Replacing the timing belt is done much more often than replacing the chain. Therefore, if you have an engine with a volume of 1.4 liters, pay attention to the timing drive. If the belt breaks, it may break. Sometimes the teeth even lick off, which leads to the displacement of the belt on the shafts. This will affect the operation of the valves.
Several engines are used on Volkswagen Polo vehicles. Cars in the sedan body are equipped with an engine with a volume of 1.6 liters, and the gas distribution mechanism is driven by a chain. On motors with a volume of 1, 4 liters, a belt is used. To be sure that you have a belt, just look at the engine itself. If there is a belt, then it will be covered with a plastic cover. If there is a chain, then it is covered with a metal casing.
What to change with the belt
The most important thing is the belt itself. Despite the fact that the manufacturer has set a service life for it at 90 thousand kilometers, it wears out much faster. Severe wear of the belt leads to its breakage, and this will be followed by an expensive repair of the block head. Unfortunately, there are no scrapes on the valves (recesses for the valves), so when a break occurs, the pistons hit the valves with a strong blow.
Replacement is best done every 60 thousand kilometers. Moreover, together with the belt, it is imperative to change both the pump and the tension roller. The pump must be replaced, as its bearing wears out, the gear wheel tilts slightly, which causes a gradual displacement of the belt. As a result, the belt slowly but surely begins to grind against the side of the roller.
The period of 60 thousand kilometers is also the time for the development of the accessory drive belt. These include a generator, power steering pump, air conditioning compressor. Of course, after a break in the drive belt of these mechanisms, engine repair will not follow. But certain inconveniences will still arise. Therefore, it is better to replace everything at once.
How to replace the timing belt
The first step is to prepare the car for repair. To be sure, throw off the negative terminal from the battery, and also drain the coolant from the system. Do not only do this on a hot engine. First, hot liquid can scald. Secondly, when installing a new belt on a hot engine, a shift in valve timing may occur. So let the motor cool down, have some tea, tune in to work.
Lift the right side of the car and remove the wheel to expose the pulley on the crankshaft. Remove the protection by unscrewing the bolts, then loosen the accessory drive belt and remove it. If it is still in good condition, then throw it in the trunk under the spare tire. Maybe someday there will be trouble on the road and you will have to replace this belt.
Now loosen the nut on the roller, the belt will slack. Remove the old timing belt, then double-check the coincidence of the marks on the camshaft and crankshaft gears. Dismantle the pump and replace it with a new one, only now you can put the belt. Make sure that the marks do not stray, otherwise the operation of the valves will be disrupted. Tighten the roller and reassemble in the reverse order.
