i had a similar thing happen a year or so ago but since i didn't have the
proper spanner tool when i put the belt on it was to tight and i knew it
but ran it that way.  anyway it ripped many teeth off the belt but the
belt was still on :).  the belt was like 10 years old.  those belts are
reinforced with some type of fiber and all that fiber made a nice big mess
for me.  fortunately i now have the spanner and more time for maint.

jonathan

On Thu, 12 Jan 2006, Dennis Haynes wrote:

> 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
>
>
>