Cambelt Garage in Coventry/Birmingham

[PhilH]

Hi, I've just bought a 53 Ghia TDI 130 and although the guy has written in the service book that the cam belt was changed in April 2010, there's no paperwork to back it up.  I'm now doubting it. I've rang the garage who have stamped the book but they don't keep records and couldn't help.

It's done 78k, only 28k since the apparent change. Even if the belt was done, there's no evidence that the pensioners or water pump was done. There is evdidence of a temp sensor change 4 month after though ( I think I read often the temp sensor needs changing after a water pump change)

I guess a visual check won't help much?

Can anyone recommend a trusted independent garage to do the belt, tensoiners and water pump in the Coventry or Birmingham area?

[Mirez]

Nope can't help with a recommendation however a visual inspection may well help as decent quality belts normally have a date stamped on them.

Never heard that the temp sensor fails after a pump change...

[PhilH]

Cheers for the reply. I'll have a look and perhaps take some pictures to get some opinions on condition. You would have to think that the tensioners would have been done at the same time. I guess there are garages that would just do the belt out there...

[Mirez]

There are LOTS that would just do the belt - although I wouldn't recommend it! IIRC then the tensioners are scheduled for every second or third belt change so they may not have been due. 60K would have been it's first mileage scheduled belt. Any weird grumbling noises?

[PhilH]

No grumbling noises that I'm aware of but the car is new to me. To be fair I've only done a few hundred miles in it. I  have an odd clunking which apparently could be the arbs or somebody has suggested the roll restrictor bolt sheering.

Me and a mate are getting it up on some axle stands on Saturday (although the weather isn't looking very promising) to change the arbs and have a good look top and bottom. I'll inspect the belt at the same time.

So if the tensioners weren't done, isn't 10 years on the same ones not good? What about the water pump?

[PhilH]

Are there any signs which might give me a hint that the water pump is on its way out? Or is the first sign a new head gasket?

[Mirez]

Don't change the ARB links on axle stands! You'll make the job SOOO much harder then it needs be - have a look in the reference library as this has been covered in there but you wan't the car on its wheels on a level surface.

10 years on the tensioners is ok, not ideal, but if its not noisy or rattly then they are probably ok
Water pump failure normally becomes obvious by the temperature rising but only when it's being pushed (ie, long uphill section). If the auxiliary / secondary water pump is in good condition then it's unlikely to cause a head issue unless the temperature is allowed to go way up the scale.

[PhilH]

Thanks again for the help I'm getting on this site, I think I'd be lost without it!

I inspected the cambelt today and all I could really find out was that is was a vw part. Which doesn't tell me anything. I wasn't entirely how to turn the engine manually to inspect the entirety of the belt. Surely t can't be the original 10 year old belt!?

I couldn't detect any cracking, I tried to take a few pics but not sure how helpful these are...

I've had a quote for Ã,£325 for belt kit, water pump and power flush. But I have other issues to try to get sorted before throwing any money at it 

[PhilH]

I've just read something about the date stamp on the timing belt. When I looked at it yesterday I could see a long number which ended in 03 (which could mean it's the original belt!)  but the format didn't seem right so I guessed that it wasn't the a date stamp, it was faded so had to read. I've just read that the date could be - day week month year - if that was the case perhaps this was a time stamp and it is the original belt.

Still, it doesn't look bad.

[Chrispb]

For peace of mind I would always change belt and tensioner/idler regardless of mileage then you know it's done, also best to do water pump at the same time.

[PhilH]

Good advice, which I will take 

Before going with either http://www.iautouk.com/ or http://www.thevassspecialists.co.uk/about-us.php both coming back at about Ã,£325 for the cambelt kit and water pump, can anyone make a recommendation. Coventry/Birmingham/Derby/Burton areas.

Cheers 

I think I know the answer but before I attempt to change the engine oil, it doesn't need changing for a cambelt change does it?