MK5 GTi Cam belt interval
Discussion
I keep seeing reference to the cam belt being change being needed at 40,000 (like this one http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a... but checking my service book it says 80K.
I know mine was done at 80K as I got it done and I can find no history of it being done previously. I am now at 120,000 so from what I have seen it should be due, but not according to the schedule. 40K does seem a little often to me, after all its not a Ferrari.
I know mine was done at 80K as I got it done and I can find no history of it being done previously. I am now at 120,000 so from what I have seen it should be due, but not according to the schedule. 40K does seem a little often to me, after all its not a Ferrari.
Jimmy No Hands said:
Better safe than sorry I suppose..
Agreed and if VW are still doing the £349 deal with water pump, it's well worth doing.Mine's on 85K and has had 2 belts, so was on the old 40K interval. They told me when I had it done at 80K that the next belt is due in 2018 or 60K miles, which ever comes first.
This is all VW have to say on the matter - http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/owners/servicing/what-...
supersport said:
Mine is a 2005 car and had a full VW history up until I bought it at 80K, 4 years ago and had not had the belt changed. So by that reckoning it is needed this year. Seems a bit ridiculous to be doing it that often.
Yep, I would get it done.Why is it ridiculous? Replacing a Dual Mass Flywheel a few times (at £600 a time, exc labour and other parts) is ridiculous. Replacing a perishable part every 4 years or 60K is not even slightly ridiculous. It's common sense.
Dr G said:
Audi's advice on identical engine is 5 years/75k throughout.
Never seen one fail on one of these fail on any 2.0 TFSI but belts are cheaper than engines.
I wonder if VW changed their mind at some point, since my hand book definitely states 80K miles and no time limit. The fact that is had a full VW history up to 80K and no belt change would back this up.Never seen one fail on one of these fail on any 2.0 TFSI but belts are cheaper than engines.
SuperchargedVR6 said:
supersport said:
Mine is a 2005 car and had a full VW history up until I bought it at 80K, 4 years ago and had not had the belt changed. So by that reckoning it is needed this year. Seems a bit ridiculous to be doing it that often.
Yep, I would get it done.Why is it ridiculous? Replacing a Dual Mass Flywheel a few times (at £600 a time, exc labour and other parts) is ridiculous. Replacing a perishable part every 4 years or 60K is not even slightly ridiculous. It's common sense.
I'd go a bit further and say it's VAG UK policy , though the miles and or years seems to vary from maker to maker for the same engine( as far as I can tell). I first noticed the dropping in miles/years a few years after I'd picked up my Fabia TDI. Service schedule said every (from memory) 80k ,or possibly 120k.Then I spotted a warning on Briskoda that it had been reduced to 60k/ 4 years . Opinion was that Skoda/VAG had had their fingers burnt and hip pockets raided for new engines because belts were failing before the recommended mileage.
Jim- I'd head over to Briskoda.net and ask independent VAG techs for an opinion. But if you do,look for a company sponsoring the site with unit and 18 in the name ,and if not too far from MK, give them an ask ,and expect a pleasant quote.
Edited by Who me ? on Saturday 31st January 23:14
[quote=Who me ?]Opinion was that Skoda/VAG had had their fingers burnt and hip pockets raided for new engines because belts were failing before the recommended mileage.
[/quote]
Alfa Romeo had that problem. My old 147 2.0 T Spark left the factory with a 70K interval, but was later revised to 36K / 3 yrs because they were snapping on people.
I know 40K / 4 years seems like a lack of progress, but rubber is rubber. Tyres age and go off quickly from heat cycling too, but no one complains about replacing those. The EA888 engined cars had it worse with stretched chains.
[/quote]
Alfa Romeo had that problem. My old 147 2.0 T Spark left the factory with a 70K interval, but was later revised to 36K / 3 yrs because they were snapping on people.
I know 40K / 4 years seems like a lack of progress, but rubber is rubber. Tyres age and go off quickly from heat cycling too, but no one complains about replacing those. The EA888 engined cars had it worse with stretched chains.
The 2.0 TFSI EA113 doesn't seem too bad for cambelts, failures are quite rare and infrequently heard off. When I was shopping arround used Mk5 GTIs last year I came across quite a few 2006/ 2007 cars with 80-100k miles that hadn't yet had a belt change and were still going strong. However obviously well overdue and you'd have no recourse if it did fail.
What's given VAG the bad reputation are the 1.4/ 1.6 petrols of the early 00s. The cambelts on those are weak and do need changing to the 4-year/ 40k mile interval as they are well known for failing and causing catastrophic damage,
The TSI chains are another matter. Too expensive to change as a precautionary item like you would a cambelt, but as above seem prone to stretching and eventually leading to engine damage.
All of this seriously puts into question the durability of the latest generation EA211 petrols (1.4 TSI ACT etc) which are supposed to have a Cambelt designed to last the life of the car. I wouldn't be surprised if VW UK recommends changing those anyway once they are a bit older and out off warranty!
What's given VAG the bad reputation are the 1.4/ 1.6 petrols of the early 00s. The cambelts on those are weak and do need changing to the 4-year/ 40k mile interval as they are well known for failing and causing catastrophic damage,
The TSI chains are another matter. Too expensive to change as a precautionary item like you would a cambelt, but as above seem prone to stretching and eventually leading to engine damage.
All of this seriously puts into question the durability of the latest generation EA211 petrols (1.4 TSI ACT etc) which are supposed to have a Cambelt designed to last the life of the car. I wouldn't be surprised if VW UK recommends changing those anyway once they are a bit older and out off warranty!
va1o said:
What's given VAG the bad reputation are the 1.4/ 1.6 petrols of the early 00s. The cambelts on those are weak and do need changing to the 4-year/ 40k mile interval as they are well known for failing and causing catastrophic damage,
We have that engine in a special edition 2011 Golf mk6 but the dealer, who so far has never missed any upselling opportunity, is adamant that post 2009 cars are OK for 5yrs or 80K miles.The dilemma is we'll probably keep the car for some time, so getting it done early is likely to mean it being changed twice, whereas leaving it would mean it would probably only be done once.
Dealer is also denying any special pricing - wants £449 inc water pump.
Not been at all happy with VW over servicing this car and if I leave it and the cambelt breaks at 4.5yrs I don't have any faith that VW will cough for a new engine.
Sheepshanks said:
Dr G said:
Audi's advice on identical engine is 5 years/75k throughout.
In the US it's 110,000 miles.Dr G said:
The service books over here still just say '115,000 miles'.
Madness/conspiracy/weird/annoying, delete as appropriate.
The handbook for our Golf (2011 model) says check at 120,000 miles, doesn't even mandate a change.Madness/conspiracy/weird/annoying, delete as appropriate.
It's absurd that VW doesn't change the handbook (reading other forums it's been like that for years) or give people a formal notification of change. The cynical bit in me thinks it's to stop people saying it's a scheduled service item (which of course it is) and insisting it should be done as part of any service contract in place.
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