Lost my timing belt

[akasha1963]

Today on the way home from work I was caught up in a massive traffic jam. Bumper to bumper for miles. Cruising along between 0-2 MPH I suddenly noticed that I had stalled. I tried but the engine would not start. So here I am stuck, literally, in the middle of I65. Turned on my flashers & watched the world slowly drive by me. After about 10 minutes a couple of guys in a pickup stopped on the shoulder & pushed me out of harms way.

I dont know why I just KNEW it was the timing belt. Tow truck finally showed up about 2 hours later & got me to a garage in Franklin. There he tried to start my car and he said "yup, timing belt". Looks like it is going to run me around $600. Well crap. I am going to specify I want the new water pump to have a metal impeller.

Blah. Not the way I wanted to start my week.

[FarrisK]

Sorry to hear about your timing belt.

...but I'm more sorry to be the bearer of bad news. The head has to come off to have the valves and pistons checked for damage.



I wish your Beetle the speediest of recoveries.

[JLasvegas]

lets hope no damage was done, the good news is you were in stop and go traffic. how many miles are on your NB

mine is in the shop getting a Tbelt and the works for peace of mind, even though they told me I can wait on it.

[DZLBUG]

Every 4 years or 60k miles it needs to be done.

$600 won't do it. This is an interference engine and pistons DID hit valves. Damage should be minimal since you were idling along...but the head HAS to come off and has to be worked over. Piston height relative to the deck should also be checked to verify that no rods were bent. This is unlikely but worth checking.

Figure around $600-700 for head work, another ~$800 to R&R the head with new gaskets, head bolts, etc. Plus the $600 for the timing belt install.

[miffmole]

Originally Posted by JLasvegas

how many miles are on your NB

mine is in the shop getting a Tbelt and the works for peace of mind, even though they told me I can wait on it.

I was curious too, what was your mileage, akasha1963?

I'm sorry about your timing belt breaking. I tell other Beetle owners about the timing belt, water pump, tensioner, et al change all the time, and I've yet to run into one who really knew about it. When I see Beetles for sale in the 50k and up range, I always wonder what will happen to them. I doubt any salesman would ever bring it up.

I told the lady who does my hair about it, and she took it very seriously. On my next visit, she'd had the job done on her Beetle.

[DZLBUG]

Originally Posted by miffmole

When I see Beetles for sale in the 50k and up range, I always wonder what will happen to them. I doubt any salesman would ever bring it up.

The salesman will just tell them it has been done...whether it has been or not. Lots of times when they are done, not all the parts will be replaced so it doesnt matter anyway. What people fail to realize is that it is seldom the belt itself that fails. The belt could run twice the interval possibly. What fails is the parts that touch the belt that have bearings in them. Water pump, tensioner, idler, etc depending on engine. Everything must be replaced. The parts are not that expensive, and if you're in there doing the work, it doesn't take long at all to replace them. Cheap piece of mind and it will probably save your engine.

Most people are completely clueless it seems, and it is unfortunate because they end up spending far more money than they would have had to.

[FarrisK]

Originally Posted by DZLBUG

$600 won't do it. This is an interference engine and pistons DID hit valves. Damage should be minimal since you were idling along...but the head HAS to come off and has to be worked over. Piston height relative to the deck should also be checked to verify that no rods were bent. This is unlikely but worth checking.

Unfortunately, the OP and shop both continued to crank the engine over. The valves are probably all damaged.

[DZLBUG]

Originally Posted by FarrisK

Unfortunately, the OP and shop both continued to crank the engine over. The valves are probably all damaged.

Oh they were damaged right away. Cranking it more didn't cause anymore damage. There are bent valves already, I just meant that the rods and pistons are probably okay since it happened at idle. If contact had occurred at 4k rpm, damage to the rods/pistons would have been more likely.

I really hope the OP heeds the advice given in this thread. If the timing belt is just reinstalled, and the valves still seal enough for the engine to run, eventually the valves that were bent WILL break off. A valve dropping into the cylinder will RUIN the engine.

