Cam belt change

[mjmaster10]

Thanks all. Everyone has been amazingly helpful, I'm so glad I found this forum!

Noted on comments re: water pump. Booked in for a cam belt only change at the Phirm on 21st May, together with brake fluids and a general check over.

Best regards

Mark

[Nate]

I'd get the tensioner done at the same time. A new belt will probably kill the bearings in the old one quite quick.

One thought I did have, do the garage who quoted you originally have the registration number, or did you just ask for a price on a scirocco belt change? They may have priced up the mk3 if they didn't have the reg

[mjmaster10]

I'd get the tensioner done at the same time. A new belt will probably kill the bearings in the old one quite quick.

One thought I did have, do the garage who quoted you originally have the registration number, or did you just ask for a price on a scirocco belt change? They may have priced up the mk3 if they didn't have the reg

The VW garage in Walton on Thames were just doing it as a flat rate £299 for cambelt or £349 cambelt + water pump, irrespective of which model VW you were having done.

I think that they have priced for the tensioners to be done at the same time, but will double check.

[Nate]

Yes, that price will be based on the current range of engines, which are a bit more involved

[scrappy1382]

this topic really has made me glad as to why i learnt how to become a mechanic ( no chaps, not a fitter ), took me 28 minutes to do cambelt with all tools ready surrounding front of car ( i won a bet ) always prefere doing stuff like this regardless of " new cambelt etc etc done " .. i have a hard time trusting anyone with my cars... for future reference to if you do decide to give the cambelt change a go yourself, take your time and simply mark everything up with tip ex on tdc and bdc !!! such easy engines to work with ( if you have the " lets give it a go " attitude !!!

if you were closer , i would of offered my services for £50 and bacon butty with constant supply of coffee

and showed you how to do it too at the same time so future changes for you would be cheap

[unknownmale]

I agree with the above. Each time you work on the car you'll learn something new which will give you confidence to tackle other jobs. Theres no way I would have done a cam shaft upgrade last year if I hadn't gained the confidence from the cam belt change. Knowing how everything goes together and works really helps wonders when diagnosing issue too!

Only point of controversy i've found is how tight to have the belt. My grandad always used to say you should be able to twist the belt about 45 degrees in the middle of the longest span of the belt (The biggest gap where there's no pulley or tensioner), everyone does it a different way, and I guess you should be using a belt deflection gauge, but i've never seen one of those in my life and I haven't bent a valve yet!

Like the above, if you get everything lined up before you start and mark it all you shouldn't have any issues. If you do give it a go, just remember to crank the engine a few rotations by hand before firing it up!

[unknownmale]

I Should have read your comment before about already booking it in! Ha

[DannyH]

Just got my timing belt and fan belt done today - £40?

I supplied the belts and tensioner.

My advice move to a quiet town in the north of England!

[mr.brown]

The VW garage in Walton on Thames were just doing it as a flat rate £299 for cambelt or £349 cambelt + water pump, irrespective of which model VW you were having done.
.

Thieving, lying scum in Hersham? Keep well away. They may have new owners but (apart from one guy in parts) they are all a waste of space.