Timing belts are fun

[gtiador]

So as I got off on El Toro last night on my way to the OC In-N-Out meet, I hear that ominous clicking I've heard so much about as I sat at the light waiting to go into the shopping center. Then the gurgle clickclicktearclickclick gurgle dead that quickly followed. A couple good samaritans helped me push my car into the Chevron right there and then AAA showed up pretty quick and took me home.

This is my first real issue I've had with my car, and according to what I've researched, a potentially very costly one. Now here's the point of this thread:

If I was at a dead stop when my timing belt went, then can I expect a lot less damage than if it failed when I was doing 70 on the 5, right? I did try restarting it several times in a small fit of panicked denial before getting out and pushing it out of traffic, but that wouldn't destroy the head, would it?

Well Larry @ Commonwealth VW seems to think so. He didn't seem to care that I was at a dead stop when he sounded so sure that timing belt failures = $4500 for a new cylinder head. Now I'm not sure what to do at all. I can't get my car down there until Saturday the 9th, but luckily my folks have an extra car I can drive for this week.

And before I get a barrage of 1.8T-savvy people telling me, yes the timing belt and water pump was done since I've had the car. I got it with 52K on the clock and now it's at 90, and VW did it around 70.

Does anyone have an experience with this happening to them? I need all the tips and extra confidence I can take until this problem is solved.

[fixmy59bug]

Only 20K on the new belt? I doubt that is the problem. However it is still possible depending on a couple questions.

When you did the belt and waterpump, Did you also replace the tensioner roller and dampener?

Have you pulled the timing belt cover off to see if the belt is still in tact?

[gtiador]

I haven't gotten a chance to start looking under the hood until about now since I've been pretty busy today, but I've kind of just been reading up about stuff on Vortex. I did find this though:

1.8T Timing Belt Premature Failure Class Action Lawsuit!!!!!

The link above outlines a recall for Passats and TTs, but after reading a few other threads, I have a bad feeling that when I asked VW about the timing belt/water pump service that I might not have explicity told them to change it, but just to do whatever was recommended (I was still a mechanical noob 20K miles ago). But according to the worried guy in the thread linked below, apparently they only check it for condition under normal maintenance around the 80K mark.

http://forums.vwvortex.com/zerothread?id=3934445

So now I'm thinking this one's on me. That kind of makes me feel a little bit better somehow. Less people to gripe at I guess. I'll know for sure once I see my service record. I know I remember talking to a service guy about it, but I don't remember paying for it.

Plus my big box from Germany just showed up, so that kinda lightened my spirits too

[gtiador]

Just pulled the belt cover off, and the combination of the teeth being intact on the cam wheel and the wheel not moving when I tried to start it makes me think there are teeth missing down by the crank. The belt's still nice and tight though, but it definitely doesn't look new. I guess I should have made sure they changed it when I mentioned it.

[Carlos]

There is probably damge to the head already. Did you also replace the timing belt tensioner and roller as well? Most of the it is the tensioner that causes the issue. If you need more advise from a tech feel free to pm me.

[joe18tbo112]

maybe you had the serp belt replaced and not the timing belt? or maybe just the water pump was replaced and not the belt. it should cost around $1000+ for timing belt, waterpump and thermostat at a dealership. Anyways, I just did a cylinder head on a 18t due to a broken belt. the repair bill was right around $4400. i've seen belts break anywhere from 75k miles on up.

[gtiador]

Well the thing is that I don't think they replaced any of it. I think everything is 90K miles old. I think they only checked to see that it was all in normal running condition rather than changing it out. I probably didn't make it a point to tell them to go ahead and change them regardless of whether they looked ok.

[joe18tbo112]

did you pay anything for them to change anything?

[gtiador]

did you pay anything for them to change anything?

After looking back at all my receipts, no, I didn't. They probably just checked it.

[themandillon]

timing belts are a bitch. When my gti got to 80k every time i started the car i got scared.

good luck getting it sorted out!

[T-Red]

Well Larry @ Commonwealth VW seems to think so. He didn't seem to care that I was at a dead stop when he sounded so sure that timing belt failures = $4500 for a new cylinder head. Now I'm not sure what to do at all. I can't get my car down there until Saturday the 9th, but luckily my folks have an extra car I can drive for this week.

I had a similar problem with my TDI a couple years ago, actually caused by some work done at a VW dealership.

I had the head rebuilt by one of the best guys in the country -- he does great work for people all over the US and has customers in Canada as well.

My total cost for parts, including a new deluxe timing belt kit, was around $1300. Labor to reinstall the head and the new TB brought my total cost up to around $2100. I cannot imagine paying $4500 for a 1.8T head rebuild, that seems like an incredible waste of money.

If you want the name and number of my rebuilder, send me a PM. I don't know whether he has any spare 1.8T heads in stock, but if he does then he would not even have to wait for yours to arrive at his shop, he could ship one to you as soon as Monday.

[lifeisshort117]

my 80k service is comin up at Riverside VW.
im at 78k right now.
i thought all along that at the 80k service, they install a new belt and all that.

are you telling me that they dont actually do that?
and that i have to pay for it?
i paid like an extra 2800 dollars when i got my car for that exact reason; to not have to pay for it.

wtf im confused.



BTW im not trying to thread jack

[mike]

So what is the prognosis?

The 1.8T timing belt is a bitch, and needs to be done every 60K on the nose. Anymore then that and you are on borrowed time. You think thats a bitch, talk to the B5 S4 guys about how much it is to do a t-belt and when things go wrong with that, or the V8 thats in the A6/A8.......

[T-Red]

There are many reputable independent shops, some which have been in business for 10-20 years or more, which specialize in Volkswagens. In many cases some very good mechanics who worked at VW dealerships just got sick and tired of the BS so they went to work for themselves. I would trust these people far more than I would trust any VW dealership, whether in SoCal or anywhere else in the US. (apparently the Canadian dealerships are better.)

[lifeisshort117]

yeah that doesnt surprise me.

well im going to talk to vw of riverside tomorrow and see exactly what the deal is.
if so, im gonna get a quote from them and then go to genesis. hahah.

[gtiador]

@ JR: Expect to pay for it if your car isn't under warranty. Mine's not so the only thing I get for free at Commonwealth is a cup of water and paint swirls.

@ Mike: I know I'm luckier than the plenty of of B5 S4 guys I've heard stories about

Anyways, the head was opened up and all the valves are bent and apparently there's some slight damage elsewhere on the bottom side of the head, so the whole thing is being replaced per my dad's I-don't-want-you-driving-my-car-all-week mentality. Luckily my folks are helping me out with cost since I'm in no position to even begin to afford a repair like this on my own. The new head should arrive today and I should have my car back sometime near the end of this week.

And now I know to keep on that t-belt like a mofo

[lifeisshort117]

damn son.

well lets hope you get your car back sooner and not later.
sorry to hear about the damage, i guess what we could say to that is shit happens.

[gtiador]

damn son.

well lets hope you get your car back sooner and not later.
sorry to hear about the damage, i guess what we could say to that is shit happens.

That's been my mantra for the past 5 days

[T-Red]

Luckily my folks are helping me out with cost since I'm in no position to even begin to afford a repair like this on my own. The new head should arrive today and I should have my car back sometime near the end of this week.

Did you decide to go ahead with the $4500 deal?

[gtiador]

Nah it ended up being cheaper than I'd expected. Ironic since the damage was more extensive than I thought it would be, but I'm not complaining. Car should be back on the road by this weekend