VAG engineering: going firmly into the future with our technology going backwards.
Glad I own a Ford with 100k miles changes:-)
madf
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Just had my Alhambra 1.9 TDi done at 40,000 miles. Job cost £420 at main dealer.
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Please could I have more response like the one from NeilS and PhilDS. I want some ammunition before I approach VW.
HJ
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Well, I spoke to Dane Volkswagen of Chester who told me the cambelt interval on a 1997 Passat TDi was 60,000 miles or 5 years. I asked specifically if it had recently changed, or was about to change and was told no.
My current cambelt has done 52,000 miles and I was planning on doing it soon anyway.
Watch it snap in the next couple of days! Murphy's Law is bound to prevail! < >.
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Hmmm Glad our two cars are cam chain !! Cam belts are such a key part, why isn't access made easy, so changes are cheap ? Oh yes, another income stream for the dealer/manufacturer !
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Better still have no cambelt or chain at all. This is what Rover were doing with the K Series before they went belly up. Each valve was going to be electronically controlled, hence no need for a cam.
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Just to add some confusion (inevitable really) to matters.
My supplying Skoda dealer (West Midlands) tells me that I need the (Fabia vRS) cam belt changed at 60K, interestingly he said if it was an Octavia PD engine (surely the same) it would be 80K.
I rang my local Seat dealer (Thames Valley) again and he said if it is a VW diesel it is definitely a 40K change.
So I rang Skoda UK who checked my chassis number against their database and said that beyond any doubt, it is 120,000 km (67,500) for my particular vehicle.
Skoda main dealer wants £180 to change the belt and tensioners, the Seat dealer wants £350.
Slightly off topic but if, for the next 120,000 miles, I had the Fabia serviced and cam belts changed to their schedule, at the Skoda dealer it would cost me £3,020 but if I went to the Seat dealer they want £5,400. Both offered me ten per cent discount. Luckily I have an excellent independent who is going to do the work for me and I will probably do the cam belt at 50K.
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So I rang Skoda UK who checked my chassis number against their database and said that beyond any doubt, it is 120,000 km (67,500) for my particular vehicle.
Being pedantic I believe 120,000 kM is 75,000 miles.
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VAG engineering: going firmly into the future with our technology going backwards. Glad I own a Ford with 100k miles changes:-) madf
I suggest you read the Focus cambelt thread before you scoff!!
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Haven't those in the know been saying this for ages? Also, does this apply to every single VAG car ever powered by an engine with a cam-belt?
I wouldn't worry about your old Polo, 60K or five years is fine. The important thing to watch is the water pump, since it's used to tension the belt.
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Thanks Xileno. I was going to have the water pump changed at the last service along with the antifreeze, but my VW independent asked why. I explained that it?s still the original pump and that I thought it best to have it changed incase it seized and snapped the cam belt. The receptionist said it was a lot of work and got the manager/head mechanic to have a word with me. He basically said that although he's been doing this for years, he's never seen a water pump on a Polo like mine seize yet, but confirmed that if it did, it would indeed strip the belt. Also, replacement might not always prevent a seizure, thus its not worth it. I have every reason to trust him, as he's been on the go a while and its quite a well respected garage. His last line was, "I've even managed to talk myself out of a lot of work there, but that?s my opinion"
Sorry HJ, i know you were after different responses...
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Okay, it's a forum thread. Fair enough.
But would be really useful if it actually answered the question and got us somewhere.
This could be a very serious issue.
HJ
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HJ,
Presume you have read Andrew English at back of this week's Autoexpress? If not:-
Article advising replacing cambelts every 30k to 35k miles.
Quote about VW "The latest manufacturer to be faced with a similar problem (ie cambelts breaking early, or the tensioners causing them to go) is VW with its 1.4 and 1.6 16 valve units. These rely on plastic rollers some of which have been going south at mileages upward of 30,000"
Phil
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Haven't seen it yet, but I gave Andy the information about the VAG 1.4 and 1.6 16v engines, which came from my readers.
HJ
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Why do so many cars have the water pump running on the timing belt. Shouldnt it run on something else so there is no chance of it failing and taking the engine with it?
