remap and cambelt?

[RW20VT]

I have a stage 1 remap on my fr 1.8t and was just wondering if the extra power puts more strain on the cambelt?
It is a timing belt and just keeps the engine components moving in time so the power isn't actually transferred through the belt really is it?
I heard that engine startup and idle is the point where the belt receives the highest amount of strain, can anyone clear this up?

 

[Seatmann]

That's what I heard too, you can always change it at earlier intervals if it bothers you but the remap shouldn't strain the belt but who knows. Make sure to use a decent brand though like gates if you do decide to change it early.

 

[great_kahn]

Is your belt, pump, tensioner due?

 

[mgrays]

A remap will put more strain on cambelt/tensioner/water pump by a small fraction as you can now accelerate the engine quicker but it will be fractional .. say 1-2% maximum. So it will not give you a problem if you stick the to standard service routines/recommendations for cambelts. Not sure what they are but do not listen if they say 100,000 miles and age is probably more of an issue.. 5 years would be the limit (did mine at 6 years 60k miles and it was not in terrible shape)

 

[D1x0n]

Ive had two done and mine on 45k. 05 plate cupra

 

[RW20VT]

yeah replacement is comin up, its on 38k but is 4 years old almost. I tried using the cambelt issue as a bargaining tool when I was buying the car but the dealer got the owners manual out and had a look, which said inspect at 60,000miles and replace at 100,000 miles and inspect every 20,000 miles thereafter so I let it slip as I wasnt aware of this new 4 year timing belt lifespan.
The dealer said he's never seen a car need a cambelt doing at less than 60,000 or 6 years and neither had I..

 

[D1x0n]

I have. Most cars i think are around 40k i think. if the cambelt dont fail then your water pump will loool

 

[RW20VT]

Ive had two done and mine on 45k. 05 plate cupra

When did you have that done, what do you mean by two? stage 2?
thanks

 

[RW20VT]

yeah waterpump seems to be the common failing part but VAG dont seem to be kicking up any fuss about us needing to change the water pumps early, its down to the shitty plastic ones they put in there.

 

[D1x0n]

Two as in 2 cambelt (timing, tooth) whatever people call it lol
Got done on 32k and just now on 45k. On the 32k they didnt do the kit just the belt soo replaced the lot 2days ago as my water pump decided to go nigh night!

 

[RW20VT]

Unlucky man, you realise before any overheating then?
I'd take my car back to the garage and try to blag a free belt change out of em but I would be a bit paranoid about them tryin to save costs and just replacing the belt then the pump goin in 6 months or whateves.
probs just hunt around some indie garages for full kit replacement prices. Theres a local mechanic who always does work for me pretty cheap but if the service history had a receipt from a small garage for a part as important as the cambelt would this put people off when I come to sell the car?

 

[D1x0n]

On my way into town and the temp was bouncing on 130'c, did the thermostat (pain in the ass) but wasnt that so as it was the pump was shot. I had the kit and water pump done for £260 so i was happy. Done by another garage which ive known for years now. Tbh i wodnt be fussed aslong as it got the address etc its still been done. Only if you said youve done it id be abit sceptic. Do you what i mean.

 

[RW20VT]

yeah haha, 'me n me mate kev had a crack at it one afternoon' haha. I'll get it sorted when I get back from holiday, I sold my old saxo to a friend though and as it only had 1 months mot left i kindly volunteered to pay for anything if it failed on it as they gave me a good price for it, knowing how well ive looked after it.

 

[offitmassive]

sorry to crash this post, but cambelts are 48 months, regardless of mileage, the old check at 60k, replace at 100k is the old interval iirc, info given from autodata online which updates their system info as and when the manufacturers do

 

[JPS3290]

Got my cambelt, tensioner and waterpump replaced at 3 yrs 9 months (80k) as per my service book which states Cupra TDI 4yrs / 80k.

Different garages quoted different intervals, mileage. I contacted Seat who checked my VRM and also told me 80k. That's good enough for me. Hell, my scooby had a longer interval than the 60k some people insist on and it ran a considerably lot more power

Don't panic over it, how often do you hear of a cambelt snapping anyway? Usually only happens on cars people run into the ground as work horses never spending a penny on them. People fanny on far too much over this.

 

[Blanco92]

Don't panic over it, how often do you hear of a cambelt snapping anyway? Usually only happens on cars people run into the ground as work horses never spending a penny on them. People fanny on far too much over this.

Well, the previous owner of my old Octavia spent £3k in engine work at a garage in Derby, before I bought the car (cheap) in a broken state (failed turbo, car only had a genuine 44k on the clock, checked with VCDS), I got it home, replaced the turbo for a new one and while it was sat there idling I heard a clunk. Get round the front and the timing belt had snapped.

