Does a cam belt really need changing every four years??
I bought a VW Golf in September (04 reg) from my local VW dealership and have just had a letter saying that as my car is now four years old, i should have the cam belt replaced at a cost of at least £270. Is this normal and more importantly is it necessary. The car has done 39,000 miles. Please help as i don’t want to spend money unnecessarily.
It’s cheap insurance if you change the cam belt according to manufacturer’s recommendations. If the thing breaks, there’s a good possibility of internal engine damage that would cost much more to repair than it does to replace the belt on schedule.
Its more likely to need changing at certain milage. For instance, most Fords at 40,000 miles.
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rolling garbage, I would rather walk than drive that trash can
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Usually it is done at a certain mileage. However if it hasn’t been changed in 4 years I would get it done.
The repair bill for a snapped cam belt will be horrific.
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most cars recommend changing it at 65k – 75k miles.
Allowing it to break can cause major internal damage to the engine components, doubling or even tripling the cost of the repair. It’s best to just add it to the list of regular maintenance items.
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It probably would be best to have it changed but £270 is a heck of a lot for that doing…cam belts are inexpensive and changing them does not take that long
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It’s cheap insurance if you change the cam belt according to manufacturer’s recommendations. If the thing breaks, there’s a good possibility of internal engine damage that would cost much more to repair than it does to replace the belt on schedule.
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yes its safer to change but not at that price i would expect to pay no more than 160 all in
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You might get more mileage out of you belt but it the belt breaks,as they are know to, it could cause some of your engine’s valves to be stuck open and when the pistons came up they would bend the valves and possibly damaging the pistons. I have always changed my cam belts as a preventative measure.
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hi angela i recomend u check at what milage interval you need to replace your timing belt sounds early to me
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It varies from car to car. My car it is recommended at 60,000 miles.
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1..shop around…thats a high price…and many will say as long as its apart lets change waterpump…i change my belts at 80K miles…you can wait until 60K the dealer will try to sell you all kinds of stuff…radiator flush..tranny flush,,engine flush….i change oil every 3 to 5 K miles..the tranny fluid and coolant every 40 K …i did a tune up at 50,000 and 100,000…
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Try and get a quote for the work from a non dealership garage,you do pay a premium for their work and replacing a cam belt is not a difficult job,shop around but do change it as required for service as a breakage can prove very costly if it snaps at the side of the road.I was charged 600 quid just to be towed in before any work was started and that was 12 years ago.
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really nasty bill if it breaks.
usually is around the 40000.
i drive a vauxhall and it says 80000 miles in manual
dealerships actually recommend 40000.
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Replacement Interval Guide
Volkswagen recommend:
All models 2000MY: Check condition and width every 10,000 miles or 12 months, whichever occurs first.
Polo/Classic/Caddy ALH, AT: Check timing belt and tensioner pulley every 20,000 miles.
Replacement every 60,000 miles.
Golf/Bora 2001MY: Replacement every 60,000 miles.
2002MY : Replacement every 80,000 miles (guide pulley must also be replaced – part No.038109244H).
Beetle 1999MY Replacement at the first 40,000 miles using:
Part No.038 109 119 – replacement then every 40,000 miles.
Part No.038 109 119D – replacement then every 60,000 miles.
ALH, AT: Check every 20,000 miles and replacement every 40,000 miles.
Beetle 2000MY Models on longlife servicing: Check condition and width every 20,000 miles or 24 months, whichever occurs
first.
Part No.038 109 119D – replacement every 60,000 miles.
ALH, AT: Replacement every 40,000 miles.
NOTE: Volkswagen UK recommend the timing belt is replaced every 4 years if the replacement mileage is not reached.
The previous use and service history of the vehicle must always be taken into account.
As you can see it is only VW uk who use the 4 year rule.
Your 2004 model is 80,000.
Well you chose to live in rip off UK!
Get it done in an independent garage at about 70,000 and save yourself some cash.
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pay for a nice local and trusted garage to do it. mine failed and wrecked the pistons etc – cost £1000 to fix….! Learn from other ‘s mistakes!
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yes change it £270 is cheap as the cam belt kit will probley cost about £130 this is a snip if it was to snap it could cost you some thing like £2000 for a replacement engine
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It all depends on the millage you do every year, usually it need to be changed on 40.000 miles and 80.000 miles.
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