Cambelt + Water Pump Replacement - Official guidance

I've just paid £1280 for cambelt kit, oil pump belt,front crank seal and haldex service.
6 year old t6 with 30k
Oil pump belt change so early is nice precaution measure but maybe a bit of an overkill. Unbelievable prices comparing to the cost of the service parts but that what you pay for an hour for the work.
 
CAAx and CFCA engines don't have a flange. Probably a good idea to replace the seal on the crankshaft although I didn't hear specific complaints.

Timing kit for CAAx and CFCA - 03L198119D, INA kit without pump - INA 530 0550 10, with pump: 530055032.
BEWARE: INA belts with "Made in PL" label are shit. If you get one like this, just buy a Conti belt separately (CONTITECH CT1139).
Contitech full timing kits imho are not optimal even though they cost more than INA - the bearings and pump are likely from their chinese factories (INA is slovakia).

INA full timing kit with pump is around 128 eur.
Thanks for your reply. For the aux belt, what do you recommend? Is the contitech 6PK1555K4 good? EU5 T6 highline 140 with A/C Caac engine.
 
Apart from the heat ATM, this topic is scrambling my mind. If for example VW commercial sent it to me in writing, that the cambelt and water pump should not need changing until 140K and no age limit, and then it did happen to break, surley they would be liable for repair?
Not that I am a tight Git, and not that I want anything to go wrong, but it is just baffling me on whether to shell out the money for a replacement kit or not?
2017 plate, 150, done 19k so 9 years old. It was recalled in the second year as I recall to have the belt changed becuase of a faulty batch..
 