Two questions about engine timing/balance shafts

[Albrecht09]

At 132K on what I am assuming was the stock timing belt, I knew it was at end of its life, and was going to do it like a week from now, until tonight. After I got home and ate, I planned on stayin in the garage for an hour or two, patching a few holes in my exhaust. When I got under the car, I noticed a fair amount of more oil leaking from what appeared to be "everywhere and nowhere" at the same time. The majority of it was coming from the dip stick tube. I decided to pull the crank pulley off to see if the main seal had any leaks as well, but it was fine.....and thats when I noticed the balance shaft belt was broke. Now here are my questions...

1. I'm assuming it has been broke for a while, as I have not noticed any weird behavior of the car while driving recently, but how the broken belt was positioned, I could not even imagine the motor starting and idleing without it getting caught up with and destroying the timing belt. If the balance shaft belt broke while you were driving, but you were lucky and it didn't take your timing belt with it, would there be any signs of the belt failing while driving? Like would it make any noise/other issues?

2. If it was broke for a long time and I've been driving it daily, could it have caused any wear on the motor that will likely lead to future problems?

3. I got a new balance shaft and timing belt today, and went to put them on...balance shaft one had no problems, but after more than 10 trys of getting everything for the main t-belt in time, I always end up with one pulley that will be a tooth off somehow. Most recent attempt, everythings dead on but the 2 cam pulleys are a half (or possibly whole, not sure) tooth off. I read guides, watched videos, have a Hayne's manual, and searched around the forum, but I cant seem to find what small detail I must be doing wrong, but if someone could point me in the right direction, I would REALLY appreciate it...before I break more tools getting pissed.

Thanks

 

[JusMX141]

While doing a routine timing belt replacement during a cam upgrade and seal replacement on my buddy's '95 TSi a long, long time ago, this is what we discovered:

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The balance belt had been broken quite a long time....all of the cogs were stripped from the belt and laying in the bottom of the timing cover. There was no noticeable power loss- the car still went 12.5 @ 109 even with only one balance shaft turning. For all we know the belt was broken the whole time he owned the car!

In the end, everything turned out just fine.

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By the way- if the entire driver's side of the engine is oil-soaked behind the timing cover like in the first photo above, you need to change your cam seals.