might wanna look into the water pump while your in there.  not to sure about the Gas engines, but on the TDIs it recomnded to do it at the same time.  also i have a vag-com if its needed in your aplication.  let me know if you need some help.

The ABA engine can bend valves if the belt breaks but it won't do it 100% of the time - the automatics are worse than the manual transmission cars for whatever reason.

Thanks for the info!  8-[  It's an automatic, so I guess I'll leave it sitting until I can get it changed.  All of the drive belts are looking pretty worn too, so I was planning on replacing them.  I put plugs/wires/cap and rotor on it not too long ago so they should be OK.

I've got a cheap timing light . . . I take it I might need so other diagnostic tools to check the timing?  What's a vag-com?  The mechanical part of it I can handle with no problem . . . but if I'm asking questions like those, am I in over my head?  Remember, my water-cooled VW experiance is VERY limited.  I'm kind'a lazy too.  If this is better left to a proffesional, talk me into it.   :lol:

It's a '96, so it's the first year for OBD2.  OBD2 is a standardized diagnostic protocol that all passenger vehicles in the US use.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obd2#OBD-II

Vag-Com or VCDS is an aftermarket software program that emulates the factory VW scan tool and allows you to communicate with the vehicle's various control modules.

http://www.ross-tech.com/

The timing belt setup on your Passat isn't that different than the one on your Dasher so if you changed the belt on the Dasher you'll be in familiar territory with the Passat.  You won't need the timing light for your Passat since all ignition timing is done by the ECM.

I've been working a few minutes here and there for the last week or so on the Passat.  The heads of two of the allen bolts in the crankshaft pully were rounded out.  I finally got them out by drilling the heads off of them, drilling a hole in the center of them and removing them with an eazy-out.  After an hour or so of gentle tapping with a 16 oz. hammer, I finally got the crankshaft pulley off.  This car spent the first 10 years of it's life in Penn. and New Jersey . . . The body really isn't rusty, but everything on the lower part of the engine is rusty (if it's got iron in it) or corroded (if it's got alluminum in it).  Anyway, after I got the pulley out of the way and got the lower timing belt cover off, all I can say is I'm VERY lucky!  The timing belt is about half as thick as a new one and back side of it is covered with cracks.  There is a ridge in the center of the back side of the belt where it's been dragging agaisnt the tensioner . . . that probably hasn't turned in the past 2 or 3 years.  I guess the only reason it didn't wear clean through and break from dragging on the tensioner is because it was WAY too loose!

The seal behind the crankshaft timing sprocket is starting to seep a little oil, so tomorrow, I'll be attempting to remove it.  I've got all the seals and o-rings, a new timing belt and a new idler with the updated (larger) stud.  The oil pan is leaking, so I am planning on pulling it off and replacing the gasket while I've got the car jacked up.  I'm also going to be putting a transmission filter in it.  When I get through with all that, I've got a new door handle and window regulator for the driver's door I've got to install.  And an exhaust leak to fix.  Maybe when I get all that done I'll pull the radio out an get the #'s I need to get the code.  Then maybe I'll try to figure out the why daytime running lights don't work and why the tail lights and dash lights go out when I put the lights on bright.  Then maybe I'll try to figure out why the cruise control only works about 10% of the time.  After that, it ought to be ready to roll for a few more miles.   :lol:
 
Rick, Hal, Travis, and anyone else out there that makes their living working on newer water-cooled VWs . . . I don't know what they pay you, but it's probably not enough!  :wink: