Sometimes, it’s the little things that make the job so much easier. This 2014 VW Caddy Van was in for its scheduled timing belt replacement. This is a straightforward job, and I have done quite a few over the years.

One little tip I have, is when fitting the new belt, it needs to be situated on the crankshaft pulley first. To ensure it stays in place, I use a piece of cardboard (torn from the box that the new timing belt comes in), to support the base of the belt.

This prevents the belt from dropping out of place as you then start to locate it on the upper pulleys. It’s a very simple idea, but does without a doubt save a lot of frustration.

There are purpose made clips for retaining the timing belt onto the various pulleys, but I have found that using the piece of cardboard to keep the belt in place on the crankshaft pulley, is all that is needed to ensure fitting goes smoothly.

Once the belt is in place, the cardboard can be removed and thrown away.

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