TDI Cambelt change

[ferraris]

Hi all,

I've seen various post on this but am still confused.

I've got a 54 plate Leon Cupra TDI (150) which is coming up for 55k miles and is booked in for its 60k service. The dealer is saying I need the cambelt replaced on a 60k service. The handbook says toothed belts should be replaced every 80k miles for TDI engines with an injector pump or every 100k for toothed belts for TDI engines - so I'm assuming my car's got a toothed belt but not sure if it has an injector pump.

To confuse matters further a phoned Seat and they said it should be replaced every 74k miles.

Should I go with the 74k?


Simon

 

[allh2k]

I've just gone past 60,000 and extremly broke.... so I will be hoping for the best

But every1 on here says the belt is the worst and potentionly the most common weak spot on these cars, engines....

I suppose if you get it checked and their are no obvious signs of wear then how can an extra 5 10K matter?

P.S if the belt was to break the engine would need replacing
as I understand...

 

[craig-pd130]

Don't take this as gospel but the general wisdom on the PD engines is every 60K miles or 4 years.

That's certainly the case with the Passat PDs (longitudinal engine). Mine's deffo due at 60K

Unfortunately the PD motors are an "interference" engine -- if the cam timing slips too far (snapped belt) then the valves & pistons will have a fight ....

 

[TornadoRed]

We don't get the PD150 engine in North America, only the PD100. But it comes with a 100k-mile timing belt (cam belt).

The handbook or manual that came with your car should specify the replacement interval.

Belts rarely fail prematurely -- usually it is caused by a bad bearing in the waterpump or one of the rollers, or sometimes by a bad tensioner. A casual inspection is not going to reveal anything... unless the failure is imminent.

 

[OLDOILER]

Hi all,

I've seen various post on this but am still confused.

I've got a 54 plate Leon Cupra TDI (150) which is coming up for 55k miles and is booked in for its 60k service. The dealer is saying I need the cambelt replaced on a 60k service. The handbook says toothed belts should be replaced every 80k miles for TDI engines with an injector pump or every 100k for toothed belts for TDI engines - so I'm assuming my car's got a toothed belt but not sure if it has an injector pump.

To confuse matters further a phoned Seat and they said it should be replaced every 74k miles.

Should I go with the 74k?


Simon

mY 130 SPORT WAS SHAGGED AT 38K eventually changed under warranty- and has a result believe a bullitin went out to check belts at 30/40k - the fitter who spotted this was initialy told off!! for doing work he was NOT scheduled to do. ..........

 

[devonutopia]

I think some of the latter PD130 engines had an 80,000 mile change for the cambelt.... I think this is too long - I'm getting mine done by Allard when they fit the camshaft - engine is only 41,000 miles old.

 

[stoneyfordNI]

agree with jason on this one ,. i think especially when you know you drive hard , remapped ecu etc , the oil change interval and cam belt change period should be reduced dramatically , too expensive if it goes wrong

 

[TornadoRed]

agree with jason on this one ,. i think especially when you know you drive hard , remapped ecu etc , the oil change interval and cam belt change period should be reduced dramatically , too expensive if it goes wrong

I might agree on the OCI, but cannot understand how driving hard and fast would put even the slightest additiional stress on the cam belt, or any of the components driven off of it.

Whether you cruise around never exceeding 2000 rpm, or constantly rev to the redline, it shouldn't matter to the cam belt.

I would be happy to hear your reasoning, if you disagree.

 

[muddyboots]

TBH even if the interval is 80k, I'd err on the side of caution and get it done at 60k.
After all, if you wait till 80k you'll most likely be out of warranty period, so better safe than sorry.

 

[ferraris]

Thanks for your views, decided to get the cambelt done but did say to the dealer that I cynically think they're trying to get people to get the belt changed early as the service receptionist had no idea what the real interval was and just tells everyone it should be changed at 60k. Seat should really be making sure dealers have suitably competent staff who know this information.


Simon

 

[muddyboots]

Thanks for your views, decided to get the cambelt done but did say to the dealer that I cynically think they're trying to get people to get the belt changed early as the service receptionist had no idea what the real interval was and just tells everyone it should be changed at 60k. Seat should really be making sure dealers have suitably competent staff who know this information.

Yes, fair point - my dealers tried to convince me to have mine done at 40k
When they realised I was on the maintenance plan, and Seat Finance had to authorise any work, they soon backtracked...

 

[asthpsw]

I've done a search...can anyone point me towards where I find the Cam belt change interval for a 2009 140 CR please ? (both in years & Mileage please). Should anything else be changed (ie do we still go for a water pump change or do later cars have brass impellor) ?

Can anyone recommend a good Castrol or Mobil1 Oil for the above engine please ?

Has anyone got a "cut away" diagram of a CR engine please ? And how a CR Injection works as against the Old Pre PD Injection systems ?

Thanks

Paul

 

[jazman27]

I have a 2004 Leon 1.9TDi FR PD150 (200bhp remapped) and currently on 82000+ miles without a change. It's getting done tomorrow!

It's luck of the draw, but I'd advise at around 60K to be "safe" on a performance engine.

 

[BigV]

Thanks for your views, decided to get the cambelt done but did say to the dealer that I cynically think they're trying to get people to get the belt changed early as the service receptionist had no idea what the real interval was and just tells everyone it should be changed at 60k. Seat should really be making sure dealers have suitably competent staff who know this information.


Simon

I don't think they are trying to rip you off.

My understanding is that it is 60k for 4 years. Personally I wouldn't want to risk 80 or 100k even if that were the official interval..... Unless you are doing serious commuting a belt of 100k would also be very old in terms of age; components wear with age and miles.

Just not worth the risk really, especially as your car is a 2004, so unless it has already been changed once it will now be a VERY old belt. I mean what is a belt change alone, £250? A garage near me claims to be a VW specialist and will do the belt and water pump for £325, that is nothing when compared to the price of an engine change or rebuild.

One of the downsides of running 'old' cars is bills or things like cam belts. If the car were a real £500 banger it would be worth the risk, but not on something like an 04 Cupra which still has considerable value.

 

[zach225]

i've just had mine replaced as its been 4 years, and a shame too because its only done about 20k, but for £300 id rather be safe than sorry

 

[jreedy]

i though it was either every 4 yr's or every 80,000 miles whichever comes 1st

 

[iwonagain]

Changed mine at 40k together with water pump & adjuster & pulley.
Had a belt break on a Sunbeam Lotus a few years ago, boy what a mess that made.
Never again.

 

[willives]

According to the manual for my Non-PD Toledo, its every 80'000 or 4 years. Just had it changed after 60'000, and its still appeared in very good condition, although I noticed recently that one of the idlers was beginning to make a noise. Water pump was knackered. The plastic impeller was very worn, so replaced with a metal impeller pump. For £220 parts and labour, I will be changing it every 60'000.

 

[asthpsw]

Hi, what is the "idler" ? that made the noise & you replaced ?..................what is the noise like ? I've noticed this "extra" noise occasionally when I've been driving moderlately and then come to a stop and the engine is ticking over......there seems to be an extra noise (like a low volume faint whistle...like we used tgo have on gas kettles 40 odd years ago !).....I'm not concerned about it but just wondered whether your "idler" statement was the same.

Paul

 

[willives]

There are a couple of small idler pulleys which the timing belt runs on. I could hear a slight rattle coming from the timing belt area, so I removed the cover, and I could hear it was one of the idlers, probably the bearing had started to go. A timing belt kit comes complete with all new idlers, tensioner etc.