VW Passat - Timing belt issues

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Mon 8 Jun 2015 16:33
VW Passat - Timing belt issues - Pinkweasel

Has anyone had any timing belt issues with Golfs or Passats? Thinking of buying second hand but a few contacts have reported expensive timing belt repairs?

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Mon 8 Jun 2015 16:48
VW Passat - Timing belt issues - skidpan

Has anyone had any timing belt issues with Golfs or Passats

Like all cars if they are not replaced at the the correct interval along with pulleys, tensioners and water pump (as necessary) you will have issues.

If you buy a car with no history of a cam belt change budget to do it at the correct tiem or immediately should it be due or even overdue.

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Mon 8 Jun 2015 17:14
VW Passat - Timing belt issues - John F

It depends on the engine. Some have a greater chance of expensive repairs than others. I ran a 1994 2.0l petrol Passat to over 240,000 on its original belt, only changing the tensioner pulley at around 150,000 when its whine warned me of imminent seizure. I ran a 1983 GL5 to over 190,000, only changing the belt at around 140,000 and then only because the water pump had started to leak and needed changing so it seemed silly not to. The belt looked as good as new. I ran a petrol 5V 2.8V6 Audi A6 to over 135,000 on the original belt - it looked perfectly OK on regular inspection. Our 15yr old Focus 1.6Zetec belt looks and sounds fine at 107,000m - and as the car is apparently worth little more than the price of a belt change I have no intention of changing it.

Most of the horror stories (and there are not many considering the 10s of thousands out there) relate to stressy diesels, engines with cheapjack pulleys, insensitive drivers not noticing warning smells/noises and cack-handed mechanics with expensive failures shortly after their efforts.

Modern 21st century belts are immensely strong - they are even used instead of chains to drive some powerful motorbikes!

So, follow the advice of the luddites, or think for yourself, do your homework and take a chance. Do you feel lucky, .....?

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Mon 8 Jun 2015 17:31
VW Passat - Timing belt issues - concrete

You pays your money........ I have run a VAG 1.9Tdi PD 130 engine for ten years up to nearly 200k now. Changed the timing belt, pulleys etc and water pump(the one with the metal impeller, not plastic) all genuine VAG parts. First change at 75k and the next at 150k. Just for peace of mind really. Not sufficently clever to listen to the engine and tell if something is about to wear out. Wish I was. Always used fully experienced VAG workshops too. You know it makes sense!!!

Cheers Concrete.

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Mon 8 Jun 2015 17:37
VW Passat - Timing belt issues - slkfanboy

I think there was issues with 1.4tsi engines at one point. But as others have commented, changing as recommend is they way forward.

At one point timing chain were the solution, but it seams badly made chains have been failing for a number of manufactures inc VAG.

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Mon 8 Jun 2015 17:57
VW Passat - Timing belt issues - skidpan

I think there was issues with 1.4tsi engines at one point

The 1.4 TSi engines that had problems were chain cams. The current ones are belt and so far no reported issues. I have one and the belt will be replaced at the recomended schedule which is basically 5 years or 120,000 miles.

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Mon 8 Jun 2015 17:58
VW Passat - Timing belt issues - old-school-tech

Modern 21st century belts are immensely strong - they are even used instead of chains to drive some powerful motorbikes!

True, but mostly limited to Harleys...

superbike riders would never let themselves be driven by an elastic band ;)

Admire the mileage you've squeezed out of your belts..I suppose if they are cheap runners it makes little sense throwing good money at a belt change when you could buy a cheap motor for the same amount of cash

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Mon 8 Jun 2015 19:54
VW Passat - Timing belt issues - elekie&a/c doctor

It is not the belt that is the problem,it is one of the pulley bolts that shears and causes the drive system to collapse with catastrophic engine failure.

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