[FarrisK]

Originally Posted by DZLBUG

I really hope the OP heeds the advice given in this thread. If the timing belt is just reinstalled, and the valves still seal enough for the engine to run, eventually the valves that were bent WILL break off. A valve dropping into the cylinder will RUIN the engine.

Based on their activity on the org (87 posts in 4 months), I think they will... or at least hope they will.

[akasha1963]

I have 143000 miles on my bug. I bought her in early February of this year. If more has to be done then I may as well junk her since I dont have the money to take the engine apart.

[Smileybug]

Had you replaced the timing belt before?

[noR]

She just bought the car recently Smileybug.


Akasha, good luck. Here's hoping. Worst case scenario, have a friend do the labor. What's the worst that could happen?

[MichelleRoze]

Oh...honey I'm soooo sorry to hear that! You were lucky you made it to 143K with the same timing belt. They should be replaced between 80K and 100K. I'd go more on the 80K side just to be sure. Maybe you can get a guru from TDI club to take a look at it? They are usually pretty reasonable and they can also work on gassers.

If you owe on her you can't junk her. Ask OhRandi how she got a new engine for hers, she recently drove with low to no oil in the car and ruin her engine. Maybe someone knows where you can get a new one and if you ask a TDI guru, they may be able to put it in for less than a shop would. There are several TDI gurus in TN area that could probably help you.

I'm sooo sorry. I really wanted to see you at the ToD next year! We'll get your bug up and running. There's lots of good help here. Keep checking back. Let me know if you want to talk to a TDI Guru. Landon is in Asheville and he was willing to do a TB Change on Tonya's 1.8T. I'm sure he could help you out. Or I'm sure there are others. Let us know how we can help.

[DZLBUG]

The TB had probably never been changed, it would have been good preventative maintenance to change it right away to get a known baseline with a critical engine component. Every time someone buys a used car with an interference engine, if it is past the TB interval it should be changed. Don't rely on the previous owner and assume it is fine.

Unfortunately VW did not specify a TB interval for the 2.0 engine, it just recommends inspecting it periodically. Bentley Publishers recommends a 4 year/60k mile interval. I would follow this, it is cheap insurance.

Any 2.0 owner that is reading this, don't neglect your timing belt! Change it and all the parts that touch it every 4 years or 60k miles. 1.8T and TDI owners, follow the interval for your engine and have all the parts changed that touch the timing belt. Just bought your NB and you're not sure if it has been done? If it is past the interval, change it!

[D2Beetle]

Originally Posted by akasha1963

I have 143000 miles on my bug. I bought her in early February of this year. If more has to be done then I may as well junk her since I dont have the money to take the engine apart.

Before you decide to do that, I might be interested in it.

[FarrisK]

Originally Posted by D2Beetle

Before you decide to do that, I might be interested in it.

Going for the record number of Bugs owned, huh?

[miffmole]

Originally Posted by DZLBUG

1.8T and TDI owners, follow the interval for your engine and have all the parts changed that touch the timing belt. Just bought your NB and you're not sure if it has been done? If it is past the interval, change it!

I haven't seen a time interval for my 1.8T, just the 60k mileage...What would you do if you had an '04 with only 46,600 miles?

[miffmole]

Actually, after checking my manual, it just says (for a 1.8T) to check it at 60,000 miles, and to change it and the tensioning roller at 105,000 miles...Can this be right? That sounds pretty risky to me.

[MichelleRoze]

I'd just go ahead and do it around 80K to be safe. I don't like waiting, because for some cars, 105K might just be too much. Better to be safe then sorry. Then you can upgrade to a 100K kit and know for sure how long you have until it goes. Make sure to change the waterpump too.

[DZLBUG]

I wouldn't go more than 4 or 5 years on a timing belt, regardless of mileage. You also still have the plastic impeller water pump.

I'd get it done now if I were you, with a metal impeller pump.