Cambelt - DIY or garage?

[TDi_B5]

Right then, with my new Arosa on the drive way its time to think about a cambelt service. I can't find any reference to the cambelt being changed. I'm planning to call the garages that the car has been to and find out what was done. If not, I think it'll be cambelt kit and waterpump time!

Now, I've done a fair bit of car stuff, I did all my own servicing on the Passat, changed numerous suspension arms, brakes etc but have never attempted a cambelt. Therefore when I had the Passat it went into a VW/Audi specialist to have the cambelt & waterpump changed. And would you believe it....they timed it up wrong and it took 10 months to convince the garage that they had done it wrong. This then led to a series of problems with the engine including two bend valves and a misfire and hence the purchase of the Arosa!

So as you can imagine, I'm reluctant to take the car to a garge, if a so-called 'specialist' can **** it up, I dread to think what could happen elsewhere. So who has changed a cambelt on a 1.4 8v Arosa engine? Any advice, tips etc, is anyone willing to do the work even?!

Does anyone know if the mk4 polo haynes manual covers the 1.4 APQ engine? Any help or suggestions would be appreciated, I'm in Southampton if you can recommend anyone/anywhere to get it done. Parts are no more than £60 which seems pretty reasonable.

Thanks all.

 

[andycupra]

id say if you are not 100% confident doing it yourself, get a garage to do it.
You say if even a specialist can **** it up... then ask if you could do it yourself..

If a garage does it wrong at least you have some come- back.

 

[Boo]

I agree. Take it to a garage, if you do it yourself and it goes wrong you will only kick yourself.

 

[lunalupi]

Another vote for a garage here - I have a personal rule myself, I'll have a go at anything except work to do with timing and brakes, cos if you get those wrong you've got big problems..!

 

[TDi_B5]

Garage it is then, thanks for the advice. Does anyone know about the haynes manual including the APQ engine? I'd like something to refer to.

 

[techie]

Its is a fairly easy belt to do but on the Arosa there is a lack of room even on the 1.4 8V that makes seeing things tricky, also getting the crank pulley off without an air gun can be fun.

Take it to a garage as the others say.

 

[Boo]

I need to get mine done soon. I would also recommend getting the waterpump done at the same time. I made the mistake of not having mine done last time the cambelt was done and I have now developed some waterpump related issues. I have been quoted under £200 to get the cambelt and waterpump done.

 

[TDi_B5]

When having the cambelt and waterpump changed, is it advisable to change the coolant too? I'm assuming that when the waterpump is removed a certain amount of coolant will be lost? Unless they drain it and store it beforehand?

I'd also like to change the thermostat too, just for piece of mind really, is this a straight forward job on the 1.4 APQ? I'm at a bit of a loss without a haynes manual! Just trying to work out whether I can do the coolant change and thermostat myself or would it make more sense to have it done when its in for a cambelt and waterpump.

 

[Random1989]

i did my old seat ibiza 1.4 cls cambelt and full head rebuild and that was my first time just got a haynes manual just in case for torque settings and such. sorry don,t know about the engine code to manuals but sure if it says the car make model and year then it should cover all the engine types all mine do.