My VW retailer recently wrote to me recommending I get the cam belt replaced on my Golf as its just done 40k miles. My dad reckons its not necessary and I kinda agree its probably just a way for them to make more money.

Any idea how much this costs anyway?

8-12 quid for a belt normally, 30-45 mins to change on most golfs (1hr 15-45 at the outside on some models)

Which model is it, how do you drive it?

Never EVER skimp on timing belt changes. Should be the first thing you change on a second hand car - never trust anyone else that it has been changed - even if you live with them. Especially if its just had an english MOT.

Jeeez.  Renault have just quoted me Ã,£410 on a cam belt change.  Reckon I should go private?...

the cambelt should always be changed at the recomened intervals, its failure can kill/seriously damage an engine.

i always like to get the waterpump replaced at the same time to save any future problems.

you dont need to go to a dealer, any good independant should be able to do it.

timing chains are the best

Ive been the only owner of the car and its the mark IV model. How do I drive it...err normal roads to work on a morning and take the motorway home which is about 20-25 mins drive.

I think Ill get that booked in then for next month when I get my MOT done, I guess its usually cheaper to go independent. I think the air con in the car needs a servicing too! Sigh! The costs of owning a car.

Just get it swapped, if it breaks its a new engine.  If you do nothing but short trips they say for safety get it done at half intervals.  why european manufactuers love belts so much id a mystery, yes they are cheaper, but they are apin in the arse in the long run.  think of it this way, less than Ã,£100 means you wont have to pay over Ã,£2000 for a new engine and fitting.

yeah it will make them cash and a lot of it if you dont get it replaced

My Yaris has a timing chain, not a belt  :mrgreen:

Whatever you do though, FuMaN make sure you get this done properly

The MX-3 I had with its V6 engine and pretty much no space in the engine bay takes ages to do. I had a major service & 13,000mile overdue timing belt done (I had just got the car) was in the garage for 2 days, costing something like Ã,£550  :shock:

not a lot of fun, but you cant risk these things!

Newer diesel Golfs have a cam belt change interval of 60K.

Quote from: EagleJeeez.  Renault have just quoted me Ã,£410 on a cam belt change.  Reckon I should go private?...

Dont ever have any work done at a stealership short of warranty repairs. Find a local garage through word of mouth, and youll pay much much less.

Too bad that the Tappet Brothers* dont list UK shops, as their Mechanics Files is by far the best place to find out who is honest.


*listen to their show, its wicked funny.

really depends on what car you have, how old it is, and how much its worth

youve had it from new, and its only done 40k so Im guessing its still worth a bit... so go get it changed

plenty of cars go through life never having there cam belt changed and its no biggie tbh.

Quote from: knightyreally depends on what car you have, how old it is, and how much its worth

youve had it from new, and its only done 40k so Im guessing its still worth a bit... so go get it changed

plenty of cars go through life never having there cam belt changed and its no biggie tbh.

The dealer said it should be changed at 72.000 miles or 5 years whichever the sooner.  Well, shes only done 44000 but was five last month.  Then again, I dont thrash the arse off her...  Never have, never will.  Maybe why nothing ever goes wrong.

The thing that rattles me though is that I suffered the results of not changing it in an old Orion way back in 94.  Had to have the engine completely de-coked which set me back Ã,£400+.  I wonder how much damage a failure would be on a modern injection engine?...  :?
Ã, 

I thought the damage was supposed to be more wholesale than that, because all the valves hit the pistons big style?

Yeah on some engines (even fairly recent ones) the valves will smash into the crowns, but some have a non-interference design, which means the worst thatll happen is a ride home on a recovery truck.


Gimme a duplex chain over a belt anyday.