Any professional VW/Audi techs here?

[speeder]

I have a 2003 Jetta 1.8 turbo w 150k miles, recently acquired. It was bought spur of the moment up in Seattle, I'll skip the longer story.

Anyhow, it has no record of timing belt service being done which was due @ 105k miles. I chanced driving it home to SoCal w plans of immediately doing the T-belt/water pump/tensioner/etc. It ran great, fwiw. The car came from a dealer auction w the books, (no dealer stamps for services), but no service records other than what is on Carfax and no T-belt there.

Of course, it could have been done by an indy shop and not reported to Carfax. There is no sticker or paint pen under the hood w T-belt service recorded, which is often found. I went out and bought the complete Continental kit w belt, H2o pump, tensioner, cam seal, everything I need and was just preparing to begin the operation.

What stopped me in my tracks and caused this inquiry is that the belt looks great and no way it has 150k miles on it, IMO. This is where I need the expert opinion. I know that some will say to do the job if there is any doubt and I'm willing to but it's not a small job or inexpensive. If the belt looked dry, cracked in the slightest or wet from oil, I would not be asking. I'd be wrenching.

The only two possible scenarios are that the job was never done and the belt has 150k miles on it and is 13 years old, or it was done approx. 40-50k miles ago. Could a VW belt be that old and have 150k on it and look excellent?? Is that possible? I've enclosed a photo, (as good as I could take), want opinions from an actual tech who looks at these belts and replaces them. TIA as always.

[speeder]

The photos aren't great but the inside of the belt has zero cracks, not even tiny ones.

[porsche930dude]

did you turn the engine over and see what kind it is? If the markings are still on it. I would think that would give some indication

[speeder]

Originally Posted by porsche930dude

did you turn the engine over and see what kind it is? If the markings are still on it. I would think that would give some indication

I don't see printing on it that says Continental or the like, obviously that would seal the deal. But would that printing survive 50k miles of rolling over the tensioner roller?

[porsche930dude]

Im not sure but if its worn off then id say go ahead and change it. My brother is a mechanic and he often brings home old belts that still look like new. I usually throw them out because what am i suposed to do with a random old timing belt lol They certainly dont always show cracks and signs of wear

[manbridge 74]

I believe the idlers were the problem and updated at some point. Maybe you can see a part number.

I'm sure a gaudy Audi bro will be along directly.

[speeder]

If the belt looked "bad" in any way/shape/form, there would be no question. Just wondering if it could be 50k past interval and 14 years old and look almost new.

Doesn't seem possible.

[impactbumper]

I am a former technician.

Your pictures do not do much justice. However, the weakest link on those 1.8T cars is not the belt itself, usually the tensioner goes bad. It is very unlikely that when tbelt failure happens due to belt giving up.

Parts are relatively inexpensive. It is very DIY friendly. On that Jetta, I can do it in 45 min to an hour, but I have done over 100 1.8T (incl AMU motors on TT 225s) and every imaginable audi/vw with timing belt. You should be able to knock it out in couple of hours if you prepare.

Satisfying job too. Let me know if you have questions.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by porsche930dude

Im not sure but if its worn off then id say go ahead and change it. My brother is a mechanic and he often brings home old belts that still look like new. I usually throw them out because what am i suposed to do with a random old timing belt lol They certainly dont always show cracks and signs of wear

If they're changed on time or sooner, they can still look ok. But 50k over on a 100k belt?

[Steve Carlton]

Doing the complete job will add value to the car. About how much do you think?

[speeder]

Ok, good news. I cleaned it off a little and it appears to be a Gates brand which is definitely a replacement part. It's been done.

[aigel]

Glad you put down Byron's camera at last. So, are you going to change it? I am not familiar with the VW job, but on other cars, by the time you look at the belt, you are so deep into the job, you may as well change it.

Good Luck!

G

[speeder]

Originally Posted by aigel

Glad you put down Byron's camera at last. So, are you going to change it? I am not familiar with the VW job, but on other cars, by the time you look at the belt, you are so deep into the job, you may as well change it.

