Timing belt replacement? 81,000miles.

[joe-nathan09]

As most of us know Wuste is coming up! I will be taking my mk4 gti with 81k miles on it. I bought it a year ago and it had 66k, its been running great since. I've read about the timing belts and they say to change them about 80k miles. Well my question is, is there a way to check the status of the belt and tensioner to see if it needs to be changed now? I have finals coming up before Wuste and I want to know if it will be ok to drive it or if it is imperative that I change it.

Btw I live in so cal so Vegas is about 300miles from me

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[Mindfault]

You could visually check the condition of the belt. No rubbing, dry rot, rips etc.. also you could check the belt tension. I drove my last gti to 141,000 with no timin belt replacement. There are so many variables, and components fail whenever they want to, there is not set mileage to say it is safe. A timing belt could fail in 100 miles if the tensioner was bad. It all depends. But if i was in ur shoes id do it. Wuste is dope.

[groggory]

The tensioner is the weak part

Just change it

[joe-nathan09]

Ya I know I wish it was as easy as "once you hear this noise change it" And if I wanted to change just the tensioner I have to do all the other steps anyway so I might as well get the kit.

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[joe-nathan09]

You could visually check the condition of the belt. No rubbing, dry rot, rips etc.. also you could check the belt tension. I drove my last gti to 141,000 with no timin belt replacement. There are so many variables, and components fail whenever they want to, there is not set mileage to say it is safe. A timing belt could fail in 100 miles if the tensioner was bad. It all depends. But if i was in ur shoes id do it. Wuste is dope.

How would I just check the tensioner?

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[Iangti7777]

It really needs changing now.

When the 1.8T came out it had it had a long service interval (over 100K) on the timing belt.
Then VW was hit with loads of warranty claims with belts breaking any time over 60K.

Now in Europe the recommend interval is 60K Miles or 4 Years.

Personally I would change the the 1.8T belt at 60K miles or 5 years.
(Time/ages kills belts)


As you exceed 4 years and 60K miles the statistical probability of failure increases.
If you pull the timing cover check the belt looks OK and the tension is fine then drive gently, it should be ok for a while longer.

Maybe !!

[Iangti7777]

How would I just check the tensioner?

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The tensioner is hydraulic and is known to just give up with no warning. All you can do is pull the cover and check that it is working now. Ie the belt is tight.

As said in a previous post the only real way to "check" the tensioner is to replace it at the service interval along with the belt. This way you know its good.

[Mindfault]

Yeah, just to the belt if u have the funds. Its pretty easy man

[matty675]

It's a ticking time bomb. Change it

[groggory]

I vote IE manual timing kit upgrade

[matty675]

I vote IE manual timing kit upgrade

$$$$$ But I agree, do it right, do it once!

[joe-nathan09]

I vote IE manual timing kit upgrade

Tell me more about this...

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[groggory]

Tell me more about this...

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Uses the manual tensioner setup that was stock on the VW 8V motors. It's an off-center roller with a reverse thread nut. The more it rolls, the tighter the nut gets...so it'll never go loose on ya. You tension the belt with a tensioner tool, tighten the nut, done.

From here on out you'll replace the belt every 60 or so thousand miles just for belt wear. You'll never replace a head due to a failed belt.

I'd personally replace the roller too every timing belt change.

The IE kit has an idler roller to take up some slack on the longest leg of the belt too.

It's a good thing.

[kdiver58]

I had a dealer in Ocala Florida replace my water pump while on vacation. The twits put the same belt back on. When it failed it wiped the valves. Put dents in the pistons it was ugly and expensive. Waiting is just penny wise and pound foolish. Heat and age make these belts fail. It's getting hotter every day. Do yourself a favor get it changed as soon as you can. The 1.8t is a zero clearance engine. When the belt goes it's going to take stuff with it.
Replace everything when you have this done. Water pump (metal) , all belts, tensioner and all rollers. It's going to cost you $1000 to $1200 to have it done or $220 if you do it yourself.

[joe-nathan09]

Alright you guys convinced me. I have a kit coming in from online, expidited shipping so I can work on it all memorial day.

Last question, I see some kits come with stretch bolts. What are those used for and do I absolutely need them?

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[groggory]

Alright you guys convinced me. I have a kit coming in from online, expidited shipping so I can work on it all memorial day.

Last question, I see some kits come with stretch bolts. What are those used for and do I absolutely need them?

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Stretch bolts are one-time-use bolts. The threads stretch when they are torqued down.

Always replace all stretch bolts. If you don't it will likely give you no problems 9 times out of 10, but there's always that one time that you'll regret...and it will cost you a hell of a lot more than the price of a bolt.

[Iangti7777]

Stretch bolts are torqued down to the specified torque, then you turn the bolt through a further 90 degrees to stretch it. As previously stated its not a good idea to re-use them.

There have been instances on the VW forums of engine mounting bolts snapping on the road due to reuse.

[03vdubb]

Do it bro. My Wolfsburg dropped the bomb on me a couple weeks ago I'm still buyin **** from ECS to get this thing fixed I'm 2500 deep. I also bought sum upgrades tho haha. Mine hit 100700 then the teeth on the timing belt fell off. Coulda saved myself a lot of time and money by gettin that 15 dollar belt and new tensioner

[Anony00GT]

Uses the manual tensioner setup that was stock on the VW 8V motors. It's an off-center roller with a reverse thread nut. The more it rolls, the tighter the nut gets...so it'll never go loose on ya. You tension the belt with a tensioner tool, tighten the nut, done.

From here on out you'll replace the belt every 60 or so thousand miles just for belt wear. You'll never replace a head due to a failed belt.

I'd personally replace the roller too every timing belt change.

The IE kit has an idler roller to take up some slack on the longest leg of the belt too.

It's a good thing.

Got a link to this kit?

I wonder if the BPY (2.0T) tensioner would work on a 1.8?

[T-Boy]

Got a link to this kit?

I wonder if the BPY (2.0T) tensioner would work on a 1.8?

http://www.intengineering.com/billet...it-w-pump.html

[Anony00GT]

http://www.intengineering.com/billet...it-w-pump.html

Thanks

[joe-nathan09]

Alright cool, I wonder if I can buy these stretch bolts at a specialty bolt store by my house. I don't like going through the dealer.

Has anyone done this job all the way through? Are there any hiccups I should know about? Short cuts or tips? I've never dealt with timing before so this is a big job for me.

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[groggory]

There's a big thread around here.

Go get oem bolts.

[toby lawrence]

Alright cool, I wonder if I can buy these stretch bolts at a specialty bolt store by my house. I don't like going through the dealer.

Not likely. Buy them from the dealer. Seriously.

[Iangti7777]

The Timing belt DIY covers everything but takes a while to read. I would definitely do the following from the DIY

Set the engine at TDC, technically its not required but it makes checking timing easier, after you have the new belt on check and check again.

Definitely mark the belt and pulleys before you pull the old belt, transfer the markings to the new belt.

Be very careful with any allen bolts they are easy to strip if the allen is not fully in the bolt.

The new belt will be a pig to put on, I posted a tip in the thread given by a VW tech that does belts all day, the link is here
http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthrea...1#post68521535

First time it will take best part of a day.
Good luck

[kdiver58]

My water pump just started leaking so I have a full ECS tuning kit coming Friday. My memorial day weekend is filled. I'm replacing the brakes and coolant reservoir while it's all apart.
Good Luck to you !

[joe-nathan09]

Yay for memorial day projects! I found someone who's done the timing belt on these motors a bunch of times to help me so I should be good. Thanks everyone for the input!

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