Disco 1 Wish me luck, I'm going in!

I'm just about to start changing the timing belt on my 300 tdi. I've never attempted the job before, so feeling apprehensive! Hopefully, I won't need to post again until it's all done!

catch you in about 10 mins then when you get stuck LOL

I did like the way that Fuzz Townshend (Car SOS) did that job on one vehicle.
He took a Stanley knife to the old belt and split it all the way around its width then cut the front half of it away. He then put the new belt onto the pulleys as far as it would go with the remaining half of the old belt in place before he cut the old belt away completely and then pushed the new belt into its normal running position.
No need to reach for camshaft position guides or anything else.
I don't know if it would work in this case.

That's not a bad idea Brian !

Sounds like a good idea, but I bet it's a sruggle putting the belt on under tension.
I fell at the first hurdle. Thought I could manage to get the viscous fan off with the tools I had, but just wasted an hour running around plumbing shops to get a spanner that will actually fit into the narrow gap!

Give it a SMACK with HAMMER & CHISEL ! left hand thread don't forget

I'm in! timing belt looks in very good nick, but it's coming off anyway. Bit of oil leaking from inner crank seal, so I'm glad I got the kit with seals.

New belt in, tensioned and everything still lines up. Just putting it all back together now!

That's it, job done. Just been for a long drive and all is as it should be. I'm well chuffed!
I know if I'd have got stuck, there would have been loads of advice, so thanks anyway.

Just as a matter of interest, I had been really pushing my luck with the timing belt, due to finances, that's why I decided to have a go myself. But the belt had gone 4 years and 90000 miles and it looked as good as the new belt that I've just put on!