Timing belt..

[Maverick]

I can only speak for my car which is an 06 MK5 GTI it has 105k on it so i called vw and they told me my timing belt was due now. I thought that was weird considering my service book says 120k. Anyway lucky for me I have a friend who works in the service department at a vw dealer so I asked him to do the timing belt & water pump this weekend and he told me that its definitely not due till 120k and that the only reason why VW recently changed the service schedule was because customers were complaining about the cost of the 120k service as the spark plugs and the brake fluid are due at 120k as well.

Your friend told you absolute bull****, I sure hope he doesn't service cars and is only the cleaner as it would be pretty sad to have people like that servicing Volkswagens (or any car for that matter).

Volkswagen set the initial distance/time interval on the belt on a new engine with new parts based on a number of factors and like most manufacturers once they start reviewing warranty claims and checking parts sent back for warranty claim they start revising the service schedule. In this case belts have been snapping early so they have brought the belt replacement forwards and have new revised parts.

Has any one else heard the reasons behind why vw changed the schedule? I thought maybe it was because they had a few problems with them snapping early so they moved it forward but my friend claims that they have never seen a Mk5 Golf come into the shop with a snapped belt before 120...

Clearly your friend knows more than Volkswagen does, it's all about statistics. How many Mk5 GTI's are sold in Australia and how many does each dealer see? How many people take their cars to non VW mechanics?

The interval in the UK which should be the same for Australia is 4 years or 60.000 miles. There is plenty of discussion on the UK forums but at the end of the day it's up to you and how deep your pockets are (ie if you're prepared to spend $$$$$ rather than maintain your car properly).

[2199newman]

Maintenance Schedule - 2005 - Golf,from VW GERMANY

Maintenance Schedule - 2005 - Golf,from VW GERMANY

On-Board Diagnotic System: Check fault memory and erase if necessary	X				X				X
Power Steering: Check fluid level					X
Rear Spolier: Lubricate (New Beetle Only)	X		X		X		X		X
Service Interval Display: Reset (where applicable)	X		X		X		X		X
Sunroof Frame: Clean and lubricate	X				X				X
Timing Belt: Replace ( 2.0L Only)										X
Transmission: Automatic: Change Fluid (Phaeton W12 only)					X
Transmission: Automatic: Check ATF and final drive					X
Transmission: Automatic: Check for leaks	X				X				X
Transmission: Direct Shift (DSG): Change fluid and filter					X
Underbody: Check for damage					X
V-Belt / Ribbed belt: Check and adjust if needed					X
Water Seperator: Drain (TDI Engines Only)	X		X		X		X		X
Wheels: Rotate front to rear	X		X		X		X		X
Windshield Washer Fluid: Check level: add if needed	X		X		X		X		X
Wiper Blades: Check					X

Maintenance Schedule - 2005 - Golf, GTI, Jetta Wagon
hope this helps

[gerhard]

Maintenance Schedule - 2005 - Golf,from VW GERMANY

On-Board Diagnotic System: Check fault memory and erase if necessary	X				X				X
Power Steering: Check fluid level					X
Rear Spolier: Lubricate (New Beetle Only)	X		X		X		X		X
Service Interval Display: Reset (where applicable)	X		X		X		X		X
Sunroof Frame: Clean and lubricate	X				X				X
Timing Belt: Replace ( 2.0L Only)										X
Transmission: Automatic: Change Fluid (Phaeton W12 only)					X
Transmission: Automatic: Check ATF and final drive					X
Transmission: Automatic: Check for leaks	X				X				X
Transmission: Direct Shift (DSG): Change fluid and filter					X
Underbody: Check for damage					X
V-Belt / Ribbed belt: Check and adjust if needed					X
Water Seperator: Drain (TDI Engines Only)	X		X		X		X		X
Wheels: Rotate front to rear	X		X		X		X		X
Windshield Washer Fluid: Check level: add if needed	X		X		X		X		X
Wiper Blades: Check					X

Maintenance Schedule - 2005 - Golf, GTI, Jetta Wagon
hope this helps

That's the worst 1st post I have ever seen from a newbie on any forum.

Because it's rubbish.

I have just had the timing belt replaced on mine at 8 years and 65000ks.

Why? because the VW maintenance schedule is now at 5 years for my vehicle and the same engine in an Audi is at 4 years. My belt was poor and the water pump seal weeping.

That's the second belt - the first was at 4 years.

[Umai Naa!!]

It's 105,000km or 7 years.

