still the most accurate example I could find much obliged Schrodinger's Box

Excellent video and attention to detail. I would use the other videos to show how to access the timing belt and your video to put it all back together correctly. I had a timing belt installed by a mechanic but luckily I needed a water pump and the VW tech saw that the timing belt tensioner was put on backwards.

Excellent information. Well done. Many thanks.

thanks! I've had the same problem with the engine light on, didn't know how to correctly get the crankshaft on time with no marks on that side of the engine, Never thought of any marks on the flywheel :) compared to this a TSI chain is a piece of cake :D

Thanks for you video. Helps me a lot. Excellent

Thank you!! Great content. Definitely a must video. Good for you..

Great video dude. Loved it

The paint marks make it easier for you and for the next owner! Great job man. Never set timing before but I just replaced my valve springs due to a burnt few. But I have confidence I can do it.

Awesome video! Thank you so much!

Another great video sir

I think you have the best overall everything that makes a great tutorial: knowledge of project requirements, lighting, videography well done, simple explanation. Thank you much for this wanderfull video.

Thanks Matt very informative

Thanks for sharing 👍it did fix a problem that I have after a run up. I can sleep in Pease now. God bless

nice work! very helpful!

Love the idea of skipping the nuts and bolts parts, if someone complains about that, they probably shouldn't be doing this type of jobs but you already said it so GOOD JOB AGAIN.

Excellent vídeo.Good job.

Good pointers, thanks for the video