When to change a timing belt on Octavia vRS TDi

[Umai Naa!!]

Water pump doesn't come with the genuine kit.

Always get prices from the dealership as a comparison. You'd be surprised sometimes. Expect to pay $250-$300 for the kit.

If going through the dealership, get an exchange water pump from them (and return the old one). They're around $150.

You'll need these: Laser Tools 4346 Volkswagen Timing Tool SET VAG Tool Garage Auto | eBay to lock the crank and cam, and accessory belt tensioner.

Should take most around 5-6 hours to do. Experienced guys can do them in around 4 hours.

Buy new bolts for the crank pulley. The heads of them are made of playdough.

Line it all up first, before you pull the crank pulley and lower covers off.

Check, and double-check your marks (i.e. rotate the crank 2 or 4 times with new belt on), before you start it.

[Transporter]

Ok, well theres no way I can afford to replace this **** right now. Im angered now because the money Ive had to spend on my Crewman just to sell it inflated like no tomorrow, I thought I was finally done with maintenance... And now the car is in for a wheel bearing, and looking at the blue smoke coming out. Im doing the cam follower tomorrow.

So I found THIS DIY which, while it isn't easy at all, seems "easy enough". I think I can tackle it. I've had a play replacing the accessories pulley before so I've been down in that area.. its a start


Do you guys have any words of wisdom/concerns before I go ahead with this? I will also get a quote to get it done, but it seems it will be at least $500-700 labour to even fit the ebay kit.....

Yes, if you make a mistake, it could cost you thousands of dollars to repair the engine straight away. Or if the engine fails while on a long trip or holiday, it could be even worst.

If you never done it, then don't do it, leave it to the pros, keep your car reliable.

[brad]

If you never done it, then don't do it, leave it to the pros, keep your car reliable.

If nobody ever attempted anything that they hadn't done before then we'd still be wearing skins & shivering in a cave.

If mountainbikemike had never done any spanner work before then it's a fair comment but his fabrication skills are very good & he's done a lot of mechanical work already on his vehicle & he works as a mechanic but in a different field.

He's got about as much chance of buggering it up as I have... oh, wait

[Mysticality]

He's got about as much chance of buggering it up as I have... oh, wait

+1 He's pretty good

@Mike- Be careful though, my belt was stretched so the cams were facing half-notch opposing directions, they had to realign them... And that was after 2yr/135k

@Umai- Sorry Funds prohibitive...

[Transporter]

If nobody ever attempted anything that they hadn't done before then we'd still be wearing skins & shivering in a cave.

If mountainbikemike had never done any spanner work before then it's a fair comment but his fabrication skills are very good & he's done a lot of mechanical work already on his vehicle & he works as a mechanic but in a different field.

He's got about as much chance of buggering it up as I have... oh, wait

Oh, it's fine by me brad.
I just see too many cars where people think they can do it, and then call me half way through the job or when it's to late.

...so I don't see anything wrong advising some one not to do the timing belt replacement on their own when they haven't done it before.

I guess, I just crawl back under my rock.

[MountainBikeMike]

+1 He's pretty good

@Mike- Be careful though, my belt was stretched so the cams were facing half-notch opposing directions, they had to realign them... And that was after 2yr/135k

@Umai- Sorry Funds prohibitive...

Thanks for the opinions guys. I to would like to know the experience of the guy who made the diy, as everyone could miss something, especially when cutting small corners.

Matti- does that mean that two of the wheels were opposing each other compared to where they were meant to be, or was one of the teeth one spot further than it should have been? I will need to investigate this, as I'll be at 120k when I do it in about 2 weeks

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[woofy]

It's a pretty critical thing to get right, I wouldn't want to be doing it myself. If you are confident to do it go for it.

[MountainBikeMike]

Water pump doesn't come with the genuine kit.

Always get prices from the dealership as a comparison. You'd be surprised sometimes. Expect to pay $250-$300 for the kit.

If going through the dealership, get an exchange water pump from them (and return the old one). They're around $150.

You'll need these: Laser Tools 4346 Volkswagen Timing Tool SET VAG Tool Garage Auto | eBay to lock the crank and cam, and accessory belt tensioner.

Should take most around 5-6 hours to do. Experienced guys can do them in around 4 hours.

Buy new bolts for the crank pulley. The heads of them are made of playdough.

Line it all up first, before you pull the crank pulley and lower covers off.

Check, and double-check your marks (i.e. rotate the crank 2 or 4 times with new belt on), before you start it.

Dealership had the kit for under $300 but then he realised that was trade and normally $450. He said he'd do trade anyway luckily. Yes $150 for the pump, exchanged.

There's a kit on eBay for $300 with everything..

Also the toolset you linked to, says for tdi and diesel only?

So I'm guessing a final check before turn on as you mentioned in your last sentence, would confirm positioning?

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[Mysticality]

Matti- does that mean that two of the wheels were opposing each other compared to where they were meant to be, or was one of the teeth one spot further than it should have been? I will need to investigate this, as I'll be at 120k when I do it in about 2 weeks

Opposing, same spot on belt, just belt had stretched a bit so the cams had moved apart a little.
Thats all


EDIT: Which is probably one of the reasons VW wants us (hotter climates) to change the belt sooner...

[MountainBikeMike]

I just picked up the belt and pulley kit, coolant, and water pump for $485 from skoda, minus $65 refund when I bring the water pump core back.

Guy accidentally told me trade price on the phone, so he just ran with it.

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