The Project Pad

How does this keep happenening to you? Did the crank pulley look worn when you put it on? Did the bolt some how come loose? I agree with 85oceanic, you are having some really bad luck with this lately!

The wire that shorted out melted itself to other wires inside the harness

AngryTaco wrote:The wire that shorted out melted itself to other wires inside the harness

Well see exactly what happened tonight. The only logical explanation is the crank key

I have a feeling its more than just the key... if it was just the key you would have been alright. My guess is either the crank bolt backed out (or may have been overlooked and not torqued) or sheared (I know, its huge, but they do have a finite lifespan and can only be torqued to the stratosphere so many times - I toss them as new ones are $15}. That really sucks...

Yeah good possibilty it was both. Well find out tonight. Either way Im going to try and fid something cheap and reliable and just park the Audi and Dodge. I really want a TDI Golf but if i can find a diesel MKII jetta running aroud that would e just ad good

I know a guy here in Dallas selling his '00 TDi Golf. Has 300k on it and he still wants $5k. Of course he also told me he wanted $18k for his '01 4.2l A6

LOL yea no.....if anyone wants to sell me something reliable and cheap let me know

Update? Figure it out yet?

Dis is nuts man. Sorry for the troubles. Hopefully you get it sorted. Also having a small cheap diesel for add when you drive that many miles is absolutely the way to go.

I think I may end up with a metro like you Matt. Eventually I'll drop a sled engine in it or even a Harley motor lol. Been one of those "bucket list" things....

Anyways. The crank key sheared completely into multiple pieces. The bolt was fine. No explanation at this point.

Did you put the crank pully on with an air gun or torque wrench? Im not saying I've never done it. But I have since learned how important it is to do it with a torque wrench so you don't damage the crank sprocket. when I put my 20VT back together on my coupe, I found there was play in the keyway caused by the air gun I was using. They are too fragile. I got a new one for piece of mind insurance.

do the rubber in your crank pulley have a self destructing wobble?

I used a wrench. Learned a long time ago never to use an impact gun on crank or cam.

Tim, I have noticed a small wobble since owning it. Is it possible to use different balancers with the crank or does the crank need to have its specific balancer. I adk because a buddy has a COG for me and an extra balancer but Im unsure if I can use it with my crank

AngryTaco wrote:
Tim, I have noticed a small wobble since owning it. Is it possible to use different balancers with the crank or does the crank need to have its specific balancer. I adk because a buddy has a COG for me and an extra balancer but Im unsure if I can use it with my crank

any 20vt pulley will work, a wobble can create some pretty nasty harmonics if its too far out, that said there is a bently spec for allowed wobble, jsut not sure what it is

search around you cna probly find the spec somewhere, maybe MG

I can always check my bently when I'm not lazy lol.

Cool, his pulley is in real good condition so I'll black silicon all the rubber to seal it and use that and the COG he's going to give me

The exact same thing happened to my Daily 5000.
The keyway on the pulley exploded. Turn the crank and the belt didn't turn.
I originally thought it just had a loose belt. It died in a parking lot, I re-timed it real quick and drove it home. After taking it apart I found the keyway exploded. Not sure how I still had it running....?
I also found the main crank bolt to be super loose. Maybe 50 foot pounds of torque on it. I loosened it without the crank lock tool. Improper timing bet job I believe.


Sorry to hear dude!

yeah its a real shame right now. I've made a decision though as far as the cars go.

I'm going to fix it.....meticulously. Depending on how many bent exhaust valves there are, I may decide to hop them up to the 35mm oversized. Might as well spend the extra $25 for more PAH right? Plus machine work yada yada for new seats but whatever.

Then, I am going to go find myself one of 3 vehicles. EIther a 1.6 Diesel VW Caddy Pickup, a Metro, or a Fiesta. I'm going to use one of those as a permanent SLOW DD. Everything fast I own NEEDS to be parked for at least 2-3 months....almost ended up in Jail last night. I will then begin my experiments with Hydrogen gas generators and attempt to get as much MPG as possible out of my daily while the Audi and the Dodge are P A R K E D UPON WHICH they will ONLY be driven every now and then during the summer. I will use the Audi as a backup during Winter months and the Friday/Saturday night snow drifts.

This way I can actually focus on making the car and Truck RIGHT without all the added maintenance to get in the way

Jeez, all these stories of 20vt's loosing the key in the crank cog. Kind of scary. If your buddy falls threw with the cog and pulley, let me know. I have a few that I wont be using.

Probably a good idea to get a slow econobox. Help save yourself and your money.

Very strange. Guess I wasnt under the impression that the 20vt crank pulleys had the same issue as the 20v's. I suppose I was lucky to have zero issues after I tossed the MC into my 4ktq.

hows you nearly go to jail

Flew by a cop doing 120+ mph. Was racing a scooby on one of the back roads. Still have no idea where the cop came from cause he was on my ass like 25 seconds after I had slowed down. For whatever reason he didnt pull me over.

he didnt think a 4kq went that fast

I was in my R/T. 4kQ is still dead