Actually, on the 8 valve engines, the timing belts rarely break. Usually
they get loose due to the lack of a compensating Tensioner, and then at
the most inopportune time, 2 or 3 teeth will shear off they go around
the crank sprocket allowing the crank to continue turning with moving
the belt.

Dennis

-----Original Message-----
From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com] On Behalf
Of Tim Demarest
Sent: Monday, January 09, 2006 12:03 PM
To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
Subject: NVC: Re: interference engines.....was Re: How much would this
cost

Thanks Chris, but now you've done it... given me an excuse to put the
job
off longer. Maybe I should at least move that belt from the shelf to the
trunk of the Jetta, so I have it with me when I get stuck by the side of
the road... :-)

btw - it's the 2.0, I was waaaay too cheep to spring for the extra $4K
to
drive away from the showroom with with a VR6,

tim.. '97 jettas wont bend valves if you break the TB.  the only engine
>offered in '97 on the mk3's was the 2.0 8v or the Vr6,  neither of
which is an
>interference engine... i think the TDI is an interference engine,
though...
>
>chris