Cambelt / timing belt info: where to find

seatbeltnoob

I have an old golf mk4 vw golf 2002. The cambelt interval is 40k miles or 4 years. Original spec was 60k/5 years. But i guess they had too many failures and thought they just reduce the interval instead of finding the weak point and revising the part design.

I had the cambrlts done twice since oenership and the mechanic says they dont look worn or damaged. But with cambelt kits you just dont know.

If i could do my own cambelts i would have done it myself to save some money. Maybe even take it of and inspect all the components and check fof wear and replace the bits that arent spinning smoothly.

seatbeltnoob

hareng wrote: »

The age old debate belt or chain, very few producers stated they were for life one being GM proved wrong.
Just checked 40k is the service interval for the cam belt change on those VAG engines. Normally cam belt/chain changes are recommended by 60k to 80k difference here theyre much larger engines.
A fundamental point not mentioned is rubber and plastic deteriorates whether used or not. You could have a 10k engine been sat for 5 years where tensioners have gone brittle or belt cracked.


Point is for £350 ish is it worth the risk of scrapping the car, make sure have the water pump replaced as well.

I get my cambelt kits done for £280/£295 ish. I know 350 is the standard prices though. I know im hetting s hood deal so i put up with it. If i had to pay 350 and above i would have just lesrnt to diy.

fred990

seatbeltnoob wrote: »

I have an old golf mk4 vw golf 2002. The cambelt interval is 40k miles or 4 years. Original spec was 60k/5 years. But i guess they had too many failures and thought they just reduce the interval instead of finding the weak point and revising the part design.

I had the cambrlts done twice since oenership and the mechanic says they dont look worn or damaged. But with cambelt kits you just dont know.

If i could do my own cambelts i would have done it myself to save some money. Maybe even take it of and inspect all the components and check fof wear and replace the bits that arent spinning smoothly.

I've done our VW's many times over the past 20 years and they've all come off looking like new! No cracked/perished belts or pumps/tensioners/relay rollers with tight spots. Soooo tempting to just renew the belt......but compered to a new engine?
Agree that they've likely just reduced the interval to cover themselves.

mksysb

WorkerBee wrote: »

I've looked online and vw up forums have suggested a lifetime belt which is the same car more or less. Online research also suggests spark plugs should still be good (replaced 2 years and 15k miles ago) and the wheel alignment would have been picked up on the MOTs if it was causing abnormal wheel wear. Both of these were flagged by garage as needed to be done. I can't remember the exact quote but it was over 200 and I don't think that includes the cambelt.

Ah stuff like this makes me so anxious.

The MOT doesn't check tracking.