Cam belt interval advice...again

[Richard Percival]

Hi All,

I have just had a 4 year minor service for my T6 2019 California Ocean and of course they told me that the cambelt service was now due even though I have only done 25000 miles with a cost of >£1000

Now I understood from various threads here, that the time element of 4 years had been removed and the mileage interval was now around 80,000 miles

I queried this but was told that this doesnt apply to commercial VWs of which the California is one, only cars are affected.

It seems very hard to find a definitive answer as to whether the regime has changed or not. The VW commercial website refers to 4 years being recommended.

Please can anyone point me in the direction of some cast iron information?

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Hi All,

I have just had a 4 year minor service for my T6 2019 California Ocean and of course they told me that the cambelt service was now due even though I have only done 25000 miles with a cost of >£1000

Now I understood from various threads here, that the time element of 4 years had been removed and the mileage interval was now around 80,000 miles

I queried this but was told that this doesnt apply to commercial VWs of which the California is one, only cars are affected.

It seems very hard to find a definitive answer as to whether the regime has changed or not. The VW commercial website refers to 4 years being recommended.

Please can anyone point me in the direction of some cast iron information?

They are talking sh@te.

It was changed last year to 140k miles irrespective of time.

 

[Steve1]

Hi All,

I have just had a 4 year minor service for my T6 2019 California Ocean and of course they told me that the cambelt service was now due even though I have only done 25000 miles with a cost of >£1000

Now I understood from various threads here, that the time element of 4 years had been removed and the mileage interval was now around 80,000 miles

I queried this but was told that this doesnt apply to commercial VWs of which the California is one, only cars are affected.

It seems very hard to find a definitive answer as to whether the regime has changed or not. The VW commercial website refers to 4 years being recommended.

Please can anyone point me in the direction of some cast iron information?

I don't think any of them know what's going on. My van is a 2014 California SE I phone 2 separate VW main dealers, one said 5 years another said 7 years. I also emails VW customer service directly and they said this :-

Thank you for your recent enquiry regarding the Cambelt change interval of your Volkswagen California.

The Cambelt change interval on this vehicle is 140,000 miles.

I hope this information proves useful and should you require any further assistance, please contact me on the details below.

Thank you for contacting Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.

Kind regards


Rushdah Stemmet
Customer Relations Advisor


VWCVLogo
CommercialVehicleLogo T: 0800 7834 909
E: customercare@vwcv.co.uk

Volkswagen UK
Volkswagen Group United Kingdom
Yeomans Drive
Blakelands
Milton Keynes
MK14 5AN
www.volkswagen.co.uk

I followed up with an email back asking if there was any time limit at all and they said this :-



Thank you for your response.

The Cambelt change interval is no longer measure in time, rather in mileage.

I hope this information proves useful and should you require any further assistance, please contact me on the details below.

Thank you for contacting Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles.

Kind regards


Rushdah Stemmet
Customer Relations Advisor


VWCVLogo
CommercialVehicleLogo T: 0800 7834 909
E: customercare@vwcv.co.uk

Volkswagen UK
Volkswagen Group United Kingdom
Yeomans Drive
Blakelands
Milton Keynes
MK14 5AN
www.volkswagen.co.uk

I guess they are the ones who should know, and perhaps the dealers haven't got the info through or are trying it on.

One thing I would add though. I do t really agree completely with it. 4 years does seem very short so it's nice to know it's longer, than that but at the mileage they have said it would take me more than 20 years to reach it ... that seems too long for the belt !

 

[Corradobrit]

I would NOT wait until 140K. 80-90K seems like a mileage and a decent degree of safety. Having had an Audi B7 A4 belt go at 100K (recommended interval was 110K) this seems like a good compromise and cheapish insurance.

 

[Steve1]

I would NOT wait until 140K. 80-90K seems like a mileage and a decent degree of safety. Having had an Audi B7 A4 belt go at 100K (recommended interval was 110K) this seems like a good compromise and cheapish insurance.

I suspect they have done their calculations to satisfy themselves that most will out last their warranty period and realised that the time period was unpopular so got rid of it and after the warranty is up I doubt they really care if the odd one destroys an engine before the recommended mileage.

 

[ArunAlec]

I suspect they have done their calculations to satisfy themselves that most will out last their warranty period and realised that the time period was unpopular so got rid of it and after the warranty is up I doubt they really care if the odd one destroys an engine before the recommended mileage.

As I understand it the regime in Europe was that the belt change was not as frequent as the UK but there was a “belt inspection “ carried out as part of the service. So I wonder if we can expect an update to the UK service schedule….. and an additional cost?

 

[Chris smith]

Hi All,

I have just had a 4 year minor service for my T6 2019 California Ocean and of course they told me that the cambelt service was now due even though I have only done 25000 miles with a cost of >£1000

Now I understood from various threads here, that the time element of 4 years had been removed and the mileage interval was now around 80,000 miles

I queried this but was told that this doesnt apply to commercial VWs of which the California is one, only cars are affected.

