Timing Belt Replacement Cost?

bc151rules

Active member
Joined
Apr 6, 2007
Location
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
TDI
2006 Jetta - Special Edition
I've decided to change my Timing Belt, I'm at about 82K miles.

I started calling around to get pricing and was a little surprised by the first estimate. Does $800.00 sound resonable for timing belt/component change?

Thanks!
 

slamhouse

Veteran Member
Joined
Oct 3, 2011
Location
Stanwood, WA
TDI
2006 Jetta TDI SE
If the water pump is being changed as well with an updated metal impelled pump, then yes. For a shop that is...

For a guru to do the job(recommended highly) you might be looking at about 600$ or so with better quality work.
 

nord

Veteran Member
Joined
Mar 5, 2010
Location
Southern Tier NY
TDI
All turned back to VW. Now a 2017 Hundai Tuscon. Not a single squalk in 10k miles.
And about $350 if you can do your own work... That is as long as you have the locking tools.
 

bc151rules

Active member
Joined
Apr 6, 2007
Location
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
TDI
2006 Jetta - Special Edition
This was an independent, local shop with high reviews for working on VW's, etc. I don't have the tools to do this myself, and I'm not sure I'd want to.

Any other local guru's in the Akron/Cleveland Ohio area?

Thanks!
 

oilhammer

Certified Volkswagen Nut & Vendor
Joined
Dec 11, 2001
Location
outside St Louis, MO
TDI
There are just too many to list....
The BRM is about $750 here, parts and labor.

Keep in mind, the bitterness of poor quality (be it parts or workmanship) lingers long after a cheap price is forgotten.
 

earlthepearl

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 12, 2007
Location
Morganton, NC
TDI
2000 New Beetle 5M, 2004 Passat 6M, 2009 Jetta Sedan (buy back), 2010 Touareg (buy back)
I wonder what the dealership would try to charge.:rolleyes: Had mine done by a guru. $787.
 

Henrick

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Aug 24, 2010
Location
Ireland
TDI
Golf VI TDI, 77 kW (CAYC)
If the water pump is being changed as well with an updated metal impelled pump, then yes.
False. It was never updated nor needing the update.

Although I'm on the other side of the pond, I still might share the info. I asked for price and labour of the TB job one of our business partners who specialise in VWs. The parts (TB, roller, tensioner, pump, no bolts or coolant) was ~175$ and they promised to do the job for $80. But again, this is our business partner, that's why such a reasonable price.
 

oilhammer

Certified Volkswagen Nut & Vendor
Joined
Dec 11, 2001
Location
outside St Louis, MO
TDI
There are just too many to list....
It is a pretty common problem here to see broken impellers. Which is why so many (including me) install the metal ones.
 

ATLSilverTDI

Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2007
Location
Atlanta
TDI
2006.5 Special Edition Jetta - Silver
Parts (belt, water pump, idler, tensioner and bolts) cost around $250 and average is 375-575 depending on the Guru. I priced dealers here before I did mine, and they quoted between 1100 and 1300 for a timing belt... I had a guru do it and other service for less than that combined.
 

Henrick

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Aug 24, 2010
Location
Ireland
TDI
Golf VI TDI, 77 kW (CAYC)
It is a pretty common problem here to see broken impellers. Which is why so many (including me) install the metal ones.
I think you're talking about the old style plastics then. They were updated several years ago to a more robust plastic which resists high temperatures. Plastic impeller might separate from the shaft but still it's plastic. It has also to do something with maintaining fuel economy. WPs with metal impellers also see failures. And if the metal one fails, it might destroy the block and more. Either way, both pumps (plastic and metal version) have exactly the same expected service life per book.
 
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oilhammer

Certified Volkswagen Nut & Vendor
Joined
Dec 11, 2001
Location
outside St Louis, MO
TDI
There are just too many to list....
I think you're talking about the old style plastics then. They were updated several years ago to a more robust plastic which resists high temperatures. Plastic impeller might separate from the shaft but still it's plastic. It has also to do something with maintaining fuel economy. WPs with metal impellers also see failures. And if the metal one fails, it might destroy the block and more. Either way, both pumps (plastic and metal version) have exactly the same expected service life per book.
Never seen a metal one break to pieces. And in the last week I've already seen a plastic one in pieces on a 2005 model car. Is that not new enough? Or is that still "old style"? What has changed in these plastics in the last 7 years?

We are still seeing plastic intake manifolds warping, too. Have those improved any?
 

psd1

Veteran Member
Joined
Aug 4, 2011
Location
OR
TDI
2006 Jetta 2013 Passat SE 6Man
Seems a little high to me, have you looked at sourcing the parts yourself? Lots of good vendors on this site that can get you you good parts for under $300!
 

Henrick

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Aug 24, 2010
Location
Ireland
TDI
Golf VI TDI, 77 kW (CAYC)
oilhammer, in fact you're right. But I have a question: do you know exact brands or sources where to get the metal impeller pumps for VW TDIs? As far as I have research (several months ago, though) all of them are plastic around here...
 

oilhammer

Certified Volkswagen Nut & Vendor
Joined
Dec 11, 2001
Location
outside St Louis, MO
TDI
There are just too many to list....
Graf and Geba both have metal impellers offered (Graf also has a plastic version). We use Geba mostly.
 

Henrick

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Aug 24, 2010
Location
Ireland
TDI
Golf VI TDI, 77 kW (CAYC)
So I got a TB kit plus a water pump... I have a couple of observations now.

I inspected the tensioner. In the back side it says "Litens" and "MADE IN CANADA". However, on the front side there's a plastic ring (or wheel) and it has got "KOREA" stamped on it. Should I install this tensioner or buy another one?

The water pump is HEPU P565. Metal (brass?) impeller. What I liked is that it has got a drainage from the bearing to the outside. So if it leaks coolant, it won't damage the bearing. What I disliked is the finish of the impeller wasn't smooth. This might not help the coolant flow. Also, the impeller is from two parts welded one to another. Okay, plastics break. But if this one separates, it will surely destroy the block.... Hope it's not the case for me.
 
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