Timing belt in 1.9TDI

[funkyfish]

hi i know its been asked before but the answer was a bit inconclusive. when do i need to get the timing belt changed? there is 68k on the clock....
how much do ya reckon it would cost?
thanks
FF

[lkchris]

Depends on the model year, but for your 2004 it's likely 100K miles. This information is in owners handbook.

Cost in USA is $1500-$2000.

[Smileybug]

That cost would be if you went to the dealer, and even that price seems high to me.

I'd say probably between $700-$800 if you go to a local shop. I know there is a list on TDI club of shops around that work on TDIs.

The belt isn't the problem. Its the water pumps self-destructing long before the belt fails. I would start thinking of getting the service done in the next few thousand miles. I would probably do it before 80k myself. I had the service done on my 2.0 at 77k for $450 at a local shop.

[funkyfish]

Thanks for the help guys.
have booked it into to get it changed at a dealer in Ireland for €500... better than buying a new engine...

[ECS Tuning]

We also have timing belt kits available for anyone looking to DIY the job:

Volkswagen New Beetle TDI > Engine > Timing

[BumbleBeeTDI]

The shop I am taking mine to soon is using the kits from ECSTuning and the shop is on the trusted list of TDI mech. So if you do them yourself, go about it with ECSTuning, otherwise, check out that list of trusted mechanics. Just for Sh!ts and giggles, I went to the dealer for a price and gave me a 1200 dollar estimate, checked out that list, found one near me, found out one of the mechanics is a member of TDIclub and sent him an email, qouted me 600. Half price and knowing it will be done by someone NOT at a dealership...priceless.

[Pizzaboy]

The timing belt cost me $2500 and that's only b/c it broke on me. *Took the dealerships word that it was replaced at 80k miles... don't believe em' any more that it broke at 101k miles; costing and a two week down time. However, I was lucky that I didn't have to completely buy a new engine.

[Lew]

I just had the wifes 05 TDI done at 80500. The old belt look like new, however it was 6 years old. Gates recommends to replace the belt every 6years. I most likely could have make 100K before changing everything out, but it's better to do it early.....6 years on a belt is a long time. Most of my VW friends in our Club don't go over 6 years on a belt, or the water pump. My kit came from Dieselgeek for $251 shipped. My local VW shop charged me $250 to change the belt, water pump, tensioner, roller, and stretch bolts. What little coolant we lost he topped off with new
G12. I know some owners who begin to worry about their belts around 5 years, and 75K.

[emma2049]

I'm living on borrowed time right now. Dolly is 11 years, but only has 36k on the clock. I had a long chat with my VW mechanic (small shop - imports, owns 3 Beetles) who was straight up and said it needs doing soon - but he didn't come the heavy. Very laid back about it. Problem is, I just don't have $800 right now... well I could, if I thought $800 COULD be $2500 and dead car if the damn thing goes. (No Christmas presents for the kids...)

I don't want to think he's going to overcharge me on the job since he has charged me trade for parts like coolant and wipers. And told me all the info he gave me was free.....plus, I like him. He's got twinkly eyes, deep down oil dirt (gotta scrub my interior) and he smokes like a chimney, and his other mechanics are non English speaking but they all seem to get on like a house on fire with their weird sign language. I like that shop. They smile a lot. He didn't want to get rid of me, but he didn't charge me for that time, either. Bonus points, there's a nice 60's Bug being completely refitted sent in by someone who has been going there for like, 40 years, as long as this guy's been in business. Good sign. Also, he showed me the plastic impeller on the pump and said it was terrible and that he uses a metal one (also showed me). Good news. Is there anything else I should assume he will throw in for that? Pulleys and tensioners? Anything else?

Anyhow, is there ANY sign that my belt/water pump will go, imminently? Dumb question, but he noted that Dolly was pretty low on coolant. Lower than she should have been for her mileage. I don't know if the showroom where I bought her in July topped her up, because they are Ford. I'm hoping they didn't......it wouldn't have been the right stuff.

I'm gonna swallow the $$$$ and just do it. Call me a cynic, but it rankles that I'm paying for something that MIGHT and WILL go wrong, rather than WHEN it does. That kind of sucks.

[Smileybug]

With that much time on things, I'd be worried if I were you. Like its been said, the cost to the job is a lot, but its a lot more if the belt fails. No real signs that either is going to fail. Belts often fail with no warnings. You might start with a coolant leak if the pump is going. But more often than not, they just go.

[BlondieeAggiee]

How would I go about finding a reputable shop that will work on my TDI beetle? I've only taken it to the dealership. If I still lived in Dallas I would have the belt replaced there, but I don't trust the VW dealerships in San Antonio as far as I can spit. My '05 has 73K on the clock and I know it needs to be done soon.

[doublebarrel]

Go to Fred's TDI Page. TDIClub.com. VW TDI Enthusiast Community and look in the tdi101 section for a list of trusted mechanics.There may be one close to you.

[DZLBUG]

Trusted TDI Mechanics - Google Maps

This should be the only place you go in San Antonio:
Diesel Toyz
San Antonio
TDIClub registered vendor Texasmeat
TDIClub Forums - View Profile: dieseltoyz
Toyota Truck & Jeep Diesel Conversion in San Antonio | Call DieselToyz @ (210) 683-9663

Robby up in Austin is really good as well:
runonbeer
Robby Plenge
Austin, Tx
(512) 632-2989
robby@runonbeer.com
Meyerhoff Auto Haus - home
TDIClub Forums - View Profile: runonbeer