Timing belt

[passatpout]

Booked the car in for the 105,000km service... The first comment was that the timing belt is due (which struck me as early), followed by that'll be $1100... (which struck me as bloody expensive, what's it made from?? Flexible ceramics??)

No belt changes are listed in the manual for any type of engine at 105,000km....

Any suggestions?? I'm thinking about a Haynes manual and doing it myself...

[awelsh]

The Haynes manual VW Volkswagen Passat Diesel 2005-2010 Haynes Service Repair Manual 1844258882 9781844258888 Haynes Publications UK lists:
every 95,000 MILES (about 150,000 KMs) "Renew the timing belt and tensioning roller (PD unit injector engines from 2007 model year)" and
every 120,000 MILES (about 190,000 KMs) "Renew the timing belt and tensioning roller (common rail injection engines)".

This is a British manual and VW Australia may recommend a different service schedule.

[passatpout]

Yup, my experience with other cars (Hiluxes, LandCruisers, Barina, Commodore, etc) is about 150,000-180,000km... Even the 120,000km in the VW manual is a bit conservative...

[rotelman]

Was inquiring with my local dealer. Australia's "Harsh" conditions require earlier changes than in the owners manual. There is a service memo your dealer will be able to show you..

Not really convinced that the Australian conditions are so much worst than say Germany where temps can range from well below 0 deg up to high 30's.....

Reason I know is I was going to trade in my MY09 at 60,000km and the VW dealer told me I needed to do the Cam belt, therefore the price was much lower... Thanks for the BS story Berwick VW, I can safely say I wont be buying my next VW from you guys!

Spoke to another dealer at the 60km service and they said it was due at 105km... I think.


Rotelman

[buzuki]

the schedule for the timing belt recently changed to 105k /7 years from 60k/4 years across the board. Apart from crafter gp.

[passatpout]

The manual in mine says 4-cylinder diesel at 120,000km....

[martinp]

105,000 kms sounds about right to me for most cars.
The price does not sound too bad either only $1100, in my old Pug 307 the last camm belt I had replaced was about $1800. But that did include replacing water pump and any other belt they took off in the process of getting to the cam belt, I thought it a good safety margin for me and good ecconomics as they had the bits off so why put an old one back on when the replacement prices were not too steep per part.
OK it was very expensive all up but for the peace of mind and extra work done, I thought just do it and kept driving knowing there was less likelyhood of those parts failing.
Martin.

[Jmac]

Interval was 120k and then changed to 105k or 5yrs. This is the best time to replace the water pump. Although the waterpumps are a lot better now it makes sense to do it at the same time as you are in there anyway, as well as it being prventative maintenance. Ive been around these along time and the interval for the petrol and diesels have always been around this interval, although in the Uk where i did my training the interval wa more pressed towards ks and not time. Anyway could be worse some Vauxhalls/Holdens need to be done a lot earlier and ive seen the carnage it causes. Some toyotas go as long as 180k, new Pug go 180k or 9yrs. Still the interval is set for a reason.
Jmac

[passatpout]

Interval was 120k and then changed to 105k or 5yrs. This is the best time to replace the water pump. Although the waterpumps are a lot better now it makes sense to do it at the same time as you are in there anyway, as well as it being prventative maintenance. Ive been around these along time and the interval for the petrol and diesels have always been around this interval, although in the Uk where i did my training the interval wa more pressed towards ks and not time. Anyway could be worse some Vauxhalls/Holdens need to be done a lot earlier and ive seen the carnage it causes. Some toyotas go as long as 180k, new Pug go 180k or 9yrs. Still the interval is set for a reason.
Jmac

I'm not disputing the logic behind the change. First up, I'm a mechanical engineer. Second, when I was about 15 I had a motorbike where the timing chain slipped and the valves shook hands with the piston.. $350 to rebuild an XR-80 engine, in about 1993.. hate to think how much a newer engine would be. I was merely questioning the timing of it - most of my experience with other cars that have needed replacements have been up in the 150-180,000km range.

Whilst I'll grumble about the cost, it's still far preferable to the alternative..

[Umai Naa!!]

As of about 8 months ago, timing belt intervals for all VW vehicles, except Crafter is 105,000klms or 7 years.

In addition to Jmac's suggestion of a water pump replacement, ensure the timing belt is done as a kit. This will include the idler and tensioner pulleys.

Going off the book is a complete waste of time. It's generalised, and not entirely relevent to our market. The dealerships are using check sheet based on the correct service intervals, which you'll receive a copy of, at the completion of the service.