cam belt change

[golfman2]

just had my first mot today and was told that vw recommend having the cambelt changed every 4 years at a cost of £320, i will have it changed next year when my car will have done about 25,000 miles but does anyone think you need it changed every 4 years?:aargh4:

[Keithuk]

We need details of what engine you have and the year of your Golf?

How about putting that in your signature?

[golfman2]

sorry,i have a 2009 2.0 tdi gt 140 in white

[PhilDon]

I was told 4 years or mileage based - I forget how much but it was at least 40,000 and possibly more
mine will be on about 30,000 when it's 4 years old - an expensive job, but not as expensive as a new engine !

[golfman2]

does any other car need cambelt changes every 4 years??

[zollaf]

yes.

[vc-10]

I'm surprised VW have belts on their diesels, and not chains. It's not like they're quiet enough at tickover for you to hear the chain- even on my (almost silent) 1.2 Polo you can't hear the chain. Does the 1.6 have a chain or a belt?

[Keithuk]

sorry,i have a 2009 2.0 tdi gt 140 in white

I don't have access to Autodata at home anymore but I think its the same as mine 120k with no time limit, I will check tomorrow at work.

I think the 1.6 is a belt I know the 1.4 is a chain.

[vwcabriolet1971]

2010 MY 2.0 TDI Common Rail engine cambelt interval is every 120,00 miles with no time limit specified (Tensioning roller replacement every 240.000 miles !)
My 2010 MY 1.6TDI Manual states cambelt replacement interval is every 200,000 miles or 300,000 Kms without any time limit !
These extended intervals are , to my understanding, due to the introduction of the improved Continental "Conti High Flex Belt".
It would be a brave man to accept these intervals at face value. I would accept these values for very high mileage vehicles with mainly motorway driving but would err on the side of safety for normal motoring use with say an interval every 7 - 8 years at most.

[-M-]

I have found VW timing belt intervals to be a bit dubious tbh - A golf GTi 2.0 tfsi has been quoted as needing a replacement cam/timing belt at 4 yrs yet the same engine in an Audi is every 5 years ????. If you look at the service book it states 1st to be changed at 120,000 miles - I've never seen or heard of VAG sending any updates to owners to update them of the 4/5 year interval addition.

I've personally seen timing belts changed at 4 years on average mileage VAG cars and they look like there's plenty of life left in them - it would seem like a money making scheme by VAG as 6 yrs is the normal interval from my own experience and some are every 10 yrs if the mileage interval is not reached 1st - some services have a additional check item to inspect the belt and report.

[J400uk]

Why are people buying the 2.0 TDI to do such little mileage in? But yes 4-years/ 120k is correct I think - whichever comes first.

Its the old 1.4/ 1.6 NA petrols with the really short intervals something like 40k miles. The TSIs are all chain driven.

[Eshrules]

I have found VW timing belt intervals to be a bit dubious tbh - A golf GTi 2.0 tfsi has been quoted as needing a replacement cam/timing belt at 4 yrs yet the same engine in an Audi is every 5 years ????. If you look at the service book it states 1st to be changed at 120,000 miles - I've never seen or heard of VAG sending any updates to owners to update them of the 4/5 year interval addition.

I've personally seen timing belts changed at 4 years on average mileage VAG cars and they look like there's plenty of life left in them - it would seem like a money making scheme by VAG as 6 yrs is the normal interval from my own experience and some are every 10 yrs if the mileage interval is not reached 1st - some services have a additional check item to inspect the belt and report.

I can't see how it's a moneymaker for VAG, that would be based on the assumption that everybody uses a main dealer to complete their service/belt work, they don't.

Further - I'm not sure which cars you're running for 10 years on the same timing belt but you're a braver man than me!

[PhilDon]

Why are people buying the 2.0 TDI to do such little mileage in? But yes 4-years/ 120k is correct I think - whichever comes first.


fair point - to an extent - but it's great engine with all the power you'll ever need in the real world and >50 mpg without even trying, works for me

[-M-]

I can't see how it's a moneymaker for VAG, that would be based on the assumption that everybody uses a main dealer to complete their service/belt work, they don't.

Further - I'm not sure which cars you're running for 10 years on the same timing belt but you're a braver man than me!

Only from my experience I've seen some Ford cambelt intervals at 10yrs but even I'm not that brave.

