Cam Belt change at 40,000 km?

[TDI DSG]

Where did you find the 4 year requirement ?
The service book is very poor.
It's not clear about service intervals or what should be done at those intervals.
I've bought several new cars, and all have had much clearer servicing schedules - what requires doing, how long it should take etc

[Ideo]

Same with all VAG interference belt driven engines. It's 4 years or XXX kms, whichever is the first.

Considering the price compared to a rebuild on an engine (and they are an interference engine, most new cars are) it's cheap to get it done.

[Umai Naa!!]

Where did you find the 4 year requirement ?
The service book is very poor.
It's not clear about service intervals or what should be done at those intervals.
I've bought several new cars, and all have had much clearer servicing schedules - what requires doing, how long it should take etc

It's in the documentation supplied to the dealer by Volkswagen Australia.

[nutttr]

Same with all VAG interference belt driven engines. It's 4 years or XXX kms, whichever is the first.

Considering the price compared to a rebuild on an engine (and they are an interference engine, most new cars are) it's cheap to get it done.

What he said.

The 4yr limit was introduced after these engines started eating belts after that. They have been in Europe for a lot longer than here and it's pretty poor it wasn't mentioned in the manual.

It IS 4 years or (From memory) 100,000k, or 120,000k's for the diesel (mine was 100,000k's and 5 years when I got it, so I changed it straight away!). For the petrol it is 60,000. They are interference engines and although the diesel is a stronger engine, it will still mince the engine if you are unlucky and the belt breaks... There are cases in the UK of the belts breaking and the engine simply needing a new belt, but it really isn't worth the risk!

[jessv3]

It IS 4 years or (From memory) 100,000k, or 120,000k's for the diesel (mine was 100,000k's and 5 years when I got it, so I changed it straight away!). For the petrol it is 60,000. They are interference engines and although the diesel is a stronger engine, it will still mince the engine if you are unlucky and the belt breaks... There are cases in the UK of the belts breaking and the engine simply needing a new belt, but it really isn't worth the risk!

Which petrol model needs changing at 60k? The mkv gti is 105k (originally 120k but there is some debate on the topic because most dealers are saying 105k despite the book stating 120k)


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[Johnbu]

As I do approx 15k per year, I think I may change it at 90k or 6 years. GTI

[nutttr]

Which petrol model needs changing at 60k? The mkv gti is 105k (originally 120k but there is some debate on the topic because most dealers are saying 105k despite the book stating 120k)

I thought the NA ones were 60,000k's....?? Maybe it's 60,000m?

[djvw]

thanks for all of the replies.
will probably get it done sooner than later.

[MiiLos]

hi all,

i had my timing belt chaged on my 90k service - car was 4.5 years old at the time (refer sig for car specs).

got it done at ultra tune for $850 - included cam belt change, engine oil and filter change, pollen filters, air filter, and finally brake fluids were changed over also. at the time my local VW dealer quoted me $1400 for the same service! - ultra tune sourced all parts from the same VW dealer anyway so it was just the labour component that was well inflated at VW as usual.

i have done my own servicing ever since the new car warranty expired - never any problems. the guy i spoke to said the cam belt could have been chaged as far back as 100-105k.

[poyta]

hi all,

i had my timing belt chaged on my 90k service - car was 4.5 years old at the time (refer sig for car specs).

got it done at ultra tune for $850 - included cam belt change, engine oil and filter change, pollen filters, air filter, and finally brake fluids were changed over also. at the time my local VW dealer quoted me $1400 for the same service! - ultra tune sourced all parts from the same VW dealer anyway so it was just the labour component that was well inflated at VW as usual.

Yeah exactly why I would never go back to the dealer for a service. I got charged just under $600 for my 45,000kms service and as far as I could see there was nothing special in that service. Had to do it becasue it was the last service before warranty ran out and I had a few warranty claims. That's a fantastic price for what you had done.

[TDI DSG]

Is the belt change a doable DIY project for someone with mechanical knowhow ?
For the $800 odd most could afford to spend bit of time on it.

[poyta]

Is the belt change a doable DIY project for someone with mechanical knowhow ?
For the $800 odd most could afford to spend bit of time on it.

Good question. I'd love to see a DIY, especially considerings its only a $50 part with $750 labour charge.

[peter]

Yes, must admit.....I was/is very tempted about it.

But then, it's not just the belt. It's also fitting a new tensioner, getting a crankshaft locking tool, maybe fabricating some cam locking tool and also investing in a second jack (timing belt change apparently requires engine mount removal).

And most importantly, I haven't been able to psych myself into doing it yet!
Especially since I haven't reconciled the certainty of doing it right with there not being any room for error.

Maybe one day, when my old beat up TDI is about to get its third timing belt!

[Transporter]

I wouldn't recomend it as DIY. Would always suggest that you replace the tensioner and the water pump with the timing belt, so it's not a $50 DIY job.

[peter]

Exactly!

And by the time I factor in the cost of possibly a whole weekend+ worth of work, given my level of skill and the element of learning & experimentation, the realisation that I've forgotten to get some obscure bolt than cannot be reused and having to trundle off to get it, or that the wrench that I have doesn't quite cut it for this job and, again, having to trundle off to get a better one....

that total cost might end up being much more than $800.

Not to mention that if I've stuffed up even one step, I might be kissing at least a couple of grand goodbye.