who is right?

[gfh]

Recently had the timing belts done on my 2001 transporter cab chassis manual 250ks. Then had the misfortune of needing dual mass flywheel,and thrust bearing,and clutch done about 4 weeks later.Different reputable mechanics did the works.The mechanic that has done the recent works has suggested that the injection timing was not reset because the engine blows smoke when starting.He suggested that this should have been done when the belts were done.

The other mechanic surprise surprise said the timing was reset,and if it was out the vehicle would hardly run.

So who is right?

Is there a factory setting that should not be altered?

Or should it be set to 5 or 5.5 on the meter as stated to me by the second mechanic?

How much smoke is too much? In my case heavy accelaration in most gears leads to smokiness.

HELP!

[vdubmotorworx]

The timing is a total bit#h on them to set up and can blow smoke if incorrect but usually if its out then its big black smoke and also totally no power... Also 99% of the time if the timing on the pump belt is out it wont even start or run..... may be you have a different issue and not to do with the timing.... checked the air filter? if its blocked or dirty it will create smoke......VDUB...

[gfh]

Thanks for the reply. Big black smoke occurs when having to accelarate heavily. Power does not seem to be an issue?

[vdubmotorworx]

the timing can be checked with a diagnostic machine... just needs to be plugged in and read settings that converts on a graph to say if the dynamic timing is correct or not... may be ask the guy if he can recheck it..before that pull out the air filter for a quick inspection...

[gfh]

sorry forgot to mention the filter is clean!

[Seano]

Black smoke can be due to a number of things such as poor quality fuel, dead exhaust cat and fouled/failed injectors...and of course pump timing but as already pointed out the latter will mean poor performance too

[MHAuto]

Recently had the timing belts done on my 2001 transporter cab chassis manual 250ks. Then had the misfortune of needing dual mass flywheel,and thrust bearing,and clutch done about 4 weeks later.Different reputable mechanics did the works.The mechanic that has done the recent works has suggested that the injection timing was not reset because the engine blows smoke when starting.He suggested that this should have been done when the belts were done.

The other mechanic surprise surprise said the timing was reset,and if it was out the vehicle would hardly run.

So who is right?

Is there a factory setting that should not be altered?

Or should it be set to 5 or 5.5 on the meter as stated to me by the second mechanic?

How much smoke is too much? In my case heavy accelaration in most gears leads to smokiness.

HELP!

Setting the pump timing by lift at TDC will get you in the ball park, but should be fine tuned with a scan tool to be 100% correct. See a VW specialist that knows what their doing and have it checked. If the timing is out you normaly get the extended crank time with the black smoke. A little is normal on those bosch VE systems.
Sounds like he half knows what to do, just not fully .

[gfh]

After having all that work done,today I drive along,change gear feel something slip,then lose power,loud engine noise,turn on corner,engine stops.I try to start it and after 2 or 3 trys get it going again,but the engine noise is still there.What is the problem now do we think?

[Transporter]

it sounds expensive.

[gfh]

well after shelling out another $1180 it seems the mechanic who did the belts forgot to tighten a bolt which caused the issue at hand.Fortunately the valves were ok.So do I go back to that mechanic and request a refund?

[Sunny43.5]

If you can prove it then HELL yes go back .

[jets]

Big black smoke occurs when having to accelarate heavily.

That is fairly normal, mine does the same & my timing is spot on.Try to avoid doing that as well as using more fuel it clogs up the EGR valve & inlet manifold.

[jets]

it seems the mechanic who did the belts forgot to tighten a bolt which caused the issue at hand.

I have posted on another forum how important it is that belts change requires careful work with the correct information & tools.
I am not saying that this has occurred in your case but many owners just shop on price when they should be shopping for the best careful mechanic who has done this job many times before with 100% success.
There has been a owner selling parts from his van on Ebay where a belt change went wrong & the resulting damage caused him to write the van off.

[Gigitt]

who is right?

After TB change you still have to check and adjust the VE Injector Pump timing. TB alignment does get you in the ball park so the engine will run. But there is a procedure where you loosen the IP and rotate it ever so slightly alters the timing back to be on spec. You do need VCDS or shop software to check IP timing. As you belt ages it can stretch enough to retard the IP timing again, and so you just adjust the IP again.
I just had the same problem with my Mk3 golf TDI smokey as hell and IP timing off the chart. Reset it and now purring like a Tracktor

[gfh]

Thanks for the input guys.But there is more! After all that work I hear more engine noise the other day. Now it seems that the acoustic balancer needs replacing,also it was found that the belt had turned over itself because it was not tensioned properly by the first mechanic who now no longer works with this firm! Refund likely?