With regard to the VAG cambelt interval - from what I have seen its only VAG dealers that quote 4/5 yr intervals and they then share that info with autodata etc. It would be a moneymaker if ind garages use Genuine VAG parts.

[thebobster]

I was told by my local veedub dealer that all diesel Golfs are 80,000 miles or 4 years with petrols being 60,000 miles or 4 years. To be honest £320 is not cheap but compared to having a belt snap and the damage that could do ....

[PhilDon]

I was told by my local veedub dealer that all diesel Golfs are 80,000 miles or 4 years with petrols being 60,000 miles or 4 years. To be honest £320 is not cheap but compared to having a belt snap and the damage that could do ....

a welcome dose of realism - all cars require maintenance, some of it preventative and a cam belt change is a classic example

[slowhand]

I was told by my local veedub dealer that all diesel Golfs are 80,000 miles or 4 years with petrols being 60,000 miles or 4 years. To be honest £320 is not cheap but compared to having a belt snap and the damage that could do ....

I hope you are wrong about the petrol, chain cams should not need changed for at least 100k

[vc-10]

I was under the impression that chains don't need to be replaced, and that they were 'lifetime' components. Certainly, my Polo's done 127k on the original (I think- certainly not been changed since I've had the car, got it at 82k)

[slowhand]

vc-10, thats what I heard, though cam tensioners sometimes need replaced at about 100k, and if you do then the chain should be changed too.

[Hacienda]

Its quite annoying and worrying that there does not seem to be a definitive answer to this. People seem to have information from many sources but it all contradicts each other. Half of the worry is are VW cashing in by recommending the belt be changed early, when it may have a good few thousand more miles in it.

With my car approaching 75K i'm starting to get used to the reality it needs doing soon, but every now and again i read something and think it may be good till over 100k!

[zollaf]

of course, if vag said to change it at 100k and it failed at 90, the owner would then blame vag for giveing too long a period. of course a belt may go on for that long, it depends on a lot of factors, like the weather, how many times its started from cold, length of journey and to an extent, how the car is driven. so the manufacturer has to pick something to tell their customers. if you stick to their guidlines its unlikely that your belt will snap. if you dont follow their guidelines and you belt doesn't snap, then you have proved their guidelines are open to interpretation, for your own circumstances. if you let the belt change go to far and it does snap, you are left with a car you can no longer drive without spending a considerable amount of money on it.
the thing is, a timing belt is hidden from view and they cannot be checked properlywithout removal, which then means fitting a new belt.

[Chaka]

Just checked the handbook on my missus 58 plate 1.9 105 BHP and it says change cambelt every 100k. No mention of 4 years at all, so not sure what to do now as it only has 26k on the clock! Any thoughts appreciated.
:boggled:

[-M-]

Just checked the handbook on my missus 58 plate 1.9 105 BHP and it says change cambelt every 100k. No mention of 4 years at all, so not sure what to do now as it only has 26k on the clock! Any thoughts appreciated.
:boggled:

Best thing to do i suppose is to get in contact with VW customer care and ask them to clarify the interval change - and then ask why the additional time limit of 4 years is not published in the service manual. If they come back with the "information is always changing and dealers will have more up to date info" line then ask why they haven't sent this info to owners as it is quite important.

I've looked at other manufacturer intervals when comparing my GTi and the Ford focus st has an interval of 120,000 miles or 120 months - so either VW are using inferior quality materials in their belts or it is a money making scheme - VW Australia reduced their intervals due to it being classed as a hot climate country.

I personally would say that the owners handbook is correct as at time of print the manufacturer is stating the belt will go that distance unless under severe conditions hence why it should be visually inspected at a specific interval.

[-M-]

This is a response to the query sent to VW customer care

"Dear Mr **********

Thank you for your recent enquiry regarding the recommended interval for changing the timing belt on your Golf GTI. Please
accept my apologies for the delay in my response.

I can confirm that we recommend changing the timing belt on our vehicles every four years irrespective of the mileage travelled.
I would be happy to provide an exact mileage advisory for this vehicle. In order to do so, I would be grateful if you would
provide me with the vehicle registration or chassis number.

The reason for this is that the condition of the belt is affected by numerous other factors, including external environmental
conditions and the ageing of the component itself, which can affect its lifespan. The belt is placed under most duress upon the
start up of the engine and by frequent stop start journeys, which are the typical journey profiles of many UK drivers. Therefore
even vehicles with relatively low mileage can still have belts which have been stressed to a similar extent as higher mileage
vehicles.

