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Hi all, I am a new member on here! I didn't want this to be my first post (I had intended on pics of te car when I bought it etc) but I need some advice! I have recently bought a 2001 Lupo TDi which although in pretty good condition the service history is a little sketchy as to what has been done (or not), so, I decided it would be a good idea to change the timing belt and give it a service before using it as my daily and retiring my Mk2 to a somewhat sidelined role (ie selling it; much to my dismay)! What a ball ache that hydraulic tensioner damper thing is! Much prefer the newer design tensioner like on the 52 plate mk4 I had! Couldn't get the blasted thing to depress so had to take the tensioner pulley and roller off to get the belt off then take the damper off and compress it in a vice, when it all went back together could not get the gap to 4mm even with the locking plate still in the damper ( 5 was the closest I could get it), but after pulling the locking plate it was more like 6 or 7mm! Took it apart and put it back in the vice once again bit the same thing happened again! Can anyone tell me if this is normal and it will be ok or do I need to try something else to get the gap closer? Any help appreciated, thanks!

my timing belt slipped last week and i've replaced my exhaust valves which were bent and skimmed the cylinder head and got the car back together with the belts on. however i dont want the timing to be out so i just kill 8 valves again :/. does anyone know what stroke cylinder 1 is on when timed with the markings on the casing and how does the engine know on start up so it doesnt destroy my hard work :/