CAM Belt and Water Pump change

[GSX1300R]

So much has been said and written re VW wanting you to get the cambelt and water pump replaced at 4 years when in The rest of Europe it’s 10 years or 130 k miles..
MAKES YOU WONDER..have Brits got MUG stamped on their foreheads..And as far as getting VW main dealership to do it..Why? It’s hardly rocket science..Any decent trained mechanic can do this no problem at all..mine cost £325 with warranted parts ..Just google garages in your area and you will soon see who is good and who isn’t.

 

[Esandar#1]

No it was a routine email stating that as the vehicle is coming up to 4 years old that they recommend the cam belt gets replaced. When I rang to confirm they then also mentioned the water pump. Not due a service until Sep so they suggested it would be ok to have the work done then.

Hi Mark,
If I read your comment here correctly, VW suggested a cambelt change in Jan 2020 (when vehicle was 4 years old) but then said it could wait a further 9 months to Sept 2020 - meaning (in effect) that it was ok to do it at 4 years and 9 months! That is 20% longer than 4 years they stated originally... which does make it sound like waiting to closer to 5 years bears no great additional risk?

 

[Esandar#1]

Good evening.

Hm, changing a cam belt with 50.000 km? I can't imagine this. In all the years, with all the different cars from different car manufacturers this was always between 120.000 and 210.000 km. Looking back I can't even remember that there was a time suggestion for chaning, just the km.

I can't imaging that the VW Transporter needs this in this early stage done. Builder, craftsmen, couriers, emergency services (Police, fire brigade) would not accept that such an expensive repair, service needs to be done on the transporter.

At the end of this year I would get around the 50.000 km mark. Because of this I will check with VW Ireland and VW Nutzfahrzeuge Hannover what the offical recommendation is. I would be shocked if they confirm in an eamil that the cam belt should be changed after 4 years and / or 50.000 km.

Regards,
Eberhard

Hi Eberhard,
Did you check with VW and get a response from them on the cambelt change timing?
I have just had the message from VWUK to say my Cali is 4 years old and should have cambelt and water pump replaced...
Thanks
Ian

 

[slipper]

My main dealer says it should be done at 4 years despite only covering 26k miles- cost £556. My local VW independent says if you want to be really cautious do it at 60k. His view (40 years VW specialist) it’s all about main dealer profits. It’s all a balance of personal risk.

 

[Eber123]

Hi Eberhard,
Did you check with VW and get a response from them on the cambelt change timing?
I have just had the message from VWUK to say my Cali is 4 years old and should have cambelt and water pump replaced...
Thanks
Ian

Hello Esandar,

I got this information from my VW dealer in Dublin:

... The Timing belt interval is 5years or 200,000kms (whichever comes first) so you are ok on that for now. ...

I must admit I forgot to contact VW Hannover. I hope I can do that later or on Monday. As soon as they get back to me I will post their reply.

At the moment it seems to me, that there are several rules or recommendations in different European countries for the same van. I would understand if there would be huge climate and environmental differences, which I don't believe we have in Europe.

For me it means that next year June / July I have the big repair, which I try to save EUR 2,000, which is a lot of money.

Healthy California,
Eberhard

 

[Esandar#1]

My main dealer says it should be done at 4 years despite only covering 26k miles- cost £556. My local VW independent says if you want to be really cautious do it at 60k. His view (40 years VW specialist) it’s all about main dealer profits. It’s all a balance of personal risk.

Thanks Slipper.
So 'pushing it out' to 5 years and 50K miles shouldn't be an issue. The main dealer quote was for £432 or £576 with water pump replaced at same time.

 

[B J G]

Mine done at 4 years, only 19,000mls,
Belt & pump, £680.00 VW Dealer. Combined with prepaid 4 year service. Cali collected for additional £12.50.

In theory I could have got it done cheaper elsewhere but due to Covid travel restrictions that option wasn't possible.

 

[paradise city]

So once you get it changed, when does it need done for the second time?
So does it actually matter when you get it done because it's going to need to be changed during the lifetime of the vehicle.

Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk

 

[B J G]

So once you get it changed, when does it need done for the second time?
So does it actually matter when you get it done because it's going to need to be changed during the lifetime of the vehicle.

Sent from my CLT-L09 using Tapatalk

UK is a 4 yearly repeating replacement.

 

[Monty6]

Belt and pump at 4 years seems to be the consensus. Mine is just on 4 years, but will it need its second service now, please, as its only done 16500 miles? Have a prepaid second service with Heritage Bristol. Thought I'd ask here before ringing them on after Easter.

 

[ArunAlec]

Belt and pump at 4 years seems to be the consensus. Mine is just on 4 years, but will it need its second service now, please, as its only done 16500 miles? Have a prepaid second service with Heritage Bristol. Thought I'd ask here before ringing them on after Easter.

The service intervals are at mileage or years, whichever comes soonest. Should say in your service book. I would say you are due the 4 year service, even given the low mileage.

