2000 VW Polo timing belt change

edwardmluk

How often does a timing belt need changing on a VW polo. I've read in some forums its every 6years/60,000 miles, and other say 4 years/40,000 miles. It's a 1L petrol Polo. It had a change at 45,000 and its current ly at 85,000. The garage have informed my girlfriend that it needs one, but I'm not sure if they're just trying to get some extra dollar out of her. She's just dropped it of so a quick response would be great so I can call them to cancel doing the unnecessary...

Thanks,
Ed

s_b

its up to you
brother in laws popped a few years back 115,000
i got the spoils of war and had the battery and headlights for another polo
china got the rest

edwardmluk

Hmm. Well it's only done 40,000 miles in 5 years. Maybe its best to just suck it up and pay the price.

Goodadvice75

Hi

Sorry to but in on this thread, but we are in similar position with same car so would be interested in any advice on this.

Cambelt last changed 2 years ago, but done 60k miles in that time. It's 2004. Can we squeeze any more miles out of it or is it best to bite the bullet and pay up now?

Thx in advance!

edwardmluk

I'd definitely bite the bullet. Sure, it may run for another 10 or 20 thousand miles, but why risk it when the broken cambelt could write off your car.

In the end the repairs on my car are so large that its not worth fixing (there was other stuff than the cambelt to change), so instead the car's going to be run into the ground and I'll replace it when it does die.

AlexisV

60k is the limit, regardless of age.

The cambelt is one of the most important things to keep in good condition on an engine. If it snaps it will bend the valves of the engine and then you're properly screwed.