cambelt aparently needing changing

[Faisal]

hello people, my cambelt was done at 60k miles (according to the previous owner) but my garage advised that my cambelt needs changed soon as its looking really worn... im sitting at 78k now.any way of checking it?is it possible for a cambelt to get worn out THAT quickly???

 

[UncleFester]

It's possible ( more likely) that it was never changed at all!

 

[Faisal]

wat teh flux????

think its too late to demand the money from the guy i bought it from last year? lol

 

[james walker]

yeah, id get it done now mate, water pump also.... better safe than very sorry

 

[Faisal]

i groped the cambelt a bit and its a bit rough,not too smooth, which is meant to be better?smooth or rough?

 

[james walker]

if its past 60k and not been done, you need to do it asap

 

[andycupra]

no receipts or service history? you should be able to ring the garage and check the work done,

if there are no details, then it may be that the work was not done,

On the other hand, ive seen cambelts 8 years old with 100,000 miles on them that look as good as new... so its interesting to read it appears in poor condition!

 

[Faisal]

the details are of the person who did it,which is the person i bought it from...so i think it might be fake...

but i dont know whats good or whats bad,is rough bad?or good?

 

[james walker]

mmmh dodgy...... i really would do it mate, if it goes then its a new head job

 

[Markyboyt]

the details are of the person who did it,which is the person i bought it from...so i think it might be fake...

but i dont know whats good or whats bad,is rough bad?or good?

It depends what side your touching, if its the smooth outer side then it doesnt matter.
TBH its more a case of the appearance of the belt, is the rubber perished for instance.
By how your describing what evidence you have that it was done, id guess it wasnt done. Or it could be that it was changed and there has been some sort of leak or the belt was contaminated when fitting which would also mean it needs changing. Personally id take the cheaper option of getting it changed so you know yourself it has been done.

 

[lc_allan]

Yeah I'd just pay for peace of mind. At least you know when it has been done and buy whom.

 

[Faisal]

affirmative! i shall get this booked in right away.thanks a lot for your help guys xxx

 

[CupraMVR]

if its dome 78k and has never been done its been pretty lucky not 2 of snapped or the water pump failed from what ive read. im doin mine next sat at 50k and 4 years

 

[Faisal]

if its dome 78k and has never been done its been pretty lucky not 2 of snapped or the water pump failed from what ive read. im doin mine next sat at 50k and 4 years

ahhh dont confuse me lol...its still running fine....meaning it COULD have been changed...else its £500 for a new one (fitted+rest of service too)...

 

[UncleFester]

£500? Err ... half that if you go to the right garage!!!!

 

[stpete]

Dont forget, brass impeler water pump!!

 

[Faisal]

£500? Err ... half that if you go to the right garage!!!!

really?lol i was quoted a bomb!!!£250 for a full service and waterpump+cambelt change?

 

[George]

really?lol i was quoted a bomb!!!£250 for a full service and waterpump+cambelt change?

That sounds like a bargain!!!

Oh and for water pump have a look here http://www.water-pumps.org/Audi-A3-1-8-waterpumps.html

 

[Cupra Ross]

really?lol i was quoted a bomb!!!£250 for a full service and waterpump+cambelt change?

For a full service, cambelt and waterpump you're looking at about £375+.

Any garage worth their salt will replace the hydraulic tensioner damper (the thing with the little piston that pushes on to the tensioner) at the same time as they always leak their hydraulic fluid. Budget an extra £60-£70 for this.

Realistically and properly done, you're looking at £450 or thereabouts. Metal impeller waterpump is a must.

 

[Esc]

I have also been told by a garage that my cam belt should be changed, its only done 47K miles but is coming up to its 4th birthday.
they said it needed doing due to a infrequent squeak on idle that appears to be coming from the cam belt side of the engine, they said they'd change tensionors and the water pump for a metal one

you think its legit? or some quick cash during these hard times?