I restored the left lens in this picture and that is the difference and then the bottom picture is both of them restored

 

I got home and read the code. It was a P0421. my step dad said it was a clogged o2 sensor so I cleared the code like he told me to. It came back later that day.

With all due respect to your step-dad, it's best to look up what the codes actually mean. The Ross-Tech site is one source that you can rely on.

The code refers to one of the catylitic converters not working normally, as reported by it's post-cat O2 sensor. Perhaps driving it a little harder than that car has been used to will improve the converter. The fact that the code has remained off is a good sign.

 

It was something with the cat converter threshold warmup or something. He said if it came on a third time than we were taking it to a mechanic. But it's been off and I have been driving it a lot harder than Im sure it is used to :lol: I Have taken it on many joy rides on the parkway.

I have also been hearing a creaky noise when I hit a bump or something on the right side of my car. :hmmm:

 

When was the timing belt etc changed ?
If they haven't been changed, they are way overdue.

 

He told me it was a timing chain.

 

I ran regular (87 octane) for quite a while in my 02 V6 and I didn't notice much of a performance change if any when I switched back to premium. Your feeling of more power might be the system cleared out and is flowing better? I also imagine the ecu is getting proper readings from the o2 sensor and adjusting fuel correctly.

 

I dont know what the ecu is. When I filled with premium the engine just sounds better in general. I am noticing better gas mileage as well.

 

I'll double check the engine but he told me it had a timing chain.

 

Sorry to get off topic but you did a hell of a job on the lights! what did you use?

I would have to ditto the timing BELT as opposed to timing chain talk, I'm no pro but im pretty sure we have belts not chains. If he didnt know the difference maybe he didnt actually have it serviced?

 

Word.

Beat me by a minute.

-Kaya

 

Oh,

Also, nice work on the headlights. I did mine, and they didnt come out that good. I was looking at replacments, and when I saw the price of the OEM Hellas, I changed my mind.

Maybe Ill try the 3m kit, instead of the Turtle kit.

-Kaya

 

Okay I called my local volkswagen dealership and they confirmed it was a timing chain. He said I don't have to do anything. And yes it had its 80,000 mile tune up and all that.

Thanks!! The kit works really well!!! I got it at Walmart for 15 dollars?

 

Lol, I give up.
No V6 2002 Passat has timing driven by a chain.
The earlier late 90's VR6 had a chain driven timing system.

TO be fair, there are 2 chains that connect the intake and exhaust cams together that sort of deal with the timing.
But mostly when talking about timing on the B5-5.5 V6 we refer to the timing belt.
Someone has their wires crossed and i'm pretty sure it's not us.

Maybe you spoke to the office receptionist, certainly not anyone that works on VWs.

 

Mikey, rest assured, there is a timing belt. It does not matter what the seller told you, or your step-dad, or the dealership drone. If you are going to ask the forum for advice, the answers will likely be the result of personal experience, not hear-say.

 

Better yet, have your VW dealership tell you the same thing via email so you have written proof... wait till the belt snaps and boom they will have to buy you a brand new car.

 

I just called again and another peson said it had it and then was like wait is it a belt? So I'm going with what you guys say and not that stupid dealer. I'll take it in to be looked at. Thanks all!

 

Mikey, I'm not trying to harsh with you, but having it looked at won't tell you anything. A belt that's about to break can look just like a good one, despite VW calling for a visual inspection periodically. IF you have over 80,000 miles or seven years, and IF you don't have PROOF it was done - the right thing is to service the system now. You'll be replacing the belt, roller, water pump, thermostat, and the tensioner (I think). At a VW dealer, expect a $1300 bill.

 

At an independent shop specializing in VWs you may get out for a little less, but I strongly recommend, along with others, that you have this taken care of immediately by a qualified service facility!

 

On a better note you've got a great reliable car as you will learn soon. and you got it with relatively low miles, my 01 had 146,000 when i bought it last year and my '03 had 167,000 when I bought it a few months ago.

I'm still stuck on how good those lights came out, I'm going to order a 3m kit right now!

 

Mikey, buy the service manual:

Volkswagen Passat (B5) Service Manual: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 [2 VOLUME SET]: Bentley Publishers: 9780837616698: Amazon.com: Books

This is your first car, congratulations. Learn as much as you can about how the systems in your car work, even if you won't be wrenching on it yourself. Answers to questions like timing belt vs. chain are in the book, and under the hood. Be curious about what everything does, ask lots of questions and learn how to find as much information on your own as possible. These things will empower you in many ways, such as knowing when a parts desk employee is talking from between the wrong set of cheeks. :salute:

 

I used wawas 91 octane premium

 

our cars have ~10.6:1 compression so using higher octane is best... prevents detonation and such especially in hot weather where intake temps are higher. There is a lot more to it really, but thats a general idea.

