Yeah keep it quick if there is no water in it, or even get the garden hose running through it in the mean time.

As it says in the book of words put the pins in, then take the belt off and make sure you don't move anything.

That is, you put the pin in. THEN undo the 3 10mm bolts, THEN remove the old belt and put the new belt on, THEN do up the bolts, THEN remove the pin.
(I know this by unfortunate experience BTDT)

You should not run the engine with no water/coolant in the system. Well, not for more than 10 seconds or so. Diesel pistons run hotter than petrol pistons and you can cause a lot of damage quite quickly.

Why should it not start tomorrow if it started today? Unless your battery or starter have now had it? Unless your engine is haunted, that is

well i was hoping that if it starts easier tommorrow then it was possibly difficult to start because of other reasons that the timing. been having problems with oil in the air intake so thought oil may have built up or something along those lines can but hope. If i have moved the pump gear what should i do? as you can speak from experience

As I have said before, diesels are very finicky about their timing. Even if a cylinder fires you can't be too far wrong, so best to leave it alone. Oil in the air intake (in small amounts) is quite normal, it comes from the engine via the cyclonic filter (that black plastic thingy on the side of the rocker cover). When you get the engine to go you could see how much blowby you get by removing the oil cap. If you can beg or borrow the equipment it would be a good idea to get a compression test done. Best via the glow plug holes. The compression should be if brand new 24bar, but most older engines are around 2. If you get 1.5 or less it is tickets and you would need at least a head job to get the valves to seal properly and, at least, to hone the bores and change the rings. What mileage does the engine have?

Its got 88,000. Its an ex MOD. Im sure its been played with a fair bit, theres rounded bolts off on the timing cover and other little things. thanks for the help, I'll try and get hold of compression tester and go from there

ormus said:

im amazed it even starts!

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What did you do to resolve one tooth out mine is out just under 1 tooth on cam ?

Benjaminallen92 said:

What did you do to resolve one tooth out mine is out just under 1 tooth on cam ?

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Wow, serious resurrection of an old post!

When I first did the belt on my 300tdi engine in my 90 in my ownership it was a full tooth out on the CAM - ran fine like that for about 5 years, because I paid them to do a timing belt on it before I bought the engine I had just left it.

I lined it all up to start the belt change, a bit of head scratching as the CAM was out - ran through the marks all again quickly and right enough, 1 tooth out. I just took the old belt off, moved CAM to its marks and did a timing belt change as normal. I also always set my injection pump properly, factory set is just that, factory set and not optimal.

Does it run OK as is?