Cambelt + Water Pump Replacement - Official guidance
- Thread starter Cham13
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- cam belt cambelt change
I had mine changed a few weeks ago at an independent in Stroud at 4 years old and just under 12000 miles. Great garage and very competent crew who specialise in VW campervans.
they were surprised at the number of cracks/splits in the cambelt and commented at its poor condition. He also said that the component likely to fail first and cause damage is the new fangled fancy water pump.
they were surprised at the number of cracks/splits in the cambelt and commented at its poor condition. He also said that the component likely to fail first and cause damage is the new fangled fancy water pump.
Hi, they don’t seem to advertise and they don’t have a website.
Just two guys, very professional, who know their stuff and run VW’s themselves.
They have loan cars, a hoist big enough for a LWB and a very nice clean setup.
when i was there they had several other campers in for service and an old split screen classic being fitted with a heater.
S T C Services (Stroud) Ltd
9 Spring Mill Industrial Park, Avening Road, Nailsworth, Gloucestershire, GL6 0BS
01453 839149
Drive past the garden centre and its in a large industrial estate on the left before you reach the Weighbridge Pub (worth a visit for their famous 2in1 pies).
on the same industrial estate, believe it or not, is a huge ships chandlers (Force4) who have a great website should you want any boaty things etc.
They have some great stuff, even stuff you want but don’t need!Oh chandlery, that’s even better than stationary
Force 4 - Chandlery, Marine Electronics & Sailing Clothing
Established for over 40 years, Force 4 Chandlery continue to hand pick the chandlery, clothing, electronics, books, and boat parts featured on the website.
From my experience(...and that was fifteen years ago...) The issue with changing the water pump was more to do with the plastic impellar dropping to pieces and causing the vehicle to overheat. So, where pump replacement would require T/belt removal, and where re-tensioning an old/used belt was not recommended, it was advised to change the pump while the T/belt was being changed....
Personally, whereas a belt/pump change is expensive, an engine is significantly more expensive! Do I Think VW Uk are screwing us over?Quite possibly, but pushing a belt to an unknown limit does run the risk of serious engine damage. I've always seen the expense of a T/belt change as an investment against a very expensive engine repair/replacement. I've seen the damage across a number of manufacturers...real carnage......
Personally, whereas a belt/pump change is expensive, an engine is significantly more expensive! Do I Think VW Uk are screwing us over?Quite possibly, but pushing a belt to an unknown limit does run the risk of serious engine damage. I've always seen the expense of a T/belt change as an investment against a very expensive engine repair/replacement. I've seen the damage across a number of manufacturers...real carnage......
Seems madness (and unacceptable) that the Cambelt needs changing after 4 years when my T6 has only done 31k campervan miles. Price quoted by VW dealership is a whopping £800 (way too expensive)!
My MX5 did 80k with original cambelt without issue so how come VWT6 cambelts don't last a simular time/milage?
Have you read this whole thread?
Thanks for following up on this. A member of the VW California Club also tried to persue this with VWCV UK, and when he asked why the difference from Germany, was told it was based on information “not available to share.” Really.
Don't think il be doing mine at 4 years
Assuming it was an older MX5 then it's a clearance engine so no worries when it snaps other than needing a tow home!
Our van will be 4 years old in october with 54k on the clock, my mate runs an independent garage so i'm going to ask him to check the condition of the belt before automatically changing it. If it does need changing as well as the water pump, it will be interesting to see what he charges me compared to £800 at VW
Belts on diesel engines tend to be wider and hopefully stronger than those on a petrol engine, the higher CR of a diesel does put more strain on the belt...
The point about "clearance" is a good one.... I've seen many petrol engines have a belt strip but not touch a valve, I've never seen a diesel engine that did it's belt "get away with it" Bent valves, snapped camshafts, cracked cam bearings, heads destroyed, cracked valve guides........the list goes on...
The point about "clearance" is a good one.... I've seen many petrol engines have a belt strip but not touch a valve, I've never seen a diesel engine that did it's belt "get away with it" Bent valves, snapped camshafts, cracked cam bearings, heads destroyed, cracked valve guides........the list goes on...
I've never grasped how a high CR (diesel) engine would increase cambelt load when you consider that the crankshaft drives the camshafts. Surely as the compression load is within the cylinder it would only act upon the rods and crank. I appreciate that the poppet valves may need slightly higher force to open but I cannot see this being significantly more, especially when the cam lobes are typically lower.
...Put a spanner on the front pulley and try and turn the engine over by hand, If you then consider that the cam(s) are being dragged around by the grip of those rubber belt teeth ....and remember we also have a much higher CR on a diesel increasing the force required to turn it over....go try it....