The changing of the belt at a set interval is a recommendation from Volkswagen UK; we cannot insist that this work is carried
out. However if the belt is not changed as per our recommendation and a subsequent failure was to lead to engine damage, we
could accept no liability for that damage. Your Owner's Manual is a generic document which applies to many markets, as the
timing belt advisory is specific to the UK; it is not included in the Owner's Manual.

We offer a very competitive price under our fixed price service regime at participating Retailers; I have included a link to the
servicing section of our website which provides further information on this offer:

http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/owners/servicing/fixed-price-servicing (http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/owners/servicing/fixed-price-servicing)

I hope that this information proves useful. Thank you for contacting Volkswagen UK.

Yours sincerely


Damien Quirk
Customer Relations Manager
Volkswagen Customer Services Centre

Tel: 0800 333666
E-mail: volkswagencustomercare@volkswagen.co.uk (volkswagencustomercare@volkswagen.co.uk)
Internet: www.volkswagen.co.uk (http://www.volkswagen.co.uk) "

IMO it is a generic response which fails to answer why this information is not sent to VW owners by post, why the belt time interval is less than those of rival manufacturer or why Audi engines are 5 years and not 4.

It didn't answer why a supplement is not being sent out either like other models have been ie for 09g transmission etc. Also found out that VW USA doesn't have a time limit for timing belts just mileage recommendations.

[james_tiger_woo]

I was curious myself but the book does indeed state 120k for the 2.0 diesel - I didn't see anything about 4 years.

Incidentally, I'm up to 73k at 37 months.

[lucid]

Interesting thread and it does seem strange that there are these anomalies. I notice from the link above that there is a 2 year service plan for the Golf at £379 am i right that this wouldn't include the cam belt change at year 4 if one followed their recommended time. It does seem over the top! I always changed mine at around the 60,000 mile mark before this and never considered a time limit.

With the Mk6 I am doing only limited miles of just under 5000 per year so at 4 years will have only covered some 18000 miles which seems bonkers for a cam belt change on a modern car. My old mk2 had its 1st change at 60k and i got rid at 110k with no probs at all. The new belts are surely better not worse than old tech.

[-M-]

I had another email from VW UK as i have pushed on with the issue just to see what if...

"Dear Mr **********

Thank you for your most recent email dated 14 May 2012, regarding our recommendation for changing the timing belt in your Golf
GTI. I am sorry for the delay in my response as I have unexpectedly been out of the office.

I am sincerely sorry for the confusion which this matter has created; I can appreciate your concerns and need for clarity on the
matter. The recommendation for changing of the cam belt is not in the generic Owner's Manual as this is a recommendation
specific to the UK market. It is therefore not appropriate to comment on the recommendations of Volkswagen USA for this
maintenance. There is no technical reason for the difference between the recommendations of Audi and Volkswagen; these are
simply reflective of decisions made by the respective Boards of Management.

I must reiterate that this maintenance is purely a recommendation and not a requirement. This recommendation is based upon our
technical insight and experience. If the belt is not changed as per our recommendation and a subsequent failure was to lead to
engine damage, we could accept no liability for that damage.

We have no current plans to introduce a supplement to the Owner's Manual; the requirements in relation to the servicing of this
item are published on our Technical Information Website - www.erwin.volkswagen.de - This is the website used by independent
workshops and by private individuals wishing to carry out their own vehicle maintenance. The site is always up to date and is
maintained by our colleagues at Volkswagen AG in Germany.

Thank you for contacting Volkswagen UK."

[Rorry]

This is a response to the query sent to VW customer care

"Dear Mr **********
....

The changing of the belt at a set interval is a recommendation from Volkswagen UK; we cannot insist that this work is carried
out. However if the belt is not changed as per our recommendation and a subsequent failure was to lead to engine damage, we
could accept no liability for that damage.

Interesting - I wonder if it broke outside warranty and wrecked the engine would VW really pay for a new engine?

The decreased interval is a scam by VW UK - I can only think the reason they do it is so that if the belt does break and you didn't get it changed in time then it gives them an easy way of stone-walling all discussion about liability.

[-M-]

Interesting - I wonder if it broke outside warranty and wrecked the engine would VW really pay for a new engine?

The decreased interval is a scam by VW UK - I can only think the reason they do it is so that if the belt does break and you didn't get it changed in time then it gives them an easy way of stone-walling all discussion about liability.