But yeah, don't follow that schedule, it's way wrong, and yes you might as well throw a belt kit at it if the pump is leaking.

[JustCruisn]

It's 105,000km or 7 years.

But yeah, don't follow that schedule, it's way wrong, and yes you might as well throw a belt kit at it if the pump is leaking.

This ^^

[jessv3]

It's 105,000km or 7 years.

But yeah, don't follow that schedule, it's way wrong, and yes you might as well throw a belt kit at it if the pump is leaking.

7 years? Wow, what happened to the 4 or 5 years which was mentioned back in 2010?

[Eran]

Sorry to bring such an old thread back to life.
I have 2005 MKV Golf 2.0L TDI, the manual with my car clearly states to change the timing belt at 120,000KM's.

I know the general consensus is that VW changed the intervals in recent years to 105,000KM's, what interval stands as correct for my exact year and make?

My timing belt was changed at 108,586KM's back in June 2012, my car now stands at 216,400KM's. I understand taking chances with not changing the timing belt on time is a costly gamble. I am planning on changing asap, however I may not be able to get my timing belt changed for another week or two.

I guess im looking for some sort of piece of mind that it's safe enough to drive around? If I am to follow what my manual states it still hasn't been 120,000KM's since it was changed, but over the newer 105,000KM interval introduced more recently.

Any thoughts on my particular situation?

[gerhard]

Hmm.

5 years and over 100k both times.

I wouldn't sweat over running a week or two more.

But then.....

[Transporter]

As long as it was done as it should be the first time, you'll be right.

I'd just like to point out that the originally the timing belt replacement interval is much longer, they make it shorter for Australia due to the higher temperatures (sounds crazy, yeah?) . On average it's 150,000km but most recent are 180,000 and 240,000km. Mind you, the decade ago VW Australia fooled many car owners and made them to go for the Timing Belt replacement every 60,000km despite that there weren't any failures!

[Eran]

Thanks for the thoughts and help guys.

I'm still somewhat baffled as to why my car manual would clearly state the 120,000KM timing belt interval. The ordinary person servicing with any old mechanic would simply abide by what's in their book if until they are told otherwise.

Surely though at time of development VW would have undertaken sufficient testing and have enough evidence to know that 120,000KM was a safe interval.

My first timing belt was done by the VW dealership so I would imagine it was done correctly, in regards to VW changing the intervals to suit Aussie weather conditions is a strange generalisation... I live down in Melbourne, it isn't exactly the Sahara desert.

I had my car originally booked in for this week for the timing belt change, but due to other circumstances it cannot be done now.
Hopefully it can be done in the next week or two, just hoping the timing belt will last...

[Umai Naa!!]

The book is not specific to the Australian market.

It's a global book, so service intervals at times, don't line up with what Volkswagen Australia specifies.

[JustCruisn]

The manual will only ever have the advice available at the time of print.
Revisions are made as failures become evident. Hey even the DSG oil was changed from synthetic to mineral as the oil was acting as an electrical conductor.
You need to use a mechanic who subscribes to the VW bulletins, not one who simply reads the manual from 10+years ago.

[Splashalot]

You need to use a mechanic who subscribes to the VW bulletins, not one who simply reads the manual from 10+years ago.

My VW dealer has told me repeatedly 7 years in regard to my 2007 Golf GTI (as recent as a few months back). I sure hope they read the bulletins!

[neil]

Sorry to bring such an old thread back to life.
I have 2005 MKV Golf 2.0L TDI, the manual with my car clearly states to change the timing belt at 120,000KM's.

I know the general consensus is that VW changed the intervals in recent years to 105,000KM's, what interval stands as correct for my exact year and make?

My timing belt was changed at 108,586KM's back in June 2012, my car now stands at 216,400KM's. I understand taking chances with not changing the timing belt on time is a costly gamble. I am planning on changing asap, however I may not be able to get my timing belt changed for another week or two.

I guess im looking for some sort of piece of mind that it's safe enough to drive around? If I am to follow what my manual states it still hasn't been 120,000KM's since it was changed, but over the newer 105,000KM interval introduced more recently.

Any thoughts on my particular situation?

Went by the book and had mine changed at 120,000 afterwards there was all the talk about 105,000.
Don't really recall reading anything about cam belts breaking back then before 120,000 ???
With 180,000 now if still have it at 240,000 will have it changed then.

[pallman]

My 07 Mk5 2.0 TDI had its first change of timing belt at 120k with coolant pump & the kit.

Second belt last month as above at 240k.


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