What made it worse was I had a new one on order, it was going to get done before I took it on the roads!

End result was a head rebuild required which with the help of a few friends and family I got done.

So just telling people not to fanny about doesn't wash with me I'm afraid mate.

 

[JPS3290]

Well, the previous owner of my old Octavia spent £3k in engine work at a garage in Derby, before I bought the car (cheap) in a broken state (failed turbo, car only had a genuine 44k on the clock, checked with VCDS), I got it home, replaced the turbo for a new one and while it was sat there idling I heard a clunk. Get round the front and the timing belt had snapped.

What made it worse was I had a new one on order, it was going to get done before I took it on the roads!

End result was a head rebuild required which with the help of a few friends and family I got done.

So just telling people not to fanny about doesn't wash with me I'm afraid mate.

Well to be fair after reading what you have wrote about the car its doesn't surprise me really. £3k on engine work, bought car in broken state (turbo failure) but only had 44k on the clock??? haha I'd have kept well away from that, not looked after.

Its had that much work done to it, and people 'fannying' around under the engine its probably be fiddled with more times than a *****s draws.

My service book quite clearly states 4 yrs or 80K miles. Why the hell would I wish to disagree with whats written in black and white? lol

My advice would be make sure when buying a car its fully checked over, you know what your getting in to, and more importantly you know the history behind it. Sounds like you had a nightmare with your purchase which is bad luck, however it would have thrown alarm bells up for me instantly and put me off.

Just to be clear, i never said (please feel free to re-read) in my original post to NOT get it done. I said I got mine done as per service book. I didn't think to myself "oh...the service book says 4 yrs / 80k but hell, lets just waste some money and do it 60k earlier because www.seatcupra.net people say so"

 

[Blanco92]

Well to be fair after reading what you have wrote about the car its doesn't surprise me really. £3k on engine work, bought car in broken state (turbo failure) but only had 44k on the clock??? haha I'd have kept well away from that, not looked after.

Its had that much work done to it, and people 'fannying' around under the engine its probably be fiddled with more times than a *****s draws.

My service book quite clearly states 4 yrs or 80K miles. Why the hell would I wish to disagree with whats written in black and white? lol

My advice would be make sure when buying a car its fully checked over, you know what your getting in to, and more importantly you know the history behind it. Sounds like you had a nightmare with your purchase which is bad luck, however it would have thrown alarm bells up for me instantly and put me off.

I was more than happy to buy it, considering I bought it for £620 broken, fixed it (parts came to about £700) then sold it for £1,950 a year and 10k miles later... I didn't do badly did I?

It's still on the road today. I sold it about 18 months ago.

The problem was originally that they mis-diagnosed the fault, all along the problem was the turbo, yet they went about changing fuel pumps, oil pumps etc etc etc. The list was just daft.

Back on timing belts, believe what the book tells you if you like, but there are some owners manuals out there that will tell you timing belts are good for over 100k and they just aren't. IMO if you're over 60k and 4 years without a belt change then you're on borrowed time.

 

[Seatmann]

You do have to be careful with tdi's and their cambelts, really need to be changed at the specified time otherwise snap! and you're out of pocket, it doesn't matter what you use the car for or how you use it, the intervals specified are there for a reason. I have a couple of mates with tdi's that don't give a toss but their cambelts are done at the right times because I nag them.

 

[JPS3290]

I was more than happy to buy it, considering I bought it for £620 broken, fixed it (parts came to about £700) then sold it for £1,950 a year and 10k miles later... I didn't do badly did I?

It's still on the road today. I sold it about 18 months ago.

The problem was originally that they mis-diagnosed the fault, all along the problem was the turbo, yet they went about changing fuel pumps, oil pumps etc etc etc. The list was just daft.

Back on timing belts, believe what the book tells you if you like, but there are some owners manuals out there that will tell you timing belts are good for over 100k and they just aren't. IMO if you're over 60k and 4 years without a belt change then you're on borrowed time.

Like I also said, I spoke with Seat who checked my VRM (reg) and also confirmed to me 80k miles or 4 yrs which ever was sooner. So I got it done at 80k, which was sooner than 4 yrs. I wouldn't have gone more than 4 yrs and believe I've never said that

On the plus side i have extended warranty up to 5 years which states as long as I follow the service interval in MY service book everything is covered. Hence my reason for not being pedantic over it.

Making about £600 and a years motoring's not bad. But I couldn't be hassled with the time spent on labour. I have no choice but attend work (emergency services) and need a car that works when I need it, that I know the history of, and am confident its going reliable/road worthy.