It seems very hard to find a definitive answer as to whether the regime has changed or not. The VW commercial website refers to 4 years being recommended.

Please can anyone point me in the direction of some cast iron information?

Hi I too have just had my 4 year service on my cali I was expecting cam belt and water pump replacement but was told by dealership it doesn’t need doing now as vw have gone for milage now

 

[fatbob]

Mine is based on a 2014 T5. Cambelt changed twice 2019 at 60K, 2023 at 95K. I went to local VW specialist £400. Which is Ok with me for piece of mind. All depends on how the van is used, short runs/ long runs. Dusty/hot/cold.. I avoid using "the stealers" after owning a vehicle for 3/4 years.

 

[Richard Percival]

Thanks All,

it seems a shame that some dealers are happy to continue spreading fear, uncertainty and doubt

it means that I probably won’t be going back to this dealer again. It’s a pity as they were otherwise fine

perhaps we need a list of dealers who actually read their bulletins from VW central

 

[ArunAlec]

Thanks All,

it seems a shame that some dealers are happy to continue spreading fear, uncertainty and doubt

it means that I probably won’t be going back to this dealer again. It’s a pity as they were otherwise fine

perhaps we need a list of dealers who actually read their bulletins from VW central

These dealers are either making so much money that they don’t need to care about their reputation or they are just daft! I’ve had a couple of instances where a relatively small thing (being less than helpful and talking b****x) has meant I’ve moved on and found another dealer/specialist. I suspect that the ratio of income and hassle they get from the California compared to their main commercial products just doesn’t excite them!
I wonder if it would be different it the California was handled by VW Cars rather than Commercial?

 

[Wannabecamperman]

I never cease to be amazed what some so-called 'experts' at VW dealerships will tell you!

Reminds me of the time a 'service engineer' once told me I shouldn't drive an Ocean with the water tank full.

Seems they overhear a rumour or misunderstand something they've read and next thing they're spouting it as though it's gospel.

Brings to mind Chinese Whispers at Christmas!

 

[tedgina]

I never cease to be amazed what some so-called 'experts' at VW dealerships will tell you!

Reminds me of the time a 'service engineer' once told me I shouldn't drive an Ocean with the water tank full.

Seems they overhear a rumour or misunderstand something they've read and next thing they're spouting it as though it's gospel.

Brings to mind Chinese Whispers at Christmas!

Better not fill up with diesel then LOL

 

[Crispo]

We received a couple of texts from VW beginning of December reminding us that we were due service, cambelt and water pump change.
Have just been speaking to Listers Van Centre, Coventry to book the service and to talk about cambelt, and without prompting the gentleman said all dealers had been informed in December that the rules had changed, therefore we would not need to worry for a while - 14k miles and.four years since last change.
He added that this required the belt to be checked at service which would be done - any concerns in condition would be advised.
Very pleased they are up to speed!

 

[ArunAlec]

We received a couple of texts from VW beginning of December reminding us that we were due service, cambelt and water pump change.
Have just been speaking to Listers Van Centre, Coventry to book the service and to talk about cambelt, and without prompting the gentleman said all dealers had been informed in December that the rules had changed, therefore we would not need to worry for a while - 14k miles and.four years since last change.
He added that this required the belt to be checked at service which would be done - any concerns in condition would be advised.
Very pleased they are up to speed!

Cost of a service about to go up then!

 

[Crispo]

Ha - no doubt!! Quoted £402 incl. Vat for full service inc. fuel and pollen filters etc. £88 inc. for brake fluid. Hopefully get the 10% club discount but he wasn't sure it would apply to the service as it was a fixed price. Should do and has done before but we'll see....

 

[soldana]

Similar story for me.
2019 T6 Ocean, in for an oil service at 74,000 miles. Received message from dealer "Red - Urgent: Cam belt change overdue".
Having seen this thread previously, I queried this when collecting, was told the interval was 120,000 to 140,000km.....
I also emailed VWCV Customer Service to get something in writing - they said 133,000 miles.

 

[Corradobrit]

Similar story for me.
2019 T6 Ocean, in for an oil service at 74,000 miles. Received message from dealer "Red - Urgent: Cam belt change overdue".
Having seen this thread previously, I queried this when collecting, was told the interval was 120,000 to 140,000km.....
I also emailed VWCV Customer Service to get something in writing - they said 133,000 miles.

Although not 'required' I would be thinking about getting it done sooner. 100K would be my absolute latest mileage to make the change, based on personal experience. Audi A4 decided to detonate on its new owner as he was driving 800 miles home to Chicago. Guy was a bit of a lead foot (red lined it on the test drive which did not amuse), so not completely unexpected at 98K miles. Recommended replacement was 115K,