MK4 vr6 timing chains and clutch.

[bhouseskater32]

So i feel like my timing chains are longer over due the car has 145xxx miles and counting. My question is where is some where i can take it or some one that can due reputable work at a decent price. I would attempt the work my self but i just don't have the time.

[Novo1.8T]

To narrow down people or shops to refer you to, YOUR location would be a great place to start.

Sent you a PM

[Twiztid_Tom]

in the south seattle area i would recommend AutoSport Imports off hwy 99 near the airport!

[bhouseskater32]

kitsap area but i don't mind where it is just want good work and not stealerships

[mark2.0aba]

kitsap area but i don't mind where it is just want good work and not stealerships

I'm pretty sure chains in a mk4 are not in need of being changed seeing as the problem with the first vrs weren't the chains but the guides themselves, my buddy has a mk4 vr6 with 200k and not a single noise from the chains and i know some boosted mk4 vrs that have never had issues with mk4 chains.might wanna look into that and save your self the money

[squirrelmaster89]

kassle motorsports in university just up from tcc.

[ni4ni]

I'm pretty sure chains in a mk4 are not in need of being changed......

I concur! I got a 2001 GTI VR6 with 140k miles. I had the same concern that you did. $1,050.00 was the quoted price for a timing change. It turns out that two dealers told me I don't need a timing chage but only a serpentine belt change if you start seeing crack on it. Good luck.

[Jason_Reuben]

Well if you have a 12v VR then all the internal parts are the same. So it will need chains. I can not say on the 24v motors though as I have not heard anything. Though I assume with them getting higher miles that we will start seeing if they hold up. But if your going to do a clutch you might as well do the guides as you already have the trany off.

[jity86]

Chains can fail on a mk4 without warning and many fail between 100-120k. and what the heck does a serpantine belt have to do with chains. It is in no way related to the condition of your timing chains. and if someone quoted you $1050 to get your chains done, he is probably a hack, because no reputable shop will do it for less than $1500ish and that doesnt include a clutch!

[Jason_Reuben]

This is a copy paste for a guy on a MK3 VR job he was asking on my prices. But lilke the guy above said most shops will not do even just the chains, reusing your clutch for under $1500.

These are all priced from MJM and most of the parts have free shipping. Though I will also look at prices at DIP to save a few $$. The bare minimum I would say is do the clutch kit ( $209.95) it comes with the new bolts as I always recomend. Then get the flywheel turned, The shop I use charges ($70) I have found cheeper, but not better. The Chain kit is ($199.95) thats both chains, all guides, and tensioners with a new cover oring. You will also need a new valve cover gasket ($19.99). Plus a tube of the gasket maker for the chain covers that can be bought from DIP i think its ($8) and a rear main oil seal that is around ($10), and a oil change which is about ($30) for oil and filter depending on oil you use and filter. That would be the bare minimum to do a quality chain job.

Just for thoes parts your sitting at $548 alone and $500 labor. Total of $1048

Issues is 90% of the time you need a full overhaul to get the system up to par. Also the cooling plastics are brittle if not new and due to proximity can be damaged easily. If I am doing the head gasket you might as well do the plugs. The water pump is almost always bad at this point as well as the coolant. ect...

So you can add in doing the head gasket set for ($89.95 for the gaskets, $44.99 for the bolts) for OEM head gasket or $10 more if you want the MK4 head gasket which will gain you a couple butt HP. But in turn you can remove the ($19.99) valve cover gasket as its in the head gasket kit. Does that make sence? Add in a complete cooling system overhaul with all the plastics, new t-stat, water pump, and the two small oil cooler lines for ($69.95 for the plastcs w/ t-stat, $59.99 water pump, $20 for the two hoses. Total= $149) Then get the block gasket set to make sure you dont leak a drop for another 100k mile for ( $59.95, but you can drop the $10 rear main from the list above as its in this kit). You will need a few odd and ends still at that point. With all that work I recomend new coolant, new PS fluid and new serp belt and spark plugs. With prices on thoes are based on what you want to run. I always recomend correct fluids but plugs... I say go cheeper and change more often to keep your motor running best. Anyways, If you add up everything including the chain parts your total in parts is about $770.

So you have $770 in parts and still the same $500 labor. So total
of about $1270 for everything VS the $1048 for just the minimum to do chains. So for $220 more in parts you get a full overhaul.

Now I always tell all people to plan on having a extra $200 ready for in case items like I pull your trans off and find you need a trans input shaft seal. Or a broken motor mount. Or the passnger mount bold it to bent to re-use ( common). ECT... I also advise if you want all new, any new motor mounts, this is the time as if I do everything as stated above I litererly take your entire motor out of the car and stick it on stand and tear it all down and re assemble.

That is why the labor is the same. As doing the chains in car is a bigger PITA then removing the whole thing and doing all the work on a stand. Any parts you want to add to the list is all your discression at that point the labor does not change. So if you want to add any parts in the motor area or anything its all the same labor flat and just price on parts.

[TYPEIIISquareman]

i have a 02 vr 12v and im doing the timing chain, guides, and one of the gears right now! I had a tensioner fail and one of the guides break in 5 peices! I had a shop quote me $1600 to do the job! My clutch is has ALOT of life left so i dont have to worry about that! For shops to go to I would say Autosport off of hwy 99 also! I have been going there for years and they have always treated me great! hope everythingh works out for you!!!