Cam belt confusion and recall

[GainfulShrimp]

I had thought that all diesel mk2s needed a new cam belt at 40k miles, probably from what I'd read on this very forum...

I've done just over 40k miles now, so booked my car in (at the local main dealer) and they said they would also check it for a recall that's out for my car, too.

Anyway, even before I'd reached work having dropped it off, they called to say that after double-checking, my engine (Ecomotive/1.6CR) doesn't need a cam belt change until 160k miles (yes - 160,000). Seems like an eternity for a belt driven thing, but they were adamant that the official guidance for my engine was a new cam belt after 160k miles.

They're still going to check about the recall but it looks like I've saved at least a couple of hundred quid on getting the cam belt done.

 

[rllmuk]

The fixed price service leaflet claims 40k for a cambelt on all models! Problem is, this is in direct conflict with the owners manuals. Blatant attempt to drum up business.

160k does seem a bit long though...

 

[TimSawf]

Service schedules do have a habit of changing, especially for thing like cambelts.

This is what ElsaWin states as the recommended intervals for changing.
TDi PD ....... >May 07 ............. every 120,000 km
TDi PD ....... May 07> ............. every 150,000 km
TDi CR ....... >May 09 ............. every 180,000 km
TDi CR ....... May 09> ............. every 210,000 km

2.0 TSi & TFSi (all) ........ every 180,000 km
All other petrol ............. check at 90,000 km (replace if necessary) then check every 30,000 km

This is the same as in my Service Book (Cupra)

 

[GainfulShrimp]

So basically it's well-over 100k miles before they need doing. That's reassuring, thanks TimSawf.

 

[toledo399]

I have the same engine 1.6 CR TDI in my Altea XL 2011. Whilst I am nowhere near a cambelt change I was checking the service book that came with the car and was totally confused so contacted SEAT UK. The reply I got was:

Dear XXXX

Thank you for your email dated 29 December 2011 regarding the recommended cam belt change and servicing schedules for your SEAT
Altea, registration number XXXXXX.

I am happy to confirm that the manufacturers recommended cam belt change for your vehicle is 140,000 Miles or 4 Years which ever comes first.

Your vehicle states it is on Time & Distance servicing which means that you should have a service carried out every 12 months or 10,000 miles from the first registration date (xx/x/2011) which ever comes first.

If I can help you any further about this or any other query, please feel free to contact me at SEAT Customer Care.

Kind Regards


Chloe Moyes
Customer Relations Manager
SEAT UK
Tel 0500 222 222

Thus it is 140000 miles but remains at 4 years whichever comes first. The 4 years appears to be a VW group UK decision and may not be the case elsewhere.

Trust this helps.

 

[GainfulShrimp]

Just goes to show that nobody (even SEAT themselves) seems to know for sure... 140k miles is about 225k km, or in other words more than the highest figure on the list that TimSawf quoted.

Even with my high annual mileage of almost 30k miles, I'm going to hit 4 years before reaching any of these distances, so just need to remember I suppose...

 

[G.P]

I am happy to confirm that the manufacturers recommended cam belt change for your vehicle is 140,000 Miles or 4 Years which ever comes first.

I've never changed cambelts untill 100k on diesels, i've never had a cambelt changed on a petrol, and one engine did 170k when it was sold. . .

 

[jc_boc]

Doing my cambelt today on the cupra. Pulley is squeeking like mad on cold start so not taking any chances. 40K on the clock 57 plate.

 

[rllmuk]

And water pump, I hope.

 

[jc_boc]

All done yesterday, including waterpump lol.

 

[silver surfer]

Did my cambelt as soon as i bought my leon it was over 4 years old and 59k but i work for vw as a tech and i see the damage from tight people going i know its 4 years old but i've only done 20 - 30 k then end up with a huge bill in engine parts

 

[Fishy]

When I did mine late last year, I ordered the kit from our fav. dealer. Sadly my engine is the cross over, so the kit for my car (56 plate) didnt work as I needed the 07 kit.

Wonder if I can change on the 150,000kms? LOL I'll just change at the 4 year mark as I wont do that much milage.

Fish

 

[Compo1]

I was told by the dealer today after my injectors were swapped on the FR pd170 it was 95000 miles or 4 years what ever came first.

 

[/dev/null]

I think it varies across chassis numbers - my pd170 was 80k or 4 yrs.

 

[GrahamFR]

my PD was also 80k, glad to here i might not need to change the cambelt before i sell this one in a few years

 

[James_R]

ah i remember when vw claimed the 1.8 20vt engines could go 120k miles before the belts needed changing;

they never made it past 90...

as a result i'm the 1.8 T rebuild kid, we did about 10/15 most were partially funded by vw uk for their mistake.

 

[AndrewJB]

I was told 80k or 4 years on the PD170

 

[cheungy]

TFSI 60K or every 4 years? (still got awhile but meh expensive!)

 

[rllmuk]

TFSI 60K or every 4 years? (still got awhile but meh expensive!)

£299 with water pump is not that bad in the grand scheme of things. Just save £6 every 1,000 miles and it's paid for...

I did mine on 50k as the car will be staying with me for a while.

 

[Smee]

did mine at 33k and 4 years. still looks new but i dont care. peace of mind