So......who does timing belts????

Well...the dub is pretty well cared for...Bought her with 148K...the timing belt had just been done, rear axle bushing and reg maintainance....She sits right now with 193K and in the last 45K I've done brakes all 4 corners, intake cleaning, oil every 10K, a few various performance/style mods...and thats about it.....
I looked a little closer at the timing belt service report from Steele, apperently they only change the rollers and water pump and all the other random bits if they look like they need changing.
Needless to say I'm pretty sure its the original water pump in there and my serp belt squeeks no matter how long I've been driving....Every ALH TDI I've driven had a squeeky serp belt...I've just learned to ignore it for the most part....

So yeah, anyone know a certain someone who is good with timing belts on these things?

Right now it's looking like Hillcrest.....shall I bend over and take it in the hoop now or later?

Sorry, that's not one I'm going to attempt here. It's not beyond doing; there's a great how-to here on the board, but it's very time consuming and could be expensive as hell for me if I mess it up on you. Maybe we should see if HC would give us a group deal, there's a bunch of guys coming up on the magic number.

Just a thought...

Well, I don't know about TDI's (mine was done just prior to me purchasing). But last summer I had Hillcrest do my 01 1.8T, and the total bill (taxes in) was $689, and that including all parts (new metal impellar water pump, tensioner, roller damper, bolts, and timing belt) and labour. After looking at the bill, the labour portion came to just over $200, so I thought that was pretty reasonable for a VW dealer, since Harrington's wanted $50 more than the dealer, and alot a garages wouldn't even attempt it! Me on the phone, "yeah, its a turbocharged gas VW"......mechanic: "you sure its not a diesel?", me "yes, its the 20 valve 1.8T engine!".....mechanic: "ahhh, ummm, yeah....hold on........." sound of phone hanging up. LOL. One other place you could try is Wayne Fahies Garage out in Mt. Uniacke, on the South Rawdon Road. He does all of the work to my 93 1.9TD, and is a diesel specialist, and HAS done belts on the TDI's as well. He is a "backyard" mechanic, but does excellent work, and know's the diesels better than anyone around, plus his labour rate is about half of that of the dealer, and uses genuine VW parts (he even has the 505.01 Motul oil in stock for the newer TDI's).... his phone number is 866 2288, 350 South Rawdon Rd. off of the #1 Hwy. Good guy, really.

Settle's VW in Harrietsfield: 477-5556. ask for Mike, tell him Chris Snide sent you.
If you are able, tell him in advance that you will pay cash - always helps. He has most certainly done TB's on TDI's.

Also I know Halifax AutoSport does them. If you go see Martin tell him you are in the TDI club with Tony and you may get a better price.