 

[Perfectos]

Belt and pump at 4 years seems to be the consensus. Mine is just on 4 years, but will it need its second service now, please, as its only done 16500 miles? Have a prepaid second service with Heritage Bristol. Thought I'd ask here before ringing them on after Easter.

Hi Monty,

the MFD will show you the duration to next service, if you are running long life service interval it will be due every two years.
you can access the “service” interval screen which will tell you when The next service is due.

 

[Monty6]

The service intervals are at mileage or years, whichever comes soonest. Should say in your service book. I would say you are due the 4 year service, even given the low mileage.

Thanks for the swift reply. Will sort it once I can travel over the bridge to Bristol.

 

[Monty6]

Hi Monty,

the MFD will show you the duration to next service, if you are running long life service interval it will be due every two years.
you can access the “service” interval screen which will tell you when The next service is due.

Again, thanks for replying. Will get it all done.

 

[Esandar#1]

Belt and pump at 4 years seems to be the consensus. Mine is just on 4 years, but will it need its second service now, please, as its only done 16500 miles? Have a prepaid second service with Heritage Bristol. Thought I'd ask here before ringing them on after Easter.

Monty, I had my belt and pump done at 4 years / 38k milkes and sort of wish I hadn't bothered! I was tempted to extended the period out for a year - as there were plenty of people who have done that - but decided on the 'follow their advice' route. I asked for the belt and water pump as I was interested to see their condition, and whilst I cannot offer any view on the water pump, the cambelt looked as good as new....!!!

 

[Monty6]

Monty, I had my belt and pump done at 4 years / 38k milkes and sort of wish I hadn't bothered! I was tempted to extended the period out for a year - as there were plenty of people who have done that - but decided on the 'follow their advice' route. I asked for the belt and water pump as I was interested to see their condition, and whilst I cannot offer any view on the water pump, the cambelt looked as good as new....!!!

Food for thought..

 

[Dan Sayers]

The first I heard of this was today when my now 4 year old Cali went in for an interim service. With just 16k on the clock, I was told that they recommended a Cam Belt change and quoted £600 by the dealer (including water pump). I'm afraid I said no. I've never heard of anything needing a new cambelt after 16k miles and there's nothing in the service book. I'll have to go ahead with the gear box oil change, Brake Fluid etc. and I said no also the AC fluid at this point. It seems a bit cynical that for 3 years on a paid service plan it needs nothing at all and then as soon as that's up, with less than 2k miles since the last service, it suddenly needs over a grands worth of "just in case" work.

I know I could live to regret it but it sounds like they're using fear of potential future catastrophe to fleece people now. I'd be interested to know how many low-mileage sub 4 year Cali Cam Belts had gone in order to have this recommendation in the UK. I'd also question the value of their stock service plans if this is how things typically turn out.

 

[B J G]

The first I heard of this was today when my now 4 year old Cali went in for an interim service. With just 16k on the clock, I was told that they recommended a Cam Belt change and quoted £600 by the dealer (including water pump). I'm afraid I said no. I've never heard of anything needing a new cambelt after 16k miles and there's nothing in the service book. I'll have to go ahead with the gear box oil change, Brake Fluid etc. and I said no also the AC fluid at this point. It seems a bit cynical that for 3 years on a paid service plan it needs nothing at all and then as soon as that's up, with less than 2k miles since the last service, it suddenly needs over a grands worth of "just in case" work.

I know I could live to regret it but it sounds like they're using fear of potential future catastrophe to fleece people now. I'd be interested to know how many low-mileage sub 4 year Cali Cam Belts had gone in order to have this recommendation in the UK. I'd also question the value of their stock service plans if this is how things typically turn out.

Probably plus VAT.

 

[Eber123]

The first I heard of this was today when my now 4 year old Cali went in for an interim service. With just 16k on the clock, I was told that they recommended a Cam Belt change and quoted £600 by the dealer (including water pump). I'm afraid I said no. I've never heard of anything needing a new cambelt after 16k miles and there's nothing in the service book. I'll have to go ahead with the gear box oil change, Brake Fluid etc. and I said no also the AC fluid at this point. It seems a bit cynical that for 3 years on a paid service plan it needs nothing at all and then as soon as that's up, with less than 2k miles since the last service, it suddenly needs over a grands worth of "just in case" work.

I know I could live to regret it but it sounds like they're using fear of potential future catastrophe to fleece people now. I'd be interested to know how many low-mileage sub 4 year Cali Cam Belts had gone in order to have this recommendation in the UK. I'd also question the value of their stock service plans if this is how things typically turn out.

Hello,

I conacted my VW dealer a few months ago about the timing belt / cam belt change. I got this reply:

... The Timing belt interval is 5years or 200,000kms (whichever comes first) so you are ok on that for now....

Based on this I should replace the cam belt in July 2022. My plan is in April 2022 to contact VW Ireland and other VW dealers to get their opinion. Also I will contact VW Germany and some independend workshops. Based on the feedback from all of them I will make a decision what to do.

Happy California,
Eberhard