Cam belt change VW polo 1.2tsi type 6c1

[peteb]

A bit of a long shot but......
Does a 2015 model year polo with a rubber cambelt need this changing? Independent dealer suggests VW to do this as very difficult job, VW say not necessary as belt should last life of car. However last year same VW dealer happily changed partners identical polo cambelt for £750. What's the best way forward given cambelt failure on old car=likely write off?

 

[Crossover]

I have a VW Golf diesel and cambelt is advised every 100k miles or 5 years - mine was done this year (5 years old, 78k miles) at quite a large expense.

A member of my partners family didn't have their cambelt done (in the time they owned it) and it failed on the A52 and destroyed the engine last summer - we were visiting them when it happened and were there when the whole lot came back on a tow truck - the remains of the belts were in a very sorry state! They ended up getting around £300 in scrap value (car was about 15-20 years old, from memory)

Ultimately it a bit of a lottery - don't do it and save the cost and the car may go for years without a problem, but then again it may not.

Naturally, even having it done doesn't guarantee anything, but there would possibly some come back if it failed within a certain period

EDIT: Just re-reading, I think VW have changed their guidance recently, but independent still advised mine to be done. I think it is an "engine out" job but a decent independent should be able to do it (mine did and it was probably around £300 cheaper than if the dealer had done)

 

[peteb]

I have a VW Golf diesel and cambelt is advised every 100k miles or 5 years - mine was done this year (5 years old, 78k miles) at quite a large expense.

A member of my partners family didn't have their cambelt done (in the time they owned it) and it failed on the A52 and destroyed the engine last summer - we were visiting them when it happened and were there when the whole lot came back on a tow truck - the remains of the belts were in a very sorry state! They ended up getting around £300 in scrap value (car was about 15-20 years old, from memory)

Ultimately it a bit of a lottery - don't do it and save the cost and the car may go for years without a problem, but then again it may not.

Naturally, even having it done doesn't guarantee anything, but there would possibly some come back if it failed within a certain period

EDIT: Just re-reading, I think VW have changed their guidance recently, but independent still advised mine to be done. I think it is an "engine out" job but a decent independent should be able to do it (mine did and it was probably around £300 cheaper than if the dealer had done)

Thanks for your reply and insights....,

 

[Cowley]

Thanks for your reply and insights....,

I thought the 1.2 three cylinder VAG engines had chains instead of belts. Maybe that’s just the older ones then?

 

[peteb]

I thought the 1.2 three cylinder VAG engines had chains instead of belts. Maybe that’s just the older ones then?

Mines a 2015 year model 16 reg and it has a belt

 

[Snow1964]

VW Group had been generally extending the change time through Europe, but retained the 5 years or 60,000 mile guidance until 30th June 2023 in UK.

Since 1st July 2023, UK guidance was revised to match EU, about 130,000 miles and no official time limit (although many have suggested likely to be 12-15 years).

Inspection of the belt for wear has been added to official major service intervals, so replacement now based on condition rather than the calendar

I gather all EA211 series engines have reinforced belts, even seen it suggested it is a Kevlar based reinforcement but don't know what the reinforcement is.

 

[Cowley]

Mines a 2015 year model 16 reg and it has a belt

Ok thanks. I think if you’re worried about it then it might be worth getting it done at a reputable independent VW specialist similar to what @Crossover suggested. Or at least maybe talk to one and get their honest opinion?

 

[Crossover]

As an aside, you will rarely find a dealership who will turn down lucrative work, whether it’s in your interests or not…

The one I’ve previously used (when car was in warranty) tried to tell me my shocks needed replacing at mega cost as they were leaking/misting. Ah-ha, said I, they’re covered by warranty, so they took it in to assess it and returned saying they weren’t bad enough for warranty replacement. It’s now out of warranty and it’s gone through two MOT’s with one (only one) of the shocks as an advisory…

 

[peteb]

VW Group had been generally extending the change time through Europe, but retained the 5 years or 60,000 mile guidance until 30th June 2023 in UK.

Since 1st July 2023, UK guidance was revised to match EU, about 130,000 miles and no official time limit (although many have suggested likely to be 12-15 years).

Inspection of the belt for wear has been added to official major service intervals, so replacement now based on condition rather than the calendar

I gather all EA211 series engines have reinforced belts, even seen it suggested it is a Kevlar based reinforcement but don't know what the reinforcement is.

