'04 Cam Belt Replacement and question about Water Pump?

[MattJ]

Hi Guys,

My car has reminded me again that it's Service time... Also, I've got an advisory notice from my local dealer that my cambelt is due for a change, however my logbook states that it's 6yrs or 60,000 miles, as I've only done ~46k and it's only 4yrs old, I'm a bit reticent to shell out an extra £340 for that work on top of ~£200 for a service (money's not exactly flush atm...).

Are they just on a work/revenue generation exercise, or should I take this seriously?

I normally get my work done at a local garage now as they're cheaper and tend to do a more honest/comprehensive job but do you think I should use the dealership for a Cam Belt change?

Also I've been hearing lots of people mentioning "get the water pump changed at the same time" but the posts I've seen have been related to LCR's not vanilla Leons, is this a weakness throughout the range or is it something specific to the Cupras?

Also is there only one type of pump for the Leon, or are there Metal and Plastic varieties (as mentioned in another post about cam belt changes regarding an Ibiza I think)? (I would imagine metal's the way to go, if there are different types I'd like to make sure I got the best type...).

I like to go in prepared before dealing with the garages, so I'm more sure of what they're talking about an that they're not taking me for a ride so any advice would be more than welcome.

Thanks in advance,

Cheers,

Matt

 

[RUM4MO]

I'd take it as read that you are indeed due a belt change. I think that this was driven by early belt failures on TDI engines so VAG just rolled it out across the entire range so that there would not be any confusion!

What engine has your Leon got by the way? - Ah 1.8 20v I see.

If the cambelt also drives the waterpump then I'd play safe and get them to change that too - VAG do a pump exchange for about £25>£35. Yet take a chance when it means all thi swork would need repeating at a later stage. BTW its a cambelt kit they supply and fit and that means tha the bits that do cause the belts to break will be getting changed as well.

In my case, a Polo 1.4SE, the old pump had a hard plastic impeller, the exchange pump supplied by VAG looked like a brand new one with a metal impeller.

Remember you can never rely on the car's owner's handbook as it was printed many years ago and you will not get sent any updates - always check with your dealer, also try to find an idep VAG specialist as they will always be cheaper and they should always only fit VAG parts in this sort of job - ask. There are plenty aftermarket parts suppliers but VAG do not share their continuous improvement information with them - why should why as these aftermarket parts supplier are only interested in the here and now, so their exposure to changing requirements will be only word of mouth - but there are exceptions to that so why take the chance use VAG cambelt kits and add to that an exchange VAG waterpump and maybe any extra idlers etc that your fixer has found by his experience also should get changed. My indep VAG spec certainly added an idler that the 1.4SE cambelt kit from VAG did not contain - because he had noticed that this idler tended to fail and wreck the belt!

 

[vwbassett]

Get it done sooner rather than latter as many failures occur around 40-60k not the belt but more likely the waterpump. For the metal impellor waterpump try GSF my 2.0 was £25 and i think 1.8t's arent much more just make sure you know your engine code - stamped first page of service book.

 

[MattJ]

Thanks

Thanks for your help guys, just booked in with my local garage for a replacement and the service due £464 incl vat and labour (est 3hrs total), a bit better than the dealer's quote of £582.35 incl vat and labour!.

I like the local garage as you get to talk to a mechanic rather than a (rather snotty (in the case of my local SEAT dealer...) receptionist and they do seem to know what they're doing and offer loyalty discounts (well they have done in the past)!

I quizzed him on the parts required and yep story rang true with what you were saying, one other thing of note was that there are two kits, depending on the engine, one being £80 more expensive than the other due to a more heavy-duty tensioner... the quote I had was for the cheaper tensioner as he was unable to confirm which kit I had fitted on my engine as I didn't have more details to hand so, it might take another £80.

Oh well, the savings will have to take a hit this month, such are the trials and tribulations of car ownership I guess!

Cheers Guys,

Matt