Should I change my timing belt?

ColdStartTDI · May 29, 2015

I last had the timing belt changed at 141,000. I now have 389,000. There's absolutely no sign of wear anywhere on the timing belt.I know you're supposed to change them at 100,000 to avoid destroying the engine in case it breaks. Okay I just hate to change it if it looks brand-new. Do these belts come apart even if they look in perfect shape?
I know you're supposed to change them in 100,000. I just had to change it if it looks brand-new. Do these belts come apart even if they look in perfect shape.
I have checked both the top the bottom of the belt and I can't find any sign of where. It looks brand-new. From reading on the form about timing belts I could not find anyone describing wear that indicates time to change. I may be trading in the car in and I hate to change it before I trade.

belome · May 29, 2015

I wouldn't friggen start it again without changing it.

Please for the love of god let the next owner know its WAY WAY WAY overdue.

PS - it is normally something the belt touches that fails, not the belt itself.

Ol'Rattler · May 29, 2015

Your engine is living on borrowed time. Timing belts almost never break and always look pretty close to brand new when changed. What causes a timing failure are the tensioner a roller or the water pump failing.

Unless the belt is shredding or there are other obvious problems such as misalignment or bearing noise, inspecting a belt will give you absolutely zero clues of when you will have a timing failure.

Taking a "wait and see" approach to timing system maintenance is just flirting with disaster. There is a VG reason the manufacturer sets the change interval conservatively. It's to make sure you NEVER have a catastrophic timing failure.

Paulinski · May 29, 2015

You are 2.5 times over the change interval and your are asking if you should change the TB?

BobnOH · May 29, 2015

Change the belt and all related components. The appearance of the belt is all but meaningless.

CNGVW · May 29, 2015

As a trade in it is worth maybe $1000 with 400K on it. So do the belt for $700 and keep it.
Or trade it and and say its time for a belt very easy. I am shore if you look at the adjuster it is all the way back and the water pump looks very very old. That is how I base how old the timing belt job is.

JDSwan87 · May 29, 2015

ColdStartTDI said:
I last had the timing belt changed at 141,000. I now have 389,000. There's absolutely no sign of wear anywhere on the timing belt.I know you're supposed to change them at 100,000 to avoid destroying the engine in case it breaks. Okay I just hate to change it if it looks brand-new. Do these belts come apart even if they look in perfect shape?
I know you're supposed to change them in 100,000. I just had to change it if it looks brand-new. Do these belts come apart even if they look in perfect shape.
I have checked both the top the bottom of the belt and I can't find any sign of where. It looks brand-new. From reading on the form about timing belts I could not find anyone describing wear that indicates time to change. I may be trading in the car in and I hate to change it before I trade.

I honestly thought this was a joke...

belome · May 29, 2015

JDSwan87 said:
I honestly thought this was a joke...

It probably is... and I fell for it... hook, line and sinker.

UhOh · May 29, 2015

100k miles (or a bit less for an added margin of safety) or 5 - 6 years. Belts are mostly the last thing that is prone to failure; the rollers, tensioner, OR the water pump will likely crap out first and then that takes out the belt.

ColdStartTDI · May 29, 2015

Seriously not a joke post. I think I got it. Thanks for all the information. I will change it ASAP

ColdStartTDI · May 29, 2015

Is that a do-it-yourself project? I've done the intake on my diesel and that seems pretty easy. I've watched it online on YouTube a few times and it looks pretty easy to do just time consuming and you have to be patient. Having the dealer do it it's almost $1200.if I do it myself it's about 340 for all the parts and a few extra for the tools.

JDSwan87 · May 29, 2015

ColdStartTDI said:
Is that a do-it-yourself project? I've done the intake on my diesel and that seems pretty easy. I've watched it online on YouTube a few times and it looks pretty easy to do just time consuming and you have to be patient. Having the dealer do it it's almost $1200.if I do it myself it's about 340 for all the parts and a few extra for the tools.

Don't take it to a dealer!!! Either find a guru or DIY.

