toothed belt?

[mattcymru]

ive just bought a used W reg leon and it has FSH but in the back is a sticker which is dated 2003 saying water pump changed and toothed belt...

would this toothed belt be the cam belt or just the fan belt?

thanks

 

[TheOtherSimon]

Cambelt.

Simon.

 

[RobM]

Don't suppose it has the mileage recorded as well as the date it was changed? Might be useful to know.

 

[mattcymru]

ill double-check but think it was 30,000 odd...

 

[RobM]

That's good then. Means you have until 80ish thousand miles before you need to worry about it again.

 

[mattcymru]

so you think this would have been the cam belt then?

 

[RobM]

Yup, I agree with TheOtherSimon that this is almost certainly the cambelt.

 

[mattcymru]

cool, i was worried that three years old is a bit soon to change the cam belt and that on the service pages there is an option called tooth belt which was changed on most services that i can only assume is the fan belt!

 

[m0rk]

given there isn't a fan belt................

 

[Chris 16v]

What milage would you recommend it is changed? Service book says 120k!?!

 

[RobM]

It should be checked at 50-60k (or 5 years I think) and changed as soon as needed. Personally, I wouldn't want it to be on the car for any more than 50k. If it snaps you're in big trouble.

 

[mattcymru]

there isn't a fan belt?! shows how much i know about cars then lol

on my inspection and maintenance plan the following is noted:

30,140 miles 1/12/04
New Water Pump
Toothed Belt Changed

the car was registered new on 25/04/2000

so four years would be a good time to change the cam belt then?

btw milesage is 49k at present!


ps got my facts a bit wrong in my earlier posts!

 

[RobM]

If it was done with the water pump then that's the cambelt without a doubt as this needs to come off when doing the job, and most good garages will take the opportunity to change it whether it's necessary or not.

If it was done at 30k, I'd suggest changing it again at somewhere between 80-90k miles but there is no harm in doing it earlier.

 

[mattcymru]

Thanks RobM for all your help, mucho appreciato!

as im on 50k ill be looking to change in the next 10k i reckon then

Thanks to everyone else whos replied also!!

 

[RobM]

I wouldn't change it yet mate. It's up to you of course, but if it was changed at 30k and you're on 50k now, you've only covered 20k with it on. That should mean you have at least another 30-40k worth of driving to do before it needs to be changed again!

 

[Smart22186]

How strange this thread should come up today, was gonna ask when one needs changing, i was under the impression mine was done with previous owner but found out today it hasnt, the car is a W reg (2000) with 78,600 miles on the clock and still not been done, im assuming diesel engins still need this done around the 60k mark and not in their 100's? ?? (yeah this is a question.... i think)

 

[RobM]

I'm not 100% sure about diesel engines but I think it's 60k, but to be sure go and check your owners handbook. The service guide contains info on what needs changing and when, including the cam belt.