Cambelt change interval

[foxylad]

Hi,

Can anyone tell me the cambelt change interval on my 2006 2.0 TDI A3 140bhp?

Its only done just under 51k but it's 6 years old now so that is what is concerning me.:confused:

Cheers,
Chris

[Eshrules]

It's due, now.

general consensus is 4 years or 60k, whichever comes first. It tends to vary dependant on the engine, but I've never gone far wrong working on that basis.

[foxylad]

Thanks for that eshrules.

The mechanic that I take it to (going in for MOT tomorrow) said that he thought the older 1.9TDIs were around 50 or 60k but he thought that the 2.0TDIs were more like 70 or 80k. He didn't mention anything about the time limit.

[Eshrules]

I think your mechanic needs to do some more reading ;) Rubber weathers as well as wears, it's foolish (imho) to let the belt go so long without replacement, regardless of mileage.

The sobering thought here being the cost of a timing belt being replaced in comparison to the cost of (potentially) an engine rebuild.

[foxylad]

Ok thanks for that. I think I'll just get it changed to be on the safe side. The last thing I want is damage. I think a lot of people would simply think that there is just a mileage limit to the change interval and not know that there is a time limit as well. I'll have a look in my manual when I get home to make sure but I think I'll get it done anyway.

[Eshrules]

It's common sense to me, but I suppose to the less experienced DIY'er it might not be.

Remember that, erm, 'adults glove' you stored in your wallet for years, only for it to break when you finally came to use it?

Same principle.

[Piddles]

Yes, rubber is a natural material that ages regardless of use..... get it changed.

There were some left over new Alfa 147 Selespeeds on the market a little while back that been unsold for so long that they had to have their cam belts changed before they went on the road even though they had only had around 5 miles on their clocks..... :bigeyes:

[foxylad]

Cheers guys.

[foxylad]

Right, I couldn't find it in my manual so I thought **** it and phoned the audi dealer. They told me its 75k or 5 years, so defo going to get it done.

[Sam]

Pretty much what Esh suggested 3 minutes after you asked then :biglaugh:

[alankru]

You may be aware of this already, but on a diesel, you shouldn't be having your MOT done until your cambelt is in order.

[foxylad]

Pretty much, just thought I would let people know what Audi said. Cheers for your help guys :biggthump

[foxylad]

You may be aware of this already, but on a diesel, you shouldn't be having your MOT done until your cambelt is in order.

Ideally I wouldn't, but the MOT is due and the mechanic cannot fit it in for a cambelt for a week or so.

Does anyone know of any audi/vag specialists in the Cheshire area? Just want to get a couple of quotes before I get it done.

[Eshrules]

if it were me, I'd be taking the car off the road for a week - it makes me cringe to see people taking risks.

Whereabouts in Cheshire are you, it's a pretty big area?

[foxylad]

if it were me, I'd be taking the car off the road for a week - it makes me cringe to see people taking risks.

Whereabouts in Cheshire are you, it's a pretty big area?

Ok thanks for the advice. It may well come to that, the severity of your responses have made me realise how important it is.

I'm pretty much in central Cheshire, near Tarporley, but I am all over the county for work so can go anywhere really.

Can you give me a list of everything else that should be changed at the same time as the cambelt? Just so I kinda know what I'm talking about when I speak to garages.

[alankru]

The process of the diesel smoke test is to rev the engine really hard. If you have a weak cambelt, then the smoke test can cause it to snap under the load. This is why you need to keep to the 5 years/75,000 miles (whichever comes first) so that your cambelt is kept in as good a condition as possible. Interestingly, like Eshrules said, VW recommend changing the cambelt every 4 years (not sure what mileage they recommend). See this VOSA leaflet for more info on the diesel smoke test: http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/repository/2139%20Smoking%20Diesel%20card.pdf.
If your MOT tester hasn't asked you about your cambelt and is willing to accept your vehicle in it's current state, it would sow doubts in my mind as to the "quality" of their MOT test.

The maintenance schedule (collaborated from VW's website, Audi's website and my A3 2005 manual):
Air con refresh - every 12 months
Air con service - every 2 years
Air filter - every major service or 60,000 miles
Battery - usually deteriorates after 5 years. Needs checking every service.
Brake fluid - At year 3 and every 2 years after that
Cambelt - 5 years/75,000 miles (whichever comes first)
Diesel fuel filter - 60,000 miles or 2 years (if memory serves me correctly)
Pollen filter - 20,000 miles or 2 years
If you have Quattro, DSG or Automatic transmission, then that also needs attention every 40,000 miles (Quattro - Oil, DSG - Oil and filter, Automatic - Automatic Transmission fluid).

I'm not a mechanic, so hopefully one of the more knowledgeable forum members will correct me if some of my figures are out of date (as things change since my manual was written).

Don't forget to also have your waterpump changed when you have your cambelt changed. This is because the waterpump runs off the cambelt so should the waterpump sieze then your cambelt could snap. The waterpump is not very expensive and whilst the mechanic is working on that part of the engine, it is recommended to also change the waterpump.

[Puresilk]

Alankru

Nice write up and your pretty much bang on with schedule.