Timing belt tools? We don't need no steenking timing belt tools!
 

PSA (preachy warning):

Every time someone asks about doing their own timing belt installation, there is always a chorus of folks who suggest that the timing belt tools are not needed to complete the job. They advise using paint dots or zip ties or counting the teeth or voodoo or whatever. I have always disagreed (along with a few other "voices in the wilderness"). Today, as I finally attacked the medley of leaking seals in the A6 Avant, I found a really good reason to use the timing belt tools:

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/43812/timing.jpg">

Of course, this picture sucks, which is unfortunate, but I have added the yellow arrows to help a bit. The red dots are tornado red touch-up paint that I added to make the marks show up a bit better. The dot on the left is the timing mark on the plastic cover; this is the mark that the pulley should match up to. The dot on the right (squint, it's there) is the actual timing mark on the pulley. The big silver thing in the foreground is the cam bar that locks the cams together at TDC. I'm guessing that the cam timing is off about 10 degrees in the picture; a substancial amount. I guess I can stop wondering why the car is such a dog, huh?

So use the tools. When doing a belt, the cam bolts should always be loosened and the cam sprockets broken free of the camshafts. When all is *perfect*, everything should be tightened. It's not that difficult and it doesn't take any extra time to do it right.

I've seen a few cars on original belts that are off a tooth or two. See my pic poster.

My question: you don't have crank lock tool installed in this picture, do you?
 

Is it possible that the crank is actually in the correct position but the timing marks are just wrong?

If not, it looks like the crank is off at least a belt tooth. My understanding on the 30 valve engines was that 1 tooth off on the belt was all it took for valves and pistons to touch.

"tooth or two" I'd believe that. But remember...
 

the cams sprockets are not keyed. The cam timing is thus infinitely adjustable, so a "tooth or two" might be a misnomer unless the belt has jumped or was put on without using the tools.

No, it was not possible to install both tools at once because the timing was off so far.
 

After the picture was taken, I removed the cam tool, installed the crank lock, and removed the crank bolt. Then I pulled off the belt and the cam sprockets.

BTW, the key on the crank sprocket is not damaged; the crank mark does reflect the position of the crank.

own your own tools...or borrow?
 

are those tools of yours borrowed or are they yours? Where is the best place to buy the crank lock and the cam bar?

Mine. I buy all my stuff from Baum tools.
 

I make it a point to own timing belt tools for all the cars I own.

Gotcha. Like you, I am a firm believer in using the tools on these engines.

Never quite understood why they aren't keyed

Crank tool not really needed.