vw 2003 golf cam belt?

hittman

hittman

hittman

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17 May 2003
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what is the miles before you consider changing the cam belts etc on a 2003 vw golf 1.6?

Mine has done under 42k now. I have been told different opinions and I don't know who to believe.
 
i've been told for vw golfs, 60k or 4 years which ever is soonest but sum1 told me 40k or 4 years which ever is soonest. :eek:

**edit**

cam belt is checked at 60k but is replaced for sure at 120k. confused....
 
It's usually changed every 60k, including the water pump etc.

However I've heard that VW have changed their practice, and it's every four years or 40k.

Don't quote me on this though.
 
just got back from VW free visual check and they noted the following that needs doing with costs:

* Rear washer is leaking behind C pillar £58.09 inc
* Cambelt change is due £377.70 inc (this includes modified plastic waterpump)
* look into any problems with the coils £79.31 inc.

Also found out my car does have brake pad waer indicators so all my front brakes are fine. I'm assuming theres an indicator for the back as well? So total for the above is £515. ouch!

any advice?
 
hittman said:
just got back from VW free visual check and they noted the following that needs doing with costs:

* Rear washer is leaking behind C pillar £58.09 inc
* Cambelt change is due £377.70 inc (this includes modified plastic waterpump)
* look into any problems with the coils £79.31 inc.

Also found out my car does have brake pad waer indicators so all my front brakes are fine. I'm assuming theres an indicator for the back as well? So total for the above is £515. ouch!

any advice?
Click to expand...


What ever you do get hold of the metal waterpump, even the newer plastic ones are far too prone to failure. If a dealer say they can't supply one purchase one from a tuner or garage that can, likes of Jabba, Awesome GTI only won't fit plastic one's at all now.

Also check if they do replace the coils there not the ones from the major recall, as they would then be a free replacement.
 
hittman said:
just got back from VW free visual check and they noted the following that needs doing with costs:

* Rear washer is leaking behind C pillar £58.09 inc
* Cambelt change is due £377.70 inc (this includes modified plastic waterpump)
* look into any problems with the coils £79.31 inc.

Also found out my car does have brake pad waer indicators so all my front brakes are fine. I'm assuming theres an indicator for the back as well? So total for the above is £515. ouch!

any advice?
Click to expand...

All sounds about right although I'm not sure about the "look into any problems with the coils £79.31 inc."

Rear washer leak is a common problem with golfs and I have just booked my golf in for the cambelt/tensioners and waterpump to be replaced for £344 inc.
I have an imported golf so my service book is in German and it was stamped as having a cambelt change at 40k miles although I have rung the dealer(Uk based VW) and they are telling me it hasn't been done so this will be the first time in 6 years and 73k miles!

P.S. I dont believe there are any wear indicators on the rears.
 
Randell Floyd said:
What ever you do get hold of the metal waterpump, even the newer plastic ones are far too prone to failure. If a dealer say they can't supply one purchase one from a tuner or garage that can, likes of Jabba, Awesome GTI only won't fit plastic one's at all now.

Also check if they do replace the coils there not the ones from the major recall, as they would then be a free replacement.
Click to expand...

I asked regarding the waterpump and the woman said it was a modified plastic one and not a metal one. She said they were aware of the problems hence the modified one. the price above does not include a metal thing I don't think. how much does a metal one cost?

regarding the coils, I asked them to look at it as I have random loss of power at high speeds. for example, on the motorway, cruising then suddenly I lose power as the rev counter goes down for 1 second and returns to normal. Quite scary doing 70mph on the motorway when it happens.
 
Last edited:
Randell Floyd said:
What ever you do get hold of the metal waterpump, even the newer plastic ones are far too prone to failure. If a dealer say they can't supply one purchase one from a tuner or garage that can, likes of Jabba, Awesome GTI only won't fit plastic one's at all now.

Also check if they do replace the coils there not the ones from the major recall, as they would then be a free replacement.
Click to expand...

Apparently some dealers are supplying waterpumps with metal impellers.
part no. 038121011CX

http://uk-mkivs.net/forums/thread/336024.aspx
 
I can't say for certain mate, just trusting what that member is saying.
I'm just sticking to the oem one. I've been lucky with mine that it’s lasted 72k miles if the new one is a modified, stronger part then I'll be happy until I have to change the cambelt again.
 
ok thanks. I'll do abit of digging and see. Regarding cam belts change etc, been told via vw its 40k or 4 years which ever is sooner but some of my m8's had it done at 60k. very confusing when to it but better to be safe than sorry later.
 
hittman said:
ok thanks. I'll do abit of digging and see. Regarding cam belts change etc, been told via vw its 40k or 4 years which ever is sooner but some of my m8's had it done at 60k. very confusing when to it but better to be safe than sorry later.
Click to expand...

Some say 40k some say 60k. My two nearest dealers say 60k or every 4 years and then its checked every 20k after that.

It used to be 5 years and 80k if I remember rightly but after a "few" tensioner and waterpump failures VAG decided to lower the intervals.
 
chrisstevens said:
Some say 40k some say 60k. My two nearest dealers say 60k or every 4 years and then its checked every 20k after that.

It used to be 5 years and 80k if I remember rightly but after a "few" tensioner and waterpump failures VAG decided to lower the intervals.
Click to expand...


Thing is, in my manual, it says it should be checked at 60k. but the vw dealer says 40k. :confused:
 
I know a lot of people have had it changed at 40k and look at it this way your car either is or just about to be 4 years old.

If I were in your shoes I would leave it another 10k and see how it goes. Obviously you run the risk of the belt/parts failing which would be disasterous!!!
It's just your decision to run the risk or be cautious...

With regards to your loss of power have you been advised its a coil pack issue? I thought they had sorted the problem on newer models. Loss of power can also be a MAF issue. Might be worth a search on uk-mkivs if you haven't done so already.
 
hittman said:
I asked regarding the waterpump and the woman said it was a modified plastic one and not a metal one. She said they were aware of the problems hence the modified one. the price above does not include a metal thing I don't think. how much does a metal one cost?

regarding the coils, I asked them to look at it as I have random loss of power at high speeds. for example, on the motorway, cruising then suddenly I lose power as the rev counter goes down for 1 second and returns to normal. Quite scary doing 70mph on the motorway when it happens.
Click to expand...

My Bora 1.6 did the power loss thing intermittently a few times. Never got it specifically looked into but was resolved when the crank position sensor was changed later on.
 
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