Mind ache and anxiety

The pickup is gone, and I still believe she's gone forever.
Shall I get a Caravelle instead?..

Can't believe it - she's stolen!

Parked at home saturday evening after getting material for the terrace. Sunday morning a neighbour did see a van stopped by it and they investigated my pickup and then took it. :(
It was too planned to be a ugly-theft. I think I've seen the pickup for the last time. Could be in Poland already, or on the way to Africa...

R.I.P. my dear.

Water pump removal without removing timing belt...

...is possible. :)

Relubricating bearings

Haven't done much lately, we had another VW last week. Namely a new kid. :)
I was in the workshop this night and while waiting for some clear coat on a bike frame to harden I relubricated the belt tensioners. It's really easy and they last a long time this way. Actually, a Subaru mechanic nearby told me he never change them, and no one has come back with a broken tensioner. 

Clean the outside of the bearing really well, don't have dirt left on the front side. Take a small screwdriver and gently press the edge in under the rubber sealing. Make this happen at the inner edge of the seal. Then carefully pull and the rubber will pop out. The big tensioner is easy, but the small roller on top of the diesel pump wheel is a little more difficult as the rubber is deep down. If the sealing bends, be gentle and bend it back to a flat again. Refill the bearing with grease, clean the sealing and press it back. Be sure it really jumps back into its position.
The same goes with the water pump/alternator tensioner, rubber of and grease in.

Of course, this procedure is a lot easier when the cam belt is off and then the bearings can be flushed with spray as well AND refilled from both sides. But this time I did it afterwards from the front side only and it worked too.

Now I'm thinking - again - that the water pump might need a replacement. It feels "dry" when rotating. But then I have to remove the cam belt one more time...

Pump position after tweaking

As promised in previous posts, this is what I ended up with. The pump is now timed perfectly and the engine starts easy and runs smooth.

Now, time for some baby delivery. Then engine swappin' time!

EDIT: Please read the updated timing setting here.