Good Luck!

G

I don't know what Byron's camera means but looking at this belt requires popping two clips w your finger and removing the top cover. Takes about 60 seconds and another 60 to put it back on. I'm not going to change it because it's already been done.

Doing the timing belt service is a job.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

Doing the complete job will add value to the car. About how much do you think?

I really don't care about that. If it needs to be done, it has to be done.

An informed buyer would pay at least $1k less for this car needing the complete T-belt service, though.

[beepbeep]

Originally Posted by speeder

Could a VW belt be that old and have 150k on it and look excellent?? Is that possible?

Yes. I have seen those belts last past 150k miles. But...usually it is not the belt but water pump or pulley that gives up first. Water pump impeller loosens from the shaft (if plastic impeller),water temp goes up and it blows a gasket. Or WP O-ring starts leaking. Or tensioner pulley bearing goes, rips the belt and shred the valves.
150k miles indicates (if done correctly) that car is approximately at the end of it's second belt. Even if it doesn't have cracks you can see on the wavey-identations on the smooth side that it is past its prime. I would definitely replace it. If not for the belt, then for the pulley and water pump which might or might not be in good shape.

In case you haven't done it before, it is fairly easy to change belt/pump/pulley on these. I replaced it all on our Golf IV (more or less the same car) in the driveway in three hours.
Basically you remove passenger wheel, support the engine with jack, remove coolant and power steering fluid reservoir, remove engine mount, remove plastic cover, remove belt (make lines on it so you can pain them back on new belt and put it back the same way) and then reassemble all.Torque wrench is a must. There are tons of videos on Youtube to guide you.

P.S.
Manual or automatic? 01M automatics on these will shred themselves to pieces around 140k unless you change the oil and filter. They are supposedly filled with "lifetime fluid" which roughly correlates to "until end of warranty". Flushing the slushbox is cheap and quick job which will prolong the life of the car immensely. You can order the filter and gasket online for pennies.

P.P.S.
https://www.reddit.com/r/Justrolledintotheshop/comments/1v5ogb/original_timing_belt_on_a_ls400_with_240k_they/

[Heel n Toe]

A brief pause in the action for a curiosity question... sorry for the slight derailment, Denis.

Do you still have that black 914 with all the typeface graphics all over it that you showed us a while back? Always wondered what happened with that intriguing little rocket.

[DanielDudley]

That belt absolutely looks like is has miles on it. And yes, old belts can look new, and they can fail anyway. That they don't ''usually'' is of no consolation if yours does.

It's funny how people never have the time or money to do the belt and rollers, but they always have the time and money for a new motor.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by beepbeep

usually it is not the belt but water pump or pulley that gives up first. Water pump impeller loosens from the shaft (if plastic impeller)

+1

2003 1.8 Passat and 2002 Turbo Beetle personal cars. Plastic impeller failure prior to service interval.

[Arizona_928]

+2 on the plastic impeller. Get the metal one. It's worth the extra $$

[speeder]

The Gates timing belt kit for this car comes w H2o pump, tensioner and idler for a whopping $150 online. That would mean it's cheaper for a shop. There is no way on earth someone only replaced the belt, anyone w the knowledge to do this job successfully would know that you replace everything while it's open.

My concern was strictly whether the job had been done or not. It has, 100%. The inside of the belt looks new, that's what stopped me before I even found the writing on it. It's extremely unlikely that it was changed sooner than 105k miles, (factory recommended interval), as it's a very expensive service for a consumer and of course gives zero reward to them in terms of performance. IOW, the car drives the same when they pick it up after charging $1200 on their card as it did when they dropped it off.

This is a clean car but it still has its factory installed, 150k miles struts and shocks present, (and rides like a marshmallow). No way on god's earth did they do the T-belt job ahead of schedule, it may have been later. It had one owner since new.

I'm good w the timing belt that is on it but I appreciate the input. I will definitely do the transmission service unless I can determine that it's also been done already, IOW, new looking fluid.