Thanks for replying Crossthreaded & RUM4MO....
So have you bought your cambelts separately and then have an independent
garage fit them?
Im not too familiar with the technical side of engine mechanics but I know mine's not the TSI engine. I would look to change my water pump at the same time as my Cambelt.
I have actually been to a different Seat
dealership/
Garage now and they quoted me less than the last seat
garage to replace my cambelt and water pump, which is odd as theyre all meant to be the same price.
They quoted £475.06 now to replace cambelt and waterpump for Non-Tsi engine, VAT and labour.
But they also offered just to check my current Cambelt condition for free so I asked them to check it.
They said the current Cambelt is fine but just to check it at my next
service.
After they told me my cambelt was fine, before leaving I asked them about my auxillary belt and so they looked at this and they said it is showing some slight fraying and wear and to check in a couple of months. I thought if my cambelt was fine then my aux belt would be as I thought they were meant to last longer??
Anyway, I havent booked to change cambelt or water pump but Im having aux belt changed. Thats costing £99. I havent been able to check if thats a decent price or not yet but I just wanted to get it done.
Hi sol, You've given me a few things to consider here, I'll try to do my best.
I'm a retired motor mechanic so yes, up till now I've bought my own belt kits (I'm very keen on the Gates brand) and fitted them myself. At 73 years young I'm now finding this harder to do and I've decided I'll begetting the lads at AVW here in Edinburgh to do the one on my '16
Ibiza 3cylinder TSI next year. I've bought the kits both on line and from motor trade factors and never had any problems - big cost savings to be made.
Yes, in my opinion, you should change the water pump at the same time as the timing belt on any engine where the pump is part of the valve gear drive train. Complete kits with all parts needed are common.
Getting the job done at a main agent should ensure that high quality genuine parts are used and the job will, likely, be done by a man who spends all his days working on these motors so will "know his stuff". Downside is you'll pay plenty for this peace of mind. Personally I'd be looking for a VAG independent specialist where you will most likely find VAG trained staff but much more reasonable prices.
My local main agent is very keen on "checking" the cam belt. I asked them at it's last
service before it's warranty expired as to when the timing belt should be changed. The reply was "it's a for life component" REALLY? "Yes sir, we will check it when
servicing and advise if a change is needed". Now, if I was going to continue to have it main
dealer serviced, this would make me very nervous indeed. - to be fair to them I do remember reading that this belt on my engine should be a for life fitment when I was researching the car before purchase - I've dealt with hundreds of cam belts over the years and different engines/manufacturers recommend different
service lives for belts. Having seen a number of failed belts and the often eye watering cost of sorting the aftermath out I would always change a belt before the recommended maximum limit is reached. In my experience visually inspecting a belt is unlikely to catch one about to fail with any certainty. These synchronous belts (as they are called) tend to look absolutely "fine" almost right up until they fail. You will be very lucky to take a belt guard off and be able to say some thing like "Yes, by the looks of it that belt will be OK for the next 5,000 miles but will need to be changed in about 6 months from now" They either look absolutely fine or you are taking the guards off because someone didn't get it changed when they should have and it's all gone BANG!
Very wise of you to be replacing your worn aux belt. If your Aux belt (we used to call them fan belts but now the fans are all electric - sigh) is looking a bit ropey you should get it changed because sometimes when they break they will wrap themselves round the crank shaft pulley and flail the belt covers to pieces. It's also not unknown for them to get jammed in behind the crankshaft pulley and ruin the front oil seal. If you're very unlucky, having demolished the timing belt covers, it just might get under the bottom crankshaft sprocket and dislodge the timing belt in which case it's Bye Bye engine. I always renew the aux belt when doing a timing belt. I would guess a multi V belt would come in around the £10 mark to buy from the local factor and as most big workshops have minimum time charges (some 1/2 hour but increasingly an hour) you £99 all in charge is probably to be expected. One of those relatively simple jobs where you can save a fortune doing it yourself if you have the confidence, some tools and, perhaps, a Haynes manual?
You mention that you thought an aux belt would outlast a cam (timing) belt? I would say not necessarily so. The cam belt runs enclosed behind substantial covers so is well protected from the elements and road detritus (grit etc). Aux belts, in the main, run fully exposed so it depends on the environment it's run in as to how it will last.
I've been going on a bit now so think I'll pause here. If there's anything else you think I might be able to
help with please do just ask away.
