timing belt replacement

[twhite]

I have a 2003 jetta tdi with 95,000 miles on it. Dealer is recommending that at 100,000 miles i also replace the waterpump, rollers, tensioners, thermostate, and serpentine belt. Do I really need to replace the thermostate? Should anything else be replaced at this time?

Also, I always change the oil at 5,000 miles.....am I wasting my money....should it be every 10, 000 instead?

[jettawreck]

Originally Posted by twhite

I have a 2003 jetta tdi with 95,000 miles on it. Dealer is recommending that at 100,000 miles i also replace the waterpump, rollers, tensioners, thermostate, and serpentine belt. Do I really need to replace the thermostate? Should anything else be replaced at this time?

Also, I always change the oil at 5,000 miles.....am I wasting my money....should it be every 10, 000 instead?

Welcome aboard!!

1) no
2) yes

3) yes, probably

The thermostat does not NEED to be replaced, but it's fairly cheap and the rest isn't. I didn't replace mine, yet. I believe the TB interval was 80K until the upgraded roller(s) were installed after the first factory TB replacement.
Most of the bolts are single use TTY type stretch bolts. They are NOT to be reused, although many dealerships do, only to have them break after the job is miles down the road. Camshaft and vac pump seals also recommended. Buy the 100K TB "kit" from dieselgeek/metalman/etc.

The CORRECT SPEC synthetic oil is good for 10K, unless you are under severe service conditions. Most all good oil that meet the VW spec provide great used oil analysis even beyond 10K. I use Shell Rotella T 5w-40 full synthetic. It meets the spec for our model year, readily available, and has a good UOA track record. Many will have their own personal favorites and reasons.

Find a TDIclub "guru" to do your TB job. It will be done correctly (most VW dealerships are terribly uneducated in the TDIs) and for less money with the proper 100K updated kit. Read on/search here for many botched TB jobs. It isn't one of those things where close is good enough.

Gather information and procede carefully.

[TornadoRed]

Originally Posted by twhite

I have a 2003 jetta tdi with 95,000 miles on it. Dealer is recommending that at 100,000 miles i also replace the waterpump, rollers, tensioner, thermostat, and serpentine belt. Do I really need to replace the thermostat? Should anything else be replaced at this time?

This is amazing -- a dealership service department that actually wants to do the job right. Usually they just like to change the TB and tensioner, and then you come back later for a water pump, and then you come back later when one of the rollers fails and maybe damages the head.

Take a look at the Dieselgeek deluxe kit. www.dieselgeek.com
It's got all the best parts. There are other registered vendors on TDI Club that also have good TB kits. But the Laso water pump with brass impeller is the one Dieselgeek includes, and it is reputably the best water pump.

If you live in the Atlanta area, you've got two TDI pros you can go to:

Atlanta northside: Troy Sentz, Canton, GA 570.233.1385
TDI Club username TNTKNC

Atlanta southside: Roger Feldt 678.907.4221

If you live in south Georgia, there's Krout in Jacksonville, if that's closer.

Also, I always change the oil at 5,000 miles.....am I wasting my money....should it be every 10, 000 instead?

If you use the right oil, a synthetic 5w40 meeting the VW spec or the API CI-4 spec (or better), then 10k miles is the normal oil change interval.

[jokila]

Originally Posted by jettawreck

.....I believe the TB interval was 80K until the upgraded roller(s) were installed after the first factory TB replacement...

Just a clarification: The 2003 interval is 100K on the original belt regardless of transmission. 2002 is 80k.

[2004STARWARSTDI]

YES, replace the water pump and everything else the dealer says including the TTY bolts. Better yet find a TDI Guru in your area and puirchase the Deluxe TB kit and let him install it and watch and learn from him. You will also save your self some $$$!

[naturist]

I agree with all here. Thermostat is probably not needed, but it is cheap and based upon the cost to replace it later should it fail, probably not a bad idea to just do it now while you got the coolant out and are gonna have to bleed the system anyway.

[twhite]

thanks for all the responses...

which timing belt kit is better...the one on diesel geek for $333.00 or the impex site for $290?

i talked to Troy here in the atlanta area and he was really helpful although being new not real clear about cleaning the exhaust or something when he does the timing belt....can someone explain this to me..thanks.

[TornadoRed]

Originally Posted by twhite

which timing belt kit is better...the one on diesel geek for $333.00 or the impex site for $290?

I assume you mean this one: http://www.worldimpex.com/parts/germ...di_272109.html

The caption is not very informative -- it mentions a Laso water pump but not mention whether it has a brass or plastic impeller. It mentions "hardware" so I guess it includes all the "always-replace" bolts.

You could call Impex and ask for more information.

[NorthernMage]

I think Troy meant cleaning the Intake Manifold, not the exhaust. The EGR valve dumps all sorts of soot, oil and gunk into the intake manifold and yours may be plugged. Good idea to have him check it while he is in there. The TDIParts site has a similar kit for $299.00, they all are very similar, who has free shipping???
The Thermostat is just easy to do while the coolant is drained, you only have to replace it once then. I would almost be tempted to do the Coolant Temperature Sensor while the coolant is drained as well, it may never go bad but there has been some history of them failing...

[Pitboy]

Originally Posted by twhite

thanks for all the responses...

which timing belt kit is better...the one on diesel geek for $333.00 or the impex site for $290?

This one for $305 shipped.
http://www.metalmanparts.com/product...&productId=159

[TornadoRed]

Originally Posted by Pitboy

This one for $305 shipped.
http://www.metalmanparts.com/product...&productId=159

It mentions either a Graf or HEPU water pump. I think the one and only water pump failure I've had involved a HEPU, but I'm not 100% sure.

I still like to see the word "brass" used in describing water pump impellers. "Metal" is good, "brass" is better.

Metal Man has an excellent reputation, both as a vendor and as a TDI timing belt installer.

[Pitboy]

I've installed a bunch of these kits in customers cars plus twice in my car. No problems, complaints or failures.

[jettawreck]

Originally Posted by jokila

Just a clarification: The 2003 interval is 100K on the original belt regardless of transmission. 2002 is 80k.

Thanks, you are correct with the model year requirements.

[Drivbiwire]

Leave the thermostat alone, if it ain't broke don't fix it. Replacing a properly working thermostat almost always invites trouble, that is you end up installing a bad thermostat only to reinstall the original working one.

VW thermostats are extremely reliable. The only bad ones I have seen were the new ones that were installed on a customers insistance!

DB

[thebigarniedog]

Decide which Guru will change the belt first and then ask them what kit they prefer to use.