 

Mines running good right now on the premium. I got the wawa 91 octane.

My step dad said it has a serpent belt and timing chain. He said both are in good condition.

 

My step dad said it has a serpent belt and timing chain. He said both are in good condition.

(Sigh...) I'm done. Have him sign it, date it, and include a written warranty stating he'll pay for any repairs caused by timing system failures.

<PAUSE>

Are you absolutely sure you have a 2002 with a 2.8L V6? Not, say, a 1995 B4 with a VR6 engine?

Are you just f*cking around with us?

Also, when someone gets around to replacing your timing belt (before or after it breaks and destroys your valves) make sure he knows you need special cam-locking tools to do the job on a V6.

 

Like pissing in the wind.

Takes me back to "Candywhitepassat" the 16 year old and his mommys car.
Damn, he must be 26 by now. I wonder if if mommy ever let him drive her car.

 

Take the car to a VW dealership or VW specialist and have them inspect it. It will cost perhaps $150-200 for a thorough inspection. Do not pass go. Do not do anything else, listen to anyone else, or talk to anyone else. Use 93 octane gas. Do exactly as you are told.

 

Mikey, open your hood and look at the part of the engine nearest to you. The black rubber belt you see is the serpentine belt. Immediately behind that belt and all the associated running gear is a black plastic cover clipped to the engine (one on each head). Unclip that, pull it back and see what's in there. Take a picture and post it here. If there is a chain in there, I'll buy you any non-alcoholic beverage of your choice, and mail it to you. No kidding, and no sarcasm. This exercise is designed to help you see for yourself. Take ownership of your car.

 

Audi and VW: ContiTech experts provide timing belt replacement tips - ContiTech Antriebssysteme GmbH - Pressemitteilung

You can clearly see the timing belt in this article. The chains are built into the heads which are behind the black sections on the upper right and left sides of the engine in the pictures in the above article.

Also search this site for a link to the ETKA files that have diagrams and part numbers for your car. This is very helpful. The screen shots below are from those PDFs.

Also here are some screen shots of the head and front of the 2.8L 30V engine. You can show your step father. You can see in the first shot the head and the chains that are internal to the head and on the front of each head the toothed sprocket that is external to the head. On the 2nd shot the toothed belt fits onto the toothed sprocket on the head. This is the timing belt that everyone is referencing. It can look fine for a long time and usually isn't the part that fails. What fails is the timing belt tensioner or the water pump but since you have to remove the timing belt to replace the water pump or the tensioner you replace the belt as well. Mine looked brand new even after 86,000 miles and 12 years. My water pump started dripping coolant a year ago and then last October it started gushing and that is when I replaced all of the components that TomVW listed in his above post. Your step-father is correct that there is also a serpentine belt which is the only part visible without disassembling the front of the engine. The timing belt is directly behind the serpentine belt under some removable covers. You can see the serpentine belt and the timing belt covers if you look down behind the radiator. The serpentine belt looks a lot like the timing belt but is much thinner and lighter and should be replaced every 40,000 miles or so.

 

Audi and VW: ContiTech experts provide timing belt replacement tips - ContiTech Antriebssysteme GmbH - Pressemitteilung

You can clearly see the timing belt in this article. The chains are built into the heads which are behind the black sections on the upper right and left sides of the engine in the pictures in the above article.

Also search this site for a link to the ETKA files that have diagrams and part numbers for your car. This is very helpful. The screen shots below are from those PDFs.

Also here are some screen shots of the head and front of the 2.8L 30V engine. You can show your step father. You can see in the first shot the head and the chains that are internal to the head and on the front of each head the toothed sprocket that is external to the head. On the 2nd shot the toothed belt fits onto the toothed sprocket on the head. This is the timing belt that everyone is referencing. It can look fine for a long time and usually isn't the part that fails. What fails is the timing belt tensioner or the water pump but since you have to remove the timing belt to replace the water pump or the tensioner you replace the belt as well. Mine looked brand new even after 86,000 miles and 12 years. My water pump started dripping coolant a year ago and then last October it started gushing and that is when I replaced all of the components that TomVW listed in his above post. Your step-father is correct that there is also a serpentine belt which is the only part visible without disassembling the front of the engine. The timing belt is directly behind the serpentine belt under some removable covers. You can see the serpentine belt and the timing belt covers if you look down behind the radiator. The serpentine belt looks a lot like the timing belt but is much thinner and lighter and should be replaced every 40,000 miles or so.

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i called the guy I bought it from. He said on the paperwork it's a timing chain and his mechanic told him it was a chain as well.

 

 

When you do the timing belt, change the thermostat housing to the updated aluminum one.

 

Can I lock this thread? it's beginning to annoy me.

 

I don't know. I don't think it needs to be locked. . .