>There is one flaw in this thinking.  as long as the engine is a non-
>interference engine the only thing that would happen if the belt breaks
>is that you could be stranded anywhere and at any time of the day
>without an engine that will run.  If it is an interference engine as the
>TDI is; then you have a engine that needs valves, pistons and maybe a
>head.  The valves collide with the pistons and many expensive noises
>occur.

The crank and rods will suffer too, as may the big-ends and even main
bearings. Camshaft is likely to snap. Any engine which has done this
is possibly better-off scrapped. BTDT.
--
Andrew Grebneff
165 Evans St, Dunedin 9001, New Zealand
<andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
Seashell, Macintosh, VW/Toyota van nut
Hmm, Windows For Dummies...  You got that right!!!
Friends don't let friends do Windows
Macs rock...Windoze wobbles