Removing timing chain: VW 1.2 (CBZA, CBZB)
Step-by-step removing timing chain for the VW 1.2 (CBZA/CBZB): 36 steps, 1 torque figure. What to remove, what to tighten and to how many Nm, what to.
Timing chain removal on the CBZA and CBZB engines, platform code AJ5. Both the engine coolant and the charge air cooling circuit are drained, the poly V-belt is marked for direction and removed, and the surrounding hoses and non-return valve come off. The real job starts with the plug in the cylinder block: locking pin T10340 is screwed in and the crankshaft turned until it stops against it. If the pin will not go fully home, the crank is not in position; turn it a quarter turn (90°), refit the pin, tighten it to 30 Nm and turn to the stop. The camshaft is then locked with pin T10414 through the cylinder head cover. After the coolant pump pulley, sump and timing housing cover, the tensioner and sprocket come off and the chain drops out.
🧭 Before you start
Drain both cooling circuits, remove the wheel housing liner part and poly V-belt, and take off hoses, non-return valve and coolant pipe brackets. Lock the crankshaft with T10340 and the camshaft with T10414, remove the guide roller and coolant pump pulley, then the sump and timing housing cover. Remove the chain tensioner, mark the chain direction, remove the camshaft sprocket while counterholding with T10172, and take the chain out downwards.
Fits: platform code AJ5
- Opens: coolant
- Timing position: the crankshaft or camshaft is set and locked during this job
- Special tools named: 3415, locking pin
Don't miss
- If T10340 will not screw in to its stop, turn the crankshaft 90° and refit it.
- Tighten locking pin T10340 to 30 Nm before turning the crank to the stop.
- Mark the chain's direction of rotation before removal.
- Counterhold the camshaft sprocket with T10172 when loosening its bolt.
Written for this job from the workshop steps below · TorqFix editorial.
🔩 Torque settings
Values can differ between engine variants — check the code stamped on your block.
| Torque | Fastener / step |
|---|---|
| 30 Nm (22 lb-ft) | Tighten locking pin |
ℹ️ Always cross-check the exact figure against your vehicle's factory manual before final tightening — a wrong torque can damage the engine. These values are extracted from workshop data and may not cover every variant or revision.
📋 Procedure
- Draining coolant from engine cooling system and charge air cooling system .
- Remove front right wheel housing liner part General body repairs, exterior66Wheel housing liner; Removing and installing front wheel housing liner.
- Mark the direction of rotation of the poly V-belt and remove belt .
- Open spring-type clips and pull coolant hoses (1) and (2) off.
- Push catch (3) underneath coolant hoses and pull hoses upwards.
- Put down coolant hoses to rear.
- Pull both hoses (1) off non-return valve.
- Unscrew securing bolt (2) and pull non-return valve out of cylinder head cover.
- Remove all securing bolts from valve timing housing cover (1).
- Remove valve timing housing cover.
- Remove bolts (1) and (2) for retainers for coolant pipes (3).
- Remove securing bolts (1) and remove coolant pipe bracket (2).
- Unscrew plug (arrow) from cylinder block.
- Screw locking pin T10340 to stop into crankcase.
- Turn crankshaft in normal direction of rotation until the stop.
- ⚠ If locking pin T10340 cannot be screwed in as far as stop, this indicates that crankshaft is not in the correct position!In this case, proceed as described below. — Remove locking pin.
- Turn crankshaft 1/4 revolution (90°) in normal direction of rotation.
- Screw locking pin T10340 to stop into crankcase.
- Tighten locking pin T10340 to 30 Nm. — 30 Nm (22 lb-ft)
- Turn crankshaft in normal direction of rotation until the stop.
- Insert locking pin T10414 to stop in cylinder head cover.
- Tighten securing bolt (1) hand tight.
- Remove dust cap (1), if fitted.
- Remove guide roller (2).
- Remove coolant pump belt pulley .
- Undo bolt for belt pulley. Hold pulley with counterhold3415 and 3415/2.
- Remove belt pulley with diamond coated washer
- Remove sump .
- Undo all bolts from valve timing housing cover (1).
- Remove valve timing housing.
- Unscrew chain tensioner (arrow) for timing chain.
- Mark direction of rotation of timing chain using coloured felt tip marker pen.
- Loosen securing bolt (1) for camshaft toothed belt pulley.
- Hold camshaft toothed belt pulley with counter-hold tool T10172.
- Remove camshaft toothed belt pulley together with securing bolt.
- Remove timing chain downwards.
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- Removing and installing oil separator · 1 torque figures
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- Removing engine · 41 torque figures
- Removing and installing camshaft – VW Golf Cabriolet · 47 torque figures
- Adjusting valve timing – VW Passat B5 · 83 torque figures
- Removing and installing camshafts – VW Passat B6 · 39 torque figures
- Removing and installing coolant pump · 53 torque figures
Who makes these pages, and how
TorqFix was built by a mechanic — after a 2,700 km drive with five roadside repairs that no diagnostic tool could explain.
The figures on this page come from manufacturer workshop documentation and are shown as they are. The page is assembled automatically from that data — it is not written by an AI. The AI works in the chat, where it answers for your specific car. It writes nothing here.
Variants of the same model differ. Cross-check torque against the factory manual for your engine before final tightening.
Seen a figure that does not match your manual? Write to us — we correct it and note when. support@torqfix.com
The story behind TorqFix →Workshop data on this page last updated 20 Sep 2026.