2017 Sharan 2.0 TDI timing belt question

[quyeno]

Hi

Does anyone know what the timing belt interval is for a Sharan 7N? I've misplaced my owners hand book so cant check but from what I read the age interval is either 4 or 5 years, milage wise my car is way below the recommended interval based on mileage. The reason I'm asking is because i bought the car April of this year from Arnold Clark. Its a 2017 model, last serviced Jan of this year. Before I bought the car I asked about the timing belt and wether they would change it if i bought the car but was told they wouldn't as the timing belt change would be due in two years so that would be 2023. And their policy is that if it was due within a year then they would. But if the timing belt interval based on age is 5 years then that would be next year 2022 so that's within a year. So Arnold Clark should be changing the timing if that is so. Or am I missing something or seeing it wrong? I have bought their 2 year service and MOT package so can bring it up now or leave it till then. But clarification from anyone would be appreciated.

Thanks

[10126 Torino]

If you don't have their "timing belt change policy " in writing then there is very little chance of them paying for it to be changed now .

[Sheepshanks]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Seems the pumps can go anytime from 3yrs on. Had belt and pump done on wife's 2015 Tiguan at 5yrs - hurt as the car had only done 30K miles and VW had said when the engine in her car (EA288, so will be same as OPs) was introduced that it said to be a 'lifetime' belt. VW Germany told me no need to change on age, they recommend 210,000kms.

I'm not 100% convinced the dealer even did it - engine bay looked remarkably un-smudged!

[quyeno]

Sheepshanks said:

anonymous said:

[redacted]

Seems the pumps can go anytime from 3yrs on. Had belt and pump done on wife's 2015 Tiguan at 5yrs - hurt as the car had only done 30K miles and VW had said when the engine in her car (EA288, so will be same as OPs) was introduced that it said to be a 'lifetime' belt. VW Germany told me no need to change on age, they recommend 210,000kms.

I'm not 100% convinced the dealer even did it - engine bay looked remarkably un-smudged!

Seems like timing belt advice is a bit confusing and why would it vary from country to country? If VW recommends milage as the determining factor rather than age then why would the VW UK advice take age into consideration? My Sharan has only done 13700. :/

[Sheepshanks]

quyeno said:

Seems like timing belt advice is a bit confusing and why would it vary from country to country? If VW recommends milage as the determining factor rather than age then why would the VW UK advice take age into consideration? My Sharan has only done 13700. :/

The general, perhaps somewhat cynical, opinion seems to be it's a bit of a scam here. It's very rare for the belt itself to break, but water pumps and tensioner failures are common.

The trouble is, if the belt (or something associated with it) fails then it does a lot of damage. So as well as getting a big bill, you'll feel pretty stupid for not following VW UK's recommendation.

I spoke to a trusted indie and he said on ours he'd be comfortable leaving it for a year or even two. But we plan to keep the car longer than that so I'd have to get it done at some point and I decided that might as well get it done at 5yrs.

[Drive Blind]

quyeno said:

Seems like timing belt advice is a bit confusing

It always has been IME

Manufacturers will quote longer intervals when the model is new, then revise it 3,4,5 years on when they start seeing failures.

Also with the VW group you have the same engine shared across multiple manufacturers and those manufacturers will quote different belt change intervals.

One thing I would not rely on is the handbook which usually will quote a mileage figure and no time figure.
Maybe I'm too cynical about AC - but the chances of you getting them to back track and now change the belt after the sale are zero no matter what evidence you supply.

You near any VW group indie garages? They are usually good for timing belt advice because they'll see more older and higher mileage examples compared to the dealers.

[halo34]

quyeno said:

Hi

Does anyone know what the timing belt interval is for a Sharan 7N? I've misplaced my owners hand book so cant check but from what I read the age interval is either 4 or 5 years, milage wise my car is way below the recommended interval based on mileage. The reason I'm asking is because i bought the car April of this year from Arnold Clark. Its a 2017 model, last serviced Jan of this year. Before I bought the car I asked about the timing belt and wether they would change it if i bought the car but was told they wouldn't as the timing belt change would be due in two years so that would be 2023. And their policy is that if it was due within a year then they would. But if the timing belt interval based on age is 5 years then that would be next year 2022 so that's within a year. So Arnold Clark should be changing the timing if that is so. Or am I missing something or seeing it wrong? I have bought their 2 year service and MOT package so can bring it up now or leave it till then. But clarification from anyone would be appreciated.

Thanks

Whether it was due or not my experience of AC is such you probably dont have much chance of any recourse.

[wyson]

quyeno said:

Seems like timing belt advice is a bit confusing and why would it vary from country to country? If VW recommends milage as the determining factor rather than age then why would the VW UK advice take age into consideration? My Sharan has only done 13700. :/

Rubber degrades over time. Same reason why tyre manufacturers recommend changing tyres when they are 10 years old from the manufacturing date stamped on the side, regardless of wear.

Total guess, but different countries have different climates that also affects material degradation, so have different intervals? Also they might spec different belts for different markets?

[Sheepshanks]

wyson said:

Rubber degrades over time. Same reason why tyre manufacturers recommend changing tyres when they are 10 years old from the manufacturing date stamped on the side, regardless of wear.

Total guess, but different countries have different climates that also affects material degradation, so have different intervals? Also they might spec different belts for different markets?

The UK probably has one of the most benign climates in the car-using world.

Someone in VW Germany told UK should fine for the standard interval of 210.000kms - they only suggest shortening it in hot and dusty climates. When I asked why VW UK were adamant it was changed at 5yrs they stopped responding.

[quyeno]

Sheepshanks said:

wyson said:

Rubber degrades over time. Same reason why tyre manufacturers recommend changing tyres when they are 10 years old from the manufacturing date stamped on the side, regardless of wear.

Total guess, but different countries have different climates that also affects material degradation, so have different intervals? Also they might spec different belts for different markets?

The UK probably has one of the most benign climates in the car-using world.

Someone in VW Germany told UK should fine for the standard interval of 210.000kms - they only suggest shortening it in hot and dusty climates. When I asked why VW UK were adamant it was changed at 5yrs they stopped responding.

Agreed. In fact the German climate and driving experience on motorways and towns is pretty much the same as the UK. I wonder what the timing belt failure rate is in germany, but i bet that info wont be easy to come by.