I just received an order to do the timing belt on the sedan. 20k miles and I’m approaching 5.5 years. Need to get it done before the heat comes in.
I got the old style tensioner.... didn’t even think about looking for the new style.
-Todd
I'm doing mine because of age as well, the Mk3 has sat for a long time without running, the belt was probably due according to miles when it got parked but in terms of years it's been longer than five. I have resisted doing anything before a new belt, don't want any issues with that.
When you say 'old style tensioner' I'm not sure I follow what you mean? I would only reject a new Litens tensioner if the backing plate was black, otherwise I think they're perfectly fine to use. I don't believe that the 48008 tensioner is acceptable for the Mk3 cars although that document suggests it is, and while I've not compared the 48006 tensioner with the 48008 in person I can tell already that the spacer on the back is taller on the latter and I don't like that, the spacer on the 48006 is under 1mm.
I'm not sure why this document exists to be honest, I think it fails to account for a specific replacement already being in place to cover the failed early 'black back' tensioners identified as a problem. It doesn't talk at all about the Litens 979286 models (also referenced as part #48006). It only seems to address black back tensioners with VW part numbers and the replacement of those with tensioners designed for the Mk4 cars.
I will continue to buy Litens 979286 tensioners as long as they can be found, the two I purchased recently, repackaged as Continental Elite 48006 'accu-drive' tensioners are older but have bearings marked NTN Canada. This is consistent with others I've purchase, boxed as SKF, marked Canadian manufacture.
I am hoping that our specific tensioner type is not discontinued. I have noticed that recently the SKF ones sold online no longer have manufacturer information anywhere on the tensioner, which worries me since the lower quality products also have no manufacturer info on them either.
I'm hoping this 'generic' marking trend doesn't leave us in a position where we can't tell the good from the bad.
In case anyone is curious, the link for the pdf I mentioned is
here, take it with a grain of salt as I have, although I believe that it originated from Litens for some reason.
Steve