Did I just get taken on a timing belt????

[sabatine]

I have a '99 automatic, with about 41,900 Kilometers, (not miles). I brought the car into for servicing today and just got a call from them indicating that the timing belt should be changed (CH-CHING!). They said it should be done every 5 years.

I understand the downside of NOT doing it when appropriate but with out the knowing enough about the mechanical side of things, I bowed to the stories of doom that could occur if I didn't and gave them the ok to do it.

Now I'm wondering.. did I get taken???

Signed,
Mechanically challenged in Canada

[larryziegler]

Time is an issue in addition to mileage. At 7 years, you didn't do wrong in changing the timing belt. Look at the maintennace schedule in your owners manual to be sure of the recommended time/mileage.

[sabatine]

Feel much better now.

Cheers,
S

[Too Cold NB1.8T]

VW recommended mileage is about 105,000 miles (ignore that recommendation), you had yours changed at a little over 67,000 miles, good job , you did the right thing.

Every five years is probably a close assessment, however I'd say go by your mileage and change the T-Belt at 60,000 mile intervals.

[Kestas]

Too Cold, he changed it at 26,000 miles. Conversion goes the other way.

[Too Cold NB1.8T]

You are absolutely correct Kestas, I'm sorry sabatine but this means that I must take back my and replace it with a , unfortunately you did get taken because 26,000 miles is way to soon too spend $350 to $500 or so on this service, you could have waited at least another 20,000 miles at the earliest to do this.

Oh well, whats done is done, better to do it too early than too late.

[cyberbeetle]

Being that the belt was 7 years old it will start to dry rot from age that is why it was recommended, I just changed the belt on my 97 Jetta with 52K miles because it was 10 years old, could not believe it how easy it was compare to other cars.

[from Margaritaville...]

The Bentley manual states in an isolated notation that the timing belt should be changed after 5 years regardless of the mileage...

[Too Cold NB1.8T]

Correct me if I missed something in translation but I don't recall any mention of dry rot or any other damage for that matter, no reason was mentioned that would warrant such an extremely early and expensive service to be performed.

I just had the T-Belt changed on my car, my car has more mileage and as many years on it and the old T-belt was still excellent condition with little signs of wear or or exposure.

These parts are composed using some of the highest grade materials and technology, it's not just a hunk of plain old rubber, these belts are designed to endure a wide range of constant temperatures and stress, although dry rot damage is possible, it is very unlikely in most cases.

I"m not pointing any fingers but I've been in the automotive game for quite awhile and I believe that there are more Fly-By-Night shops out there looking for a pigeon and a quick buck than there are respectable honest shops, this is why most people, and with "good reason", are afraid to take their car(s) in for any service.

[Kestas]

It's always a judgement call as to the exact moment a timing belt must be replaced. From this thread we can bracket that interval as being somewhere between [5 years regardless of the mileage] and [VW recommended 105,000 miles]. It sounds like sabatine's mechanic followed the written recommendation of 5 years and capitalized on it.

If it was my car, I would probably have waited a bit longer, especially in the cold Canadian climate. I believe heat and flexing is the primary way a belt degrades. Age also takes it's toll, but I just have a gut feeling the belt would be more robust to rotting. Hence, this is the value of participating in these forums and making informed decisions instead of relying on your mechanic who may have other interests when working on your car.

[cyberbeetle]

Maybe it's the Florida heat that breaks down all the belts here