Timing Belts for 1.8 5-valve engines.

[John-NZ]

Thanks for the comments. Jimmy Mac and Bug Racer will tell you that you put off replacing your timing belt at your own risk. Do it every 90k, and much sooner if you do a lot of stop-start city running. I was not sure whether some OEM and Aftermarket European suppliers might still have the older-technology belts on their shelves. Here in New Zealand our market is driven by a load of Used Jap Imports, which also means that we see used Audis and VWs from 1997-2002 arriving from Japan with 40k to 60k on them, usually standard options.
Jimmy, can you tell those who "have not got around to it" the average cost of replacing timing belt, tensioner and waterpump on most VAG models? I would guess that parts could be around $600? My A4 was done by previous owner around 95k when he bought the car in July 2006, only done 10k since then. John.

[jasn78]

sorry bout the slight off topic guys but is the timing belt the same for a Polo GTI and a mk4 Golf GTI?

[No457 Snowy]

This kit works out about $550 AUD including shipping (even with the Aussie dollar crapping out) This is what I'm going to look at pretty soon.




Snowy.

[Jmac]

Only thing is there Snowy by the look of that picture the water pump is still a bakalite one, you are better to one with a metal impellar.
Jas the timing belt set up on your Polo Gti and Golf very much the same and the same interval as well as a recommendation of the water pump too, you would be silly not to when in this far
Around 550 - 600 this is ball park for serpentine belt, water pump, coolant timing belt and labour
Cheers
JMac

[No457 Snowy]

Hi JMac, checked out the water pump and according to their website, it does apparently have a metal impeller, here's a closer pic. As a matter of interest, were VW still using the bakelite/plastic impeller on the later MK4's? or did they change that to metal like the window clips? The build date on mine is 6/04 so it was like the last of the last.

[jasn78]

thanks jmac i was planning on the whole 90k timing belt change anyhow just need absoulte confirmation that they r they the same belt pump etc cause like snowy was thinkg it was a good deal compared to local parts but not prepared to go with it unless 100 percent certain like u guys said one part u really dont wont to stuff round on so i would go oem if there was any uncertainity on the belt between golf mk4 and polo GTI


thanks

[Jmac]

Remember something here the belt you will buy from imparts or the likes will in fact be manufactured by Gates,Continental or such like and thats what will be in the box at Dub. Shop around for the deals.
Snowy they still do use the bakalite one. If you buy a new one from dub im sure they will supply a bakalite one. Go the metal for sure.

[dubbed]

Hey Snowy, did you check out the ECS Timing Belt kit with the underdrive pulleys? I was considering that myself but haven't heard of any results/experiences with under drive pulleys in a MKIV GTI.

JMac, I was quoted $1,500 to replace the timing belt, water pump etc.

[Jmac]

$1500 for that job !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Man dont know how that can be justified

[No457 Snowy]

Hey Snowy, did you check out the ECS Timing Belt kit with the underdrive pulleys? I was considering that myself but haven't heard of any results/experiences with under drive pulleys in a MKIV GTI.

JMac, I was quoted $1,500 to replace the timing belt, water pump etc.

Mate I haven't done any homework on the under-drive pulleys, but I do remember reading something once that replacing the factory crank pulley with a lightened one was not a good idea and there were cases where it had caused premature engine wear due to increased internal vibration in the engine, because the balance wasn't spot on.

Not sure if it's fact or fiction though, can anyone else chime in with experiences etc?


Snowy.