Recently replaced cambelt snapped; advice please.

[JonnyFive]

wolf1 said:

They should have advised you that the tensioner, idlers and waterpump should be replaced at the same time. Check wether that was asked and turned down before continuing.

You'll be surprised.. To most people a vehicle is just that, and gets them from A to B. Servicing is a chore, an unwanted cost. Most want the most basic possible then reckon you're ripping them off when it needs extra stuff doing.

[Dr Doofenshmirtz]

I don't know this engine - but if it's just bent valves, replacing those will be a lot cheaper then a whole new engine.

[NHK244V]

If it's bent the valve the chances are the pistons may be damaged as well
christ i'm one those dodgy back street places and i refuse to guarrente a job if it has a timming belt driven pump and the owner wont agree to change it! as stated 90% of the job is getting to the belt and once it's off the pump is a half hour extension to the job time on the passat ect

[JonnyFive]

NHK244V said:

If it's bent the valve the chances are the pistons may be damaged as well
christ i'm one those dodgy back street places and i refuse to guarrente a job if it has a timming belt driven pump and the owner wont agree to change it! as stated 90% of the job is getting to the belt and once it's off the pump is a half hour extension to the job time on the passat ect

Problem is, as you'll know.. You quote, for the full job Inc all parts needed.. And they'll go down the road and someone will quote cheaper but not including everything, so you've lost the trade. Or do you quote cheap, get the job in and then the other stuff is added? Either way they think you're trying to con them.

[Flintstone]

wmg100 said:

Car is 03 plate on about 60k iirc, was its second cambelt change.

Is that normal?

[TheLurker]

Flintstone said:

wmg100 said:

Car is 03 plate on about 60k iirc, was its second cambelt change.

Is that normal?

60K or 4years on the 1.8t I think.

[Rollcage]

wmg100 said:

AA recovered the car and said it had knackered 11 valves, will ask if they said any more.

Car is 03 plate on about 60k iirc, was its second cambelt change.

That is a rather specific number - they cannot possibly know that from inspecting it at the side of the road. You'd have to get the head off to know exactly how many valves it has lunched.

[frosted]

I have just changed my cmbelt at a VW dealer and they did ask me if I wanted the water pump as well ,I asked them and they said it should be changed at the same time but it was my choice

Cambelt Only change 299.00
Camblet + Water pump 399.00


From the little that I know about VAG cars it seems that the belts are good to over 10 years 100,000k its the water pump that fails

[masermartin]

I wouldn't risk 10 years or 100k for a cambelt in any car quite frankly. 3 yrs / 50k max for me, some should be even less than that (Alfa TS's, I'm looking at you)