I chickened out...

[TripleBee]

I chickened out after 11,5 years.
Cambelt replacement at 154000km.
Everything was still ok for a few more years, and maybe even for the predicted 210000km...

New complete set from SKF:

You see the matching blue water pump and bearings?








Absolutely no play or leakage from the water pump, but I am glad I replaced the black one by the fetching blue one.
Just some starting cracks on the cambelt.
Auxiliary belt was still good for a whole few more years.
Just the bearings from some of the rollers were worn, but they didn't make any external sound yet.
Next cambelt replacement at 300000 km or 2032?

 

[kurienp]

It is always so heartening to do some work on the Cali yourselves. In addition to knowing that the work has been done correctly, you've also saved yourselves a shed load. Great work and love it (especially the colour coded water pump and even the bearing seal )

 

[altvic]

I chickened out after 11,5 years.
Cambelt replacement at 154000km.
Everything was still ok for a few more years, and maybe even for the predicted 210000km...

New complete set from SKF:
View attachment 75017
You see the matching blue water pump and bearings?

View attachment 75018
View attachment 75019
View attachment 75020
View attachment 75021
View attachment 75022
View attachment 75023

Absolutely no play or leakage from the water pump, but I am glad I replaced the black one by the fetching blue one.
Just some starting cracks on the cambelt.
Auxiliary belt was still good for a whole few more years.
Just the bearings from some of the rollers were worn, but they didn't make any external sound yet.
Next cambelt replacement at 300000 km or 2032?

It’s good to see you posting again TripleBee.

 

[sidepod]

Cambelt replacement at 154000km.

Balls of steel......or daft. Jury’s out on that

 

[TripleBee]

Cambelt replacement at 154000km.

Balls of steel......or daft. Jury’s out on that

Service manual states: 210 000 km (over 130 000 mi), no time.
Not much balls needed for that.

UK residents are being pulled for their 4 year replacement.

My brother in law's Audi A5 had it's cambelt replaced at 210000km, in little over 6 years.

It’s good to see you posting again TripleBee.

Nothing much to post, so not posting.

 

[Lambeth Cali]

Eek! What ?
I have a 2008 T5 174bhp 5 cylinder. That doesn’t have a cambelt does it?
I was hoping it was chain driven.

 

[Lambeth Cali]

It doesn’t have a belt, does it. I’m sure I panic google that every year.
I do like my 2008 2.5. I’ve also resolved to believe people who tell me my auto is “lifetime sealed”. I remember suggesting to my VW specialist Peter Norris that he might want to change the spark plugs. Since then I just do what he suggests.
I’m the walking manifestation of “ignorance is bliss”.
The replacement and adaptation of the dpf sensor was the peak of my mechanical interventions. And I needed my wife’s help to do that.

 

[clarinetbcn]

Service manual states: 210 000 km (over 130 000 mi), no time.
Not much balls needed for that.

UK residents are being pulled for their 4 year replacement.

My brother in law's Audi A5 had it's cambelt replaced at 210000km, in little over 6 years.

Just for context, Forum members from Germany, France and Spain have posted the same service schedule. The private UK importer is the only outlier. The belt manufacturer (Gates) told @Loz when this came up on a previous thread that the time limit was 10 years.

Edit: there is a service order for faulty belts installed on some T6s. VW won't contact the owners, they only find out if they ask or take the van in for an official service, or, sadly, if the belt snaps.

 

[TripleBee]

Eek! What ?
I have a 2008 T5 174bhp 5 cylinder. That doesn’t have a cambelt does it?
I was hoping it was chain driven.

The 2.5 R5 engines (and the derivated V10) doesn't have a belt nor chain.
It only has gears.


So, yes, it's "lifetime". At least as long as nothing happens before the end of it's life.

 

[Lambeth Cali]

The 2.5 R5 engines (and the derivated V10) doesn't have a belt nor chain.
It only has gears.
View attachment 75057

So, yes, it's "lifetime". At least as long as nothing happens before the end of it's life.
View attachment 75058

Great, thank you.
Why if a 2008 has gears, do more modern vehicles have belts?

 

[TripleBee]

Great, thank you.
Why if a 2008 has gears, do more modern vehicles have belts?

Belts are way older, so all the other cars have conventional setup of the engine.

The R5 engine is a heritage of Ferdinand Piëch.
He made the Touareg, Phaeton, Lamborghini, Bugatti, ... possible in the VAG group.
And with the Phaeton (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Phaeton), he wanted all the (then) newest and most luxurious car. The first generation Touareg (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volkswagen_Touareg) is developed at the same time, sharing a couple of engines (V10 TDI = 2x R5 engine). He is the godfather of the special engines at VW (VR6, VR5, W8, W12, W16, ...).

That is one of the reasons why.
The other reasons, you should ask VW.

 

[bobcat]

I have my 2009 174PS T5 booked in for a service on Monday, at a dealer `I haven't used before. Dealer just phoned to say that he's checked "on the system" and the van is overdue its 4 yearly cam belt change, at £572. "Surely this engine is gear driven" I countered but he would have none of it.
I had this same debate with another dealer about 5 years ago, who did eventually concede that it was a mistake.
Does not inspire confidence. Going to try to speak to VW Commercial Vehicles first thing Monday morning.

 

[Elmo3]

I have my 2009 174PS T5 booked in for a service on Monday, at a dealer `I haven't used before. Dealer just phoned to say that he's checked "on the system" and the van is overdue its 4 yearly cam belt change, at £572. "Surely this engine is gear driven" I countered but he would have none of it.
I had this same debate with another dealer about 5 years ago, who did eventually concede that it was a mistake.
Does not inspire confidence. Going to try to speak to VW Commercial Vehicles first thing Monday morning.

Cancel them and find a proper mechanic to maintain your vehicle rather than a fitter who just regurgitates whatever the computer says.

 

[Lambeth Cali]

I have my 2009 174PS T5 booked in for a service on Monday, at a dealer `I haven't used before. Dealer just phoned to say that he's checked "on the system" and the van is overdue its 4 yearly cam belt change, at £572. "Surely this engine is gear driven" I countered but he would have none of it.
I had this same debate with another dealer about 5 years ago, who did eventually concede that it was a mistake.
Does not inspire confidence. Going to try to speak to VW Commercial Vehicles first thing Monday morning.

I’d consider trying to find a good VW independent specialist. The worst part of California ownership is the dealers IMO.
The stories about “roof repairs” are probably the tip of the iceberg.
The (non-existent) belt change is overdue by 8years!!

 

[clarinetbcn]

I have my 2009 174PS T5 booked in for a service on Monday, at a dealer `I haven't used before. Dealer just phoned to say that he's checked "on the system" and the van is overdue its 4 yearly cam belt change, at £572. "Surely this engine is gear driven" I countered but he would have none of it.
I had this same debate with another dealer about 5 years ago, who did eventually concede that it was a mistake.
Does not inspire confidence. Going to try to speak to VW Commercial Vehicles first thing Monday morning.

I would tell him that if he hasn't corrected this in writing by the end of the business day on Monday, you will publish the name of his dealership on this forum as a business to be avoided because of lack of professional preparation. Then avoid him like the plague anyway.