VW Passat (06 Reg). Garage rang and said "Your car is due a cambelt change". True??

mikey72

TiTheRev wrote: »

Rubber is rubber is rubber. They can make service intervals 2 years or 20,000miles, but until they replace cam belts with chains or a similarly longlife material, rubber will degrade and need replacing.

I hope that's not the official VW line.

I'd rather have a Gates cam belt, than a chinese copy knocked up in someones garden shed.

TiTheRev

My inference was that rubber will perish. Obviously the quality will differ

alexlyne

just an fyi, my Citroen is 10 years or 150000 miles. Diesel though - i guess that the rpm is lower so can get away with longer than petrol?
Regardless, I got it changed at 110000 as 150k seemed a bit excessive (oh, and the car was 5 years old at the time).

TiTheRev

alexlyne wrote: »

just an fyi, my Citroen is 10 years or 150000 miles. Diesel though - i guess that the rpm is lower so can get away with longer than petrol?
Regardless, I got it changed at 110000 as 150k seemed a bit excessive (oh, and the car was 5 years old at the time).

That's asking for trouble surely???

10 years or 150k is far too long IMO.

jase1

Yup, never worth playing with fire where cambelts are concerned.

Most jobs can be put off on a car, but the cambelt is one of those ones where it can let go without any warning and cause massive amounts of damage.

I usually go for chain-driven cars. Just been a victim of circumstance at the moment -- both my cars are currently belt. One because it was cheap and otherwise a good solid car, and the other because I didn't do my homework properly (all the Focus II petrol engines are chain except the 1.6, d'oh).

bigjl

I had a late shape Seat Toledo back in 99, the saloon one not the earlier hatchback.

It had a 110 tdi VW lump and the interval was only 40k, as it was reduced for the new Toledo apparently.

I had it changed by Seat for £275, this included all tensioners and a waterpump, this was in mid 2000, but I though the price was reasonable, a local indy wanted £300.

£375 for the job on an 06 reg car, as long as it includes the full kit and a waterpump is a good deal if you ask me.

From your post I think you misunderstand what a cambelt is, they have to be changed at specific intervals, they aren't like a clutch or brakes, they aren't a consumable, they are a service item the is replaced at certain intervals, that can be either mileage or time related. I would personally change them sooner than recommended if the vehicle is used in harsh conditions, dusty environments or heavy urban use or minicab useage.