Here are a few links to reputable supporting vendors...

http://idparts.com/catalog/product_i...oducts_id=2298

http://www.kermatdi.com/high-mileage...r-alh-on-sale/

http://shopping.boraparts.com/produc...products_id=30

http://www.metalmanparts.com/product...6&categoryId=1

Here is a link to rent the timing belt tools...

http://www.metalmanparts.com/product.sc?productId=53

I believe www.fixmyvw.com will rent the timing belt tools also...

Also, stay away from the guy I link below:
http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=320500

He sells GARBAGE!!!

BleachedBora · May 29, 2015

I just saw at Fixum Haus a car getting the TB changed - original owners, Fixum has done all the work. It had the belt changed at 110k (on a 2000 with 60k factory belt). It was in for the second change at 479,000 miles. It was by far the highest mileage I have heard of on a belt!

Regardless get it changed, make sure you use a good quality kit. You can do it yourself, we do have checklists you can follow which makes it a lot easier too!

YMMV,
-BB

BleachedBora · May 29, 2015

Thanks for the link JD, these are the direct links to our kits:

100k deluxe TB kit (you probably want to get the serp belt tensioner and idler pulley on the drop down):

http://shopping.boraparts.com/product_info.php?products_id=30

Not required, but a good idea at that mileage:
http://shopping.boraparts.com/product_info.php?products_id=228

Tool kit:
http://shopping.boraparts.com/product_info.php?products_id=282

Vag com (or rental):
http://shopping.boraparts.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=kii-usb+

ColdStartTDI · May 29, 2015

BleachedBora said:
Thanks for the link JD, these are the direct links to our kits:

100k deluxe TB kit (you probably want to get the serp belt tensioner and idler pulley on the drop down):

http://shopping.boraparts.com/product_info.php?products_id=30

Not required, but a good idea at that mileage:
http://shopping.boraparts.com/product_info.php?products_id=228

Tool kit:
http://shopping.boraparts.com/product_info.php?products_id=282

Vag com (or rental):
http://shopping.boraparts.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=kii-usb+

Thank you very much for the information. I'm getting ready to buy the kit from your site but I would feel comfortable asking a few questions first who do you suggest I talk to who would be knowledgeable? I would prefer to talk to someone who has done the timing belt change and could walk me through the process of ordering the right parts for my car.

Blackjedi · May 29, 2015

You should consider yourself VERY lucky, change that darn belt and all of the components and bolts ASAP. Don't even drive it until it gets replaced, that's my advice. Gosh I only wish I was so lucky...

macoombi · May 29, 2015

I did my own belt with the instructions printed off from one of the websites. It actually isn't all that hard.

Just order one of the high mileage kits and the tool kit. It should have everything that you need including all the bolts that need replacing. You'll also need a VCDS or find someone close-by with one. A Harbor Freight support bar is suggested by some of the instructions but I used a jack underneath the oil pan as it was easier. I do have the bar but opted to not use it.

mohawk69 · May 29, 2015

Purely out of curiosity and not to start another thread but what do you consider a good oil change interval?

Tdijarhead · May 29, 2015

I changed my belt this past weekend 79000, on an 80000 mile interval. The BEW is a little different than you ALH.

I found that the roller, there is only one on a BEW ,was getting a little loud, and the water pump spun smoothly until it would stop abruptly like it had a grain of sand in the bearing. The belt like yours looked great still. I am however glad I did not wait any longer. Would those two things have failed shortly? Maybe or maybe they would have gone another 10-20 thousand miles. The point is you have 3 rollers, 1 water pump , 1 tenisioner and 1 belt. Any one of those six can fail and destroy your engine.

http://www.myturbodiesel.com/wiki/a...nt-vw-jetta-tdi-golf-beetle-1998-2003-part-1/

ColdStartTDI · May 30, 2015

BleachedBora said:
Thanks for the link JD, these are the direct links to our kits:

