T6 Cambelt Recall - November 2019

[Stoneybroke]

Just called into my local VW commercial dealer (not my regular one) for first free AdBlue to up.
Checking the system, it is subject to a recall.
A limited run of T6 vehicles were fitted with a cambelt make (Gates) which shows excessive wear with risk of early failure and engine damage.
Visual check of cambelt required.
Mine is affected. Recommended NOT to drive.
Good service as juggled loan vehicles and I will be leaving it here.
I will be paying for a new water pump as the whole lot would be due next year (4-years) and save the cost of the labour, courtesy of VW.

 

[Cali4nia-Dream]

Do you know which models and dates are affected?

 

[Stoneybroke]

Do you know which models and dates are affected?

T6, limited group. Mine was built August 2016. No further details.

 

[Cali4nia-Dream]

Ours was built October 2016 so hopefully we won't be affected.
If you get any more details on affected dates please could you share them.

 

[Alan Andrews]

Do you know which models and dates are affected?

I imagine that there are GATES marking on the outer face of the cambelt....assuming you can get in engine bay to see.

 

[Cali4nia-Dream]

Just checked with West Yorkshire VW Van Centre, and this is the response I got

I have checked your vehicle and yes there is an outstanding campaign for inspection of the timing belt on your vehicle.
Not all vehicle require work to be carried out but due to the chassis range they are all to be checked and you would have received a letter in the new year informing you of this.

 

[Alan Andrews]

Just checked with West Yorkshire VW Van Centre, and this is the response I got

I have checked your vehicle and yes there is an outstanding campaign for inspection of the timing belt on your vehicle.
Not all vehicle require work to be carried out but due to the chassis range they are all to be checked and you would have received a letter in the new year informing you of this.

Something to look forward to....not!!

 

[Stoneybroke]

I imagine that there are GATES marking on the outer face of the cambelt....assuming you can get in engine bay to see.

They came back in about 10-mins having taken a cover off to examine.
Apparently they couldn't read the wording which showed how worn it was! That's one of the criteria for a change...
The service centre did say that letters would be going out soon but they were checking any T6 coming in.

 

[Stoneybroke]

Something to look forward to....not!!

At least you can plan it!
I am white van man for a day.

 

[Stoneybroke]

@VW Guru
What do you know of this latest recall?

 

[Vantastic2]

Just checked with West Yorkshire VW Van Centre, and this is the response I got

I have checked your vehicle and yes there is an outstanding campaign for inspection of the timing belt on your vehicle.
Not all vehicle require work to be carried out but due to the chassis range they are all to be checked and you would have received a letter in the new year informing you of this.

Bit puzzled ?, if on inspection the belt needed changing,so the service centre would not commit itself to the fact that you can carry on driving? say it snapped would they pay up for a new engine?

 

[Cali4nia-Dream]

Bit puzzled ?, if on inspection the belt needed changing,so the service centre would not commit itself to the fact that you can carry on driving? say it snapped would they pay up for a new engine?

They only checked on the computer system to see if Cali was in the range where checks would be needed. So I need to organise taking her in for a physical check

 

[Legin]

Interesting about the Gates. No science behind it but I have never had good service life from gates poly v belts. I was using them to drive a bespoke supercharger set up and they kept shredding so i moved to another brand and problem went away. Also the cambelts which I have used never felt to be in the same league as Dayco which i rate highly and notice are fitted as OEM to many VAG products.
Think I will avoid them just in case.

 

[Digger]

@VW Guru
What do you know of this latest recall?

Any further information re this post?

 

[rod_vw]

Anybody else received info on this?

I've emailed my van centre twice and can't get a reply!

 

[stephen watson]

I had a phonecall over Xmas for dealer and its going in this week. It was delivered UK Oct 2016. I'm hoping it is one of the affected ones as will save the cost of new belt this year. They are also going to do something to the engine management.

 

[rod_vw]

@stephen watson many thanks, I'll keep pestering my dealer, Listers at Droitwich.

 

[Cali4nia-Dream]

@rod_vw, that's rather disappointing service from your dealer.

I have just contacted my dealer, they rechecked that it was one of the ones to be inspected.
I was advised that if it is a defective cam belt they cannot release the vehicle until the cam belt has been replaced.

Booked in for 14th Jan.(there were earlier dates but this was the best for me)

Rather like @stephen watson , I hope mine needs replacing as it will save the cost of replacing it later this year

The dilemma now is should I use Cali before taking her in for a check?

 

[Stoneybroke]

I had a phonecall over Xmas for dealer and its going in this week. It was delivered UK Oct 2016. I'm hoping it is one of the affected ones as will save the cost of new belt this year. They are also going to do something to the engine management.

Negotiate on the water pump, that is normally replaced at the same time. I got a discount on the pump, no labour charge and they didn't charge for the anti freeze to up either.

 

[Stoneybroke]

@rod_vw, that's rather disappointing service from your dealer.

I have just contacted my dealer, they rechecked that it was one of the ones to be inspected.
I was advised that if it is a defective cam belt they cannot release the vehicle until the cam belt has been replaced.

Booked in for 14th Jan.(there were earlier dates but this was the best for me)

Rather like @stephen watson , I hope mine needs replacing as it will save the cost of replacing it later this year

The dilemma now is should I use Cali before taking her in for a check?

Interesting. They haven't told you not to use it, only that they won't let you take it away if it does have the Gates cambelt. Up until that point, I think the risk is theirs - a known issue, if it breaks, over to VW.
They aren't so concerned about the risk that they sent out letters to owners on 26 November when the notice went to dealers...
I think you should be fine.

 

[AlisonF]

Mine was ordered Sept 15 and delivered March 16. I’ve contacted my dealer and been advised my vehicle is not affected. So I’m assuming later build dates... maybe this was already covered, if so please ignore my post.

 

[jhgf]

Mine was ordered Sept 15 and delivered March 16. I’ve contacted my dealer and been advised my vehicle is not affected. So I’m assuming later build dates... maybe this was already covered, if so please ignore my post.

My van has been into the dealers today for preholiday check (driving to Alps soon). It had the engine management upgrade but no mention of cambelt recall...although it routinely needs its 4 year cambelt replacement in March anyway. My van too was delivered March 2016. This agrees with Alison’s suggestion that it’s later delivery dates that are affected.

 

[Stoneybroke]

Mine was a September 2016 delivery, so must be quite a narrow window.

 

[Trebor]

Does anyone know if there are any issues with replacement cam belts ? Perhaps Vw Guru can help ?

 

[stephen watson]

I took mine in today (Sep 2016) and the belt is not Gates, so wasn't affected. Engine management update also done with 10 refills of adblu in the future. Something to check if you bought the factory extended warranty when new, which I did. It still does not appear on the VW system despite 2 complaints to the dealer I bought it from. I have the receipt so It's infuriating that they don't seem to be able to rectify this.