Cam Belt Change

[chromedome]

My now five year Galaxy has only done 35k.

 

I believe the cam belt should be changed at 60k for my model but I have heard talk that a cam belt should be changed at five years if sooner.

 

Can some of you guys give some guidance on this?

 

Thanks.

[gregers]

i needed a cam belt change was the renault laguna,basically along the same lines as you,mileage was low but time wise it was due.

 

when the belt was taken off from 1st impressions it looked fine until we turned it over and between the teeth the belt had started cracking.looked at the new 1 nothing,my m8 said in his opinion it might have been good for ages BUT its would be sods law,for the sake of a few quid now,could end up costing a fortune if it had let go coz i was being a tight arse.

[Mirez]

60K is correct for 03> but its 4 years, not 5 according to the VW schedule for the PD engine.

 

How's the 35K been done? Motorway, town, start/stop? Unless its been mostly town and start/stop then I wouldn't panic, the belts are good on these engines. Remove the upper cover and inspect it - if its still in "as new" condition as I suspect it will be then I personally wouldn't bother until its done a few more miles :46:

[kevinp72]

i needed a cam belt change was the renault laguna,basically along the same lines as you,mileage was low but time wise it was due.

 

when the belt was taken off from 1st impressions it looked fine until we turned it over and between the teeth the belt had started cracking.looked at the new 1 nothing,my m8 said in his opinion it might have been good for ages BUT its would be sods law,for the sake of a few quid now,could end up costing a fortune if it had let go coz i was being a tight arse.

 

I'm no expert but, I would agree with your m8. How much would it cost if it failed? Sods law just has that knack of when you least want it to happen...

[davec]

when the belt was taken off from 1st impressions it looked fine until we turned it over and between the teeth the belt had started cracking.looked at the new 1 nothing,my m8 said in his opinion it might have been good for ages BUT its would be sods law,for the sake of a few quid now,could end up costing a fortune if it had let go coz i was being a tight arse.

 

I'm no expert but, I would agree with your m8. How much would it cost if it failed? Sods law just has that knack of when you least want it to happen...

 

 

Mine has done 40k and 51/2 years so I,m doing mine next weekend dont want to risk it

[chromedome]

Thanks for the replies guys. I'll have a word with my mechanic and get him to change it, like you imply cheaper than a new engine.

 

Word you use genuine Ford/VW parts?

[gregers]

i would,on something like this i wouldnt trust pat parts.

[Jayton]

Bit of a hijack - Sorry :P

 

I just had my local MK1 Golf specialists (they also do other VW's of mine which is why I asked them) and they reckon up to 3.5hours labour @

[seatkid]

My advice is to change the cambelt before it fails..... :P

 

Changed mine at 75,000 miles / 7.5 years and it all looked fine and good for another 75,000 miles on inspection. However its a lowly stressed 90bhp Tdi (not PD) and is garaged regularly.

 

I reckon a significant factor in deteriation of belts are environmental - e.g. temperature cycling and formation of moisture on the belts.

 

Also, not all cars are lucky enough to have a good driver like myself :P :P

Edited February 17, 2010 by seatkid

[Jayton]

Oh I'm getting it replaced at the end of month - just trying to find the best price now :P

[chromedome]

The Galaxy is going in for the cambelt change next month. All rollers and tensioner being done at the same time.

 

Thanks for all your replies and advice.

[seatkid]

Chicken..... :huh:

[davec]

just bought the alternator belt to change when I do mine that was nearly

[big_kev]

I'm no expert but, I would agree with your m8. How much would it cost if it failed? Sods law just has that knack of when you least want it to happen...

 

I think the worry is that they usually fail just after being replaced...... :huh:

[Jayton]

are you sirius? :huh:

[big_kev]

are you sirius? :huh:

 

Yep......either badly fitted or dodgy belt.

[seatkid]

My biggest worry is that they fit the replacement parts properly and get the timing right. Its a precision job and there is more than enough evidence posted on this forum that a proportion of these changes go horribly wrong. Mine was done by a well established VW dealer who I know well. Even then, when I subsequently revoved the air filter box to clean it out, I came across a big long deep gouge in the wing :huh: where they evidently hamfistedly slipped with a large bar or something. No attempt was made to repair the damage which might corrode through in a matter of a year or two. Didnt inspire me that the rest of the job was spot on.

 

To me the risk of changing is almost as great as the risk of not changing. I personally wouldnt change it earlier the recommended interval. Having seen the service schedule for other VAG marques using the same engine I note that some (e.g Skoda) used to advocate regular inspection to as much as 100,000 miles! However the design in the Shalaxy doesnt permit inspection of the components without removing the engine mount. :(

 

Also Continental (OEM to VAG) have long boasted that their belts are lifetime components.

[davec]

Well I did mine today and there was no signs of cracking at all and the bearing seemed fine.trouble is if it does go its deep doodoo.

[Jayton]

Wouldn't the mechanic be liable if the belt went while / shortly after they changed it?

 

A friend recently had his cambelt go on his derv Pug, the mechanic refused to take liability even though it was only a week after it had been changed :huh:

[seatkid]

Wouldn't the mechanic be liable if the belt went while / shortly after they changed it?

Probably not unless you can prove gross negligence, which would be very difficult.

 

Not worried about the belt - its the setting up - timing/alignment - tightening the bolts correctly (over or undertightening), not damaging components, bad practices/shortcuts e.g how they support the engine etc. And a lot of people get their cars back with additional problems - pipes pulled off, wiring disconnected or damaged.

[davec]

Don,t know about Peugot but my belt(genuine ford) was really tight thought I had the wrong one but hadnt.It was a real struggle and if someone levers it on with a screwdriver it could cause a tiny nick which later breaks.Once belt has snapped who can prove anything

[chromedome]

You have all got me wondering if I should change the belt or not. :huh:

 

The mechanic I use is good at his job but does the belt really need changing in the first place?

[Willie Krashitt]

The belt will need changing soon, it's as simple as that. By not changing it, you have all the worry of 'will it break' every time you drive it. And they do break, despite what others say on here.

As regards them breaking soon after being replaced, well, that might happen, but it is highly unlikely on engines that have a proper sprung or hydraulic tensioner like the TDI has.

 

Something you may want to consider:

If you buy a GENUINE belt from a FORD dealer, and have the belt fitted by a VAT registered dealer/specialist/mechanic then the belt is covered by a fitted parts warranty of, I believe 2 years.

My neighbour who also has a Galaxy found this out, and even though he worked at the main Audi dealer in town and could have saved a bomb on the price of the parts, he bought the belt kit from Ford and got it fitted at the Audi dealer so he has total peace of mind.

 

George.

[seatkid]

Something you may want to consider:

If you buy a GENUINE belt from a FORD dealer, and have the belt fitted by a VAT registered dealer/specialist/mechanic then the belt is covered by a fitted parts warranty of, I believe 2 years.

If the belt snaps, the best you will get is a new belt.

 

Consequential damage is NEVER included.

[mrmaker21]

Something you may want to consider:

If you buy a GENUINE belt from a FORD dealer, and have the belt fitted by a VAT registered dealer/specialist/mechanic then the belt is covered by a fitted parts warranty of, I believe 2 years.

If the belt snaps, the best you will get is a new belt.

 

Consequential damage is NEVER included.

 

If you pay by credit card, you could make a "section 75" claim which makes the Credit card company jointly liable, so you would have potential to get the consequential loss back