:confused:
- the letter from VW states that they will NOT accept any liability on their part.

[Eshrules]

Interesting - I wonder if it broke outside warranty and wrecked the engine would VW really pay for a new engine?

The decreased interval is a scam by VW UK - I can only think the reason they do it is so that if the belt does break and you didn't get it changed in time then it gives them an easy way of stone-walling all discussion about liability.

Second time that's been suggested in this thread and I just don't see how - it's common sense in my eyes, if you want to push the belt further than the time/mileage VW consider the belt capable of covering, more fool you when it fails?

I don't consider an interval of 4 years/60k unreasonable.

[PhilDon]

£400 v cost of replacing an engine ? I know which choice I will make, but each to his own

[Rorry]

:confused:
- the letter from VW states that they will NOT accept any liability on their part.

I meant outside warranty, but still within VWs recommended change interval - say the car was 3yrs 9mths old and had done 35K miles.

[Rorry]

I don't consider an interval of 4 years/60k unreasonable.

It's unreasonable if the belt could reasonably be expected to last 10yrs/120K miles (which is the interval in other countries).

It's forcing whoever is the owner at 4yrs to spend several hundred pounds that he/she shouldn't need to spend.

[PhilDon]

I meant outside warranty, but still within VWs recommended change interval - say the car was 3yrs 9mths old and had done 35K miles.

with a full VW service record I would expect a significant goodwill contribution to any repair cost
without one you'd be on your own

[Eshrules]

It's unreasonable if the belt could reasonably be expected to last 10yrs/120K miles (which is the interval in other countries).

It's forcing whoever is the owner at 4yrs to spend several hundred pounds that he/she shouldn't need to spend.


Other countries have different climates - Britain isn't renowned for it's gentle super dry climate, which is probably why foreign imports are still popular.

It's general upkeep, the good thing being that you can choose to avoid these sorts of costs by picking a different car or perhaps a chain driven engine if you can't justify the expense of a four yearly timing belt change.

[-M-]

Other countries have different climates - Britain isn't renowned for it's gentle super dry climate, which is probably why foreign imports are still popular.

One of my points made to VW was that a similar Ford Focus ST, which is made in Germany like the Golf GTi, has more power yet still has the interval set at 120,000 miles or 12 yrs and is driven in the UK like the Golf GTi - Ford stands by its interval and therefore has faith in its product. So, does VW not have faith in its products or is it maximising on its profits by moving the goalposts.

[vwcabriolet1971]

It is significant that VW UK has not revised the mileage interval or the cambelt duration for the new models fitted with the Continental ContiTech "High Flex" belt . Continental announced this new "high flex" belt in a blaze of publicity about 3 years ago extolling its extended life ( 300Km and no life duration limit) .If this new belt construction was such a major advance over the previous belt why hasn't VW UK amended their mileage/duration specification from the old belt ?

[-M-]

If this new belt construction was such a major advance over the previous belt why hasn't VW UK amended their mileage/duration specification from the old belt ?

Its like most things VW - its to make more money IMO.

If you stuck to the 120,000 mile spec then less people would be in their workshops having a fairly costly job carried out - therefore less money being made.

[zollaf]

or more cars would be in the workshop having a head rebuilt. that would be even better for the economy.

[zollaf]

incidentally, a lot of engines these days, like 1.4 hdi's have a period of 120k or 10 years. by this time, a lot of cars are scrapped or on their 10th owner, so no one gives a hoot about a snapped belt. if it goes, either fix it or scrap it, simple as that. the high milers that do 120 after 3 years get a new belt and all is good, but then get sold on, and no one cares if it snaps after 8 years. the amount of cars i have seen personally with a snapped belt before its due is unreal and leads to a lot of new cars being sold.
so, the other way to look at is like this. vw want you to enjoy a reliable car and want it to be on the road with lots of owners for a long time, where other manufacturers don't give a monkeys once the warranty has ran out.
how many fleet buyers will buy something that won't need a belt doing ? so vw are actually saying their cars will cost more to service so will be selling less cars as a result, maybe ?

[gti-fan]

just had my first mot today and was told that vw recommend having the cambelt changed every 4 years at a cost of £320, i will have it changed next year when my car will have done about 25,000 miles but does anyone think you need it changed every 4 years?:aargh4:
Hey. You can see Replacement intervals and manuals for replacing here - Golf | Replace timing belt manuals (http://replace-timing-belt.com/vw-volkswagen/golf/)