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I always thought it ran off the aux drive belt, till recently.
Seems a stupid way of doing things though, the timing belt should be for just that, and the drive belt(s) should do that.
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HJ - is this advise on ALL VAG engines, or just the 1.4 & 1.6 16v engines that are known to have problems with plastic rollers ?
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The problem only seems to occur on 1.4 16v and 1.6 16v engines. The waterpump problem is with transverse 1.8 20v engines on which the waterpump is driven by the timing belt. (On longitudinal 1.8 20v engines the waterpump is driven by an auxiliary belt.) But what I am trying to establish is whether or not VAG has put out a general edict to change all belts at 40k or 4 years. That is what I am asking you guys before I get onto VW about it.
HJ
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Just to mention quietly - cam chains are not infallible...
Also, 80-odd years ago some engines had gear-driven oh camshafts but presumably this seemingly bullet-proof system is far too expensive for today's cost-benefit analysis experts.
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Just to mention quietly - cam chains are not infallible... Also, 80-odd years ago some engines had gear-driven oh camshafts but presumably this seemingly bullet-proof system is far too expensive for today's cost-benefit analysis experts.
VM Diesel?
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>> Just to mention quietly - cam chains are not infallible... >> Also, 80-odd years ago some engines had gear-driven oh camshafts but >> presumably this seemingly bullet-proof system is far too expensive for today's >> cost-benefit analysis experts. >> VM Diesel?
...as fitted i believe to Range Rovers and Scorpios - the one in my Scorpio was prone to idler and tensioner problems on the serpentine belt, but that was inconvenient rather than costly. I heard it was originally a marine engine. Rather off topic, sorry.
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Just to mention quietly - cam chains are not infallible...Also, 80-odd years ago some engines had gear-driven oh camshafts but presumably this seemingly bullet-proof system is far too expensive for today's cost-benefit analysis experts.
The engine in the Honda VFR motorbike used gear driven cams back in the 1980's. Consider too it was a V4 DOHC 4 valve per cylinder layout, this must have been much more costly and complex than it would have been on, say an inline four.
The system worked brilliantly, was completely maintenance free, and failures are unheard of. Many of these are still running happily around with six figure mileages and have never suffered the horrible cam chain death rattle that most bike engines get at or before the 50k mark.
The gear drive was finally ditched in 2002 for a return to cheaper cam chains. Beancounter engineering at work!
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what I am trying to establish is whether or not VAG has put out a general edict to change all belts at 40k or 4 years.
HJ,
You might want to check out this post in Tech Matters and email the person asking where he got his info:-
www.honestjohn.co.uk/forum/post/index.htm?t=37767
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changed my belt and tensioner at 69k to cure screeching noise caused by complete seizure of [metal] tensioner - back of belt was polished by tensioner pulley.Think I had lucky escape. Interested in final answer as to whether 40k applies to all Vw's - mine is 2litre 8 valve
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Chewer1, you remind me of our old Passat GL 2.0 - the pulley whined so I replaced it easily [it's at the top of the engine] at around 130,000 - belt looked ok so left it - still going strong at 240,000+ when we traded it in.....I'm astonished to learn that inferior stuff is being fitted to more modern cars.
From the posts on this site it also seems as though modern diesels are no longer good for high mileages [200K + in my book] without repairs to their sophisticated injection or turbo bits. Perhaps lean-burn non-turbo petrol is the best bet for longevity? Looking forward to indefinite Focus 1.6 ownership - see how long the cambelt lasts! And my 2.8A6 cambelt still looks as good as new at 95,000....
Is it all ploy to fleece the punter in the long run?
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Mine whined, didn't get as far as screeching, at about 130,000. [same engine as yours, chewer1]
Changed pulley, [easy - stiff, but not seized] left the belt as looked perfect [too difficult]. Sold car at 242,000 with original belt.
If it works, don't mend it.
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Gordon Bennett....is this thread still running? Just seen my earlier post!
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HJ
This topic seems to have fizzled out without answering the question asto whether this applies to all VW's or not. I for one would be grateful for the definitive answer.
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