100k deluxe TB kit (you probably want to get the serp belt tensioner and idler pulley on the drop down):

http://shopping.boraparts.com/product_info.php?products_id=30

Not required, but a good idea at that mileage:
http://shopping.boraparts.com/product_info.php?products_id=228

Tool kit:
http://shopping.boraparts.com/product_info.php?products_id=282

Vag com (or rental):
http://shopping.boraparts.com/advanced_search_result.php?keywords=kii-usb+

How is the vag com used in the process? I would assume if you lock the engine take the belt off put another belt on it shouldn't change anything so I'm just wondering how i use it in the process? I would assume if you lock the engine take the belt off put another belt on and it wouldn't change anything so I'm just wondering what is the purpose and how do you use one? Thanks again everyone

maxmoo · May 30, 2015

ColdStartTDI said:
How is the vag com used in the process? I would assume if you lock the engine take the belt off put another belt on it shouldn't change anything so I'm just wondering how i use it in the process? I would assume if you lock the engine take the belt off put another belt on and it wouldn't change anything so I'm just wondering what is the purpose and how do you use one? Thanks again everyone

don't assume...do your homework.......
http://www.tdiclub.com/articles/pdf/a4timingbelt.pdf

macoombi · May 30, 2015

Oil change is supposed to be every 10k miles. I don't do that many in a year so I do mine once a year... on Jan 1st the last two years actually.

ColdStartTDI · May 30, 2015

Thank you Maxmoo,
I will read the entire article. There are many YouTube videos showing only a few tools. I now see the value of getting the entire set.

Ol'Rattler · May 30, 2015

ColdStartTDI said:
I would assume if you lock the engine take the belt off put another belt on and it wouldn't change anything so I'm just wondering what is the purpose and how do you use one? Thanks again everyone

I get so tired of folks calling the timing tools "lock tools". They don't lock anything. What they do is index the crank, cam and IP to TDC. If you are doing anything that puts a load on the indexing tools, you are doing it wrong.

On the BRM engine you can get away without using VCDS, but on your ALH, you will need VCDS to dial in the IP timing, although you may get fairly close without VCDS and just the indexing tools if your procedure is good and you understand the finesse required to get it right.

mohawk69 · May 30, 2015

macoombi said:
Oil change is supposed to be every 10k miles. I don't do that many in a year so I do mine once a year... on Jan 1st the last two years actually.

I was curious when the op changes the oil.

Baron VonZeppelin · May 30, 2015

I'm just going to be brutally honest.

No

I don't think you should change your timing belt .
Someone else should do your timing belt operation for you .

Post in the Mk4 section and find an experienced local qualified enthusiast who will do it all correctly for around 300 bucks labor.

About 20-40% of first timers spend an extra week trying to get the car to run again. Even happens to pro mechanics who aren't versed in diesel techniques and technicalities.

150,000 miles of procrastination says a lot about your mechanical aptitude and hands on ability.

Lets be Real ?

Ol'Rattler · May 31, 2015

Well, ya, Some folks should never pick up a wrench, but then he has to find someone that will do the job correctly and not FUBAR his engine.

If the OP can read and follow direction and does his homework and completely understands the process, why not?

Folks that spend any amount of time trying to get it to run probably didn't do their homework and should have never even picked up a wrench.

Dimitri16V · May 31, 2015

I think this guy is trolling us

rwolff · May 31, 2015

OP: VW gives a conservative interval for TB change. If you don't follow their recommendations (which you DEFINITELY didn't do), the timing belt is good for roughly 1/10 of a second less than the life of the engine.

Ol'Rattler · May 31, 2015

Dimitri16V said:
I think this guy is trolling us

Who? The Baron guy? Probably not a troll, but does have an opinion. He may have seen first hand or got stuck fixing some of the carnage a "weekend warrior" can inflict.

Should everyone do their own maintenance? Probably not. Some folks just are not mechanically inclined. You certainly have to have a certain discipline and mind set to be successful at maintenance procedures.

Should I change my timing belt?

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