Cambelt change interval

[benough]

Hi there.

I read in my manual that I need to change the cambelt at 120,000kms. Pretty standard I thought.

I looked up the service manual I bought from ErWin and it says cars 2007 an newer don't need to change it until 150,000km.

LINK Goto to page 13, my engine code is BMN.

I rang VW dealership, DENLO and Barloworld and they are saying 105,000kms.

I want to lean towards the ErWin manual b/c I can't afford it at Christmas

Anyone care to chime in?

[gldgti]

150,000

The dealers dont know anything. ***edit - they do know things, but the person you talk to probably doesnt and also is trying to get work***

[Buller_Scott]

would that theorhectically apply to the pd 1.9tdi's as well? or does 8v / single cam change things?

[gldgti]

150,000 for the 1.9 too.

Honestly though, these days with belts as they are, unless there's a problem they will go for a loooooong time. I will change at 150k because thats the interval it says in the service manual and I'm confident the belt would go to 500k if I didnt bother changing it at all.

[Buller_Scott]

ah cool, gld....

yeah, my old man laughed hard when he heard me saying "i will have to go in for a 90,000km timing belt change".

"what?!?!?! no... look at the thing - that will be good for at least a few hundred thousand... timing belt at 90k? piss off"

[benough]

Thanks for the replies guys.

My Dad said the same thing. I'll just have to remember to put money aside for this time next year

[paam]

150,000 for the 1.9 too.

Honestly though, these days with belts as they are, unless there's a problem they will go for a loooooong time. I will change at 150k because thats the interval it says in the service manual and I'm confident the belt would go to 500k if I didnt bother changing it at all.

how do you know how long the waterpump is going to last because it is also runs off the timing belt.my timing belt snapped on 120 000 km alot of money to fix

[gldgti]

how do you know how long the waterpump is going to last because it is also runs off the timing belt.my timing belt snapped on 120 000 km alot of money to fix

Thats right - there are other things to worry about like the water pump and tensioners.

My main point was that belts (usually) are fine for a long time and that you should simply follow the service schedule.

In my opinion, there would have to be a manufacturing defect in the belt to cause it to fail early, unless another component caused the failure.

What engine/vehicle did your unfortunate failure occur with?

For peoples interest - I recently rebuilt a 1.9 turbo diesel vw engine. When I put it together, I put on a new timing belt. After about 1000km, I noticed that the belt began to run off centre of the pulleys - this is often caused by a bent bracket on the engine or some such thing, but is not really a common occurrence. Eventually I found that the problem was the belt itself - it had a manufacturing defect that made a slight kink in the belt which began to make the belt conical, if you like.

I changed the belt for another brand new one and now the problem has gone away entirely.

Just goes to show that there are manufacturing defects in belts out there, but with careful inspection you can pick them up before they cause a problem.

[benough]

383k? You're my hero!

Thanks for the info. Will ask when it goes in for the belt replacement tomorrow.

Cheers

[benough]

After some advice from another mechanic, telling me that when a timing belt snaps there are no warning signs, i.e. it looks perfect, I got the belt done at BWA Auto.

I paid a shade under $1k for it including all rollers and a water pump. The prices of the parts on the invoice were cheaper than ECS so in all I'm very happy with it.

Armed with that knowledge now I'm going to say follow the interval or if you can afford it go a little before. (here's looking at you Jarred)

Cheers