Timing Belt lasts how long...?!

[Foxhound]

So, I've had my Polo for about a year and it will be 4 years old come September - I was quite surprised today to recieve a letter from the local VW Dealer (they sold the car originally and I took it there for new keys) saying that as its 4 years old it should have its timing belt replaced and naturally they'd like to do it for an undisclosed sum. Not being technical in any way I have no idea if this is normal but I would've thought a 1.2 shopping cart with less than 19K would be fairly sound in terms of not needing much more than regular servicing?

[Silverbullet767]

I had a honda that had perished it's timing belt in 9 years, the mileage.......... 30,000!!

God I miss that car. (CRX with the 1.6 DOHC VTEC) but that's not for this forum.

[grumbas]

Timing belts perish with age as well as use.

That said, I'm sure most get replaced on mileage more than age so you can probably get away with stretching it a bit if money's tight.

Get a price from the main dealer and a local independent, the indy will probably be much cheaper.

Some VAG engines have issues with lunching their water pumps around the cambelt interval, so check if this needs doing too.

[Coupe_Daz]

Foxhound said:

a 1.2 shopping cart

The 1.2's dont have timing belts, they use chains which dont need changing unless faulty

Edited by Coupe_Daz on Friday 24th July 10:05

[cuprabob]

As above, the 1.2 uses a chain and doesn't need changing. Unfortunately, garages just send this stuff out based on estimated mileage from your service record or time.

If you want a bit of fun cll up the service dept. and ask them to quote for the job and try and book it in to see how far you get :-)

[DaveL86]

Coupe_Daz said:

Foxhound said:

a 1.2 shopping cart

The 1.2's dont have timing belts, they use chains which dont need changing unless faulty

Edited by Coupe_Daz on Friday 24th July 10:05

Yep the 1.2's have a timing chain that is a life chain and shouldn't need changing unless it becomes noisy.