That's interesting. Will advise my independent garage. But advice received from VW thus now accords with the guidance of 01/07/2023. So I'll be glad NOT to replace it until inspection suggests a genuine need. Interestingly my partners water pump was leaking and needed changing, which process involves heavy engine dismantling so maybe they replaced the cambelt at 60000 miles to avoid another costly dismantling.

As an aside, you will rarely find a dealership who will turn down lucrative work, whether it’s in your interests or not…

The one I’ve previously used (when car was in warranty) tried to tell me my shocks needed replacing at mega cost as they were leaking/misting. Ah-ha, said I, they’re covered by warranty, so they took it in to assess it and returned saying they weren’t bad enough for warranty replacement. It’s now out of warranty and it’s gone through two MOT’s with one (only one) of the shocks as an advisory…

Agree with your comments. I was once advised to have a car I was selling inspected by the AA so that the garage couldn't "invent faults" which could then be used to value the car less for PX.

 

[Crossover]

That's interesting. Will advise my independent garage. But advice received from VW thus now accords with the guidance of 01/07/2023. So I'll be glad NOT to replace it until inspection suggests a genuine need. Interestingly my partners water pump was leaking and needed changing, which process involves heavy engine dismantling so maybe they replaced the cambelt at 60000 miles to avoid another costly dismantling.

It is advisable to do the two together as I think the water pump replacement requires the belt off (as it is driven by it)

Normally it is a case of do the pump at the same time as the belt, rather than the pump itself failing

 

[peteb]

It is advisable to do the two together as I think the water pump replacement requires the belt off (as it is driven by it)

Normally it is a case of do the pump at the same time as the belt, rather than the pump itself failing

Yes this is the view of my independent VW garage. It would be irksome for the pump to fail having just replaced the cam belt!

 

[Bald Rick]

I had the cam belt changed on a 2.0L Golf diesel when it had reached about 80k miles, it was apparently still in good nick. However the water pump belt had broken at some point in the recent past - thankfully without issue!

 

[Jamesrob637]

Not on topic for a Polo but on topic for a VW, does anybody know much about the 1.4 160PS installed in some VW products in the late-00s and early-10s? It's a decent engine on the whole I believe, and in the Golf it brings the tax down to a respectable £180 per year with the DSG gearbox (you pay £180 on anything combustion post-2017 anyway!)

 

[richw]

Interestingly my partners water pump was leaking and needed changing, which process involves heavy engine dismantling so maybe they replaced the cambelt at 60000 miles to avoid another costly dismantling.

Apparently It’s well known the water pump will fail before the cambelt on around 90% of cases on the VW tdi engines. The cambelt is a reinforced version and rarely fail due to the water pump failing first.
For the 1.6 tdi vw have increased the interval of the belt to 150k but the water pumps aren’t getting close to that. New belt when the water pump is done

 

[TreacleMiller]

I've worked on these engines.

Yes, the belts can go prematurely so if you're at the 5 year 60k range I'd have it done. Took me just under 4 hours to do.

It's also worth keeping an eye on the fuel lines for perishing which is common and for any corrosion around the turbo Actuator (that's the thing you can see moving back and forth under the hearsheild at the front of the car).

I'd be expecting to pay about £400 at a good independent.

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Not on topic for a Polo but on topic for a VW, does anybody know much about the 1.4 160PS installed in some VW products in the late-00s and early-10s? It's a decent engine on the whole I believe, and in the Golf it brings the tax down to a respectable £180 per year with the DSG gearbox (you pay £180 on anything combustion post-2017 anyway!)

I've an 11-plate Seat Ibiza with that engine, it's pretty good round town but a little short on power when climbing hills with the heavier estate bodyshell it has to carry. It's booked in next week at an independent VW specialist for a cam belt and water pump change, just passed 78k miles.

 

[Jamesrob637]

I've an 11-plate Seat Ibiza with that engine, it's pretty good round town but a little short on power when climbing hills with the heavier estate bodyshell it has to carry. It's booked in next week at an independent VW specialist for a cam belt and water pump change, just passed 78k miles.

I think the Ibiza had 150 not 160PS, however it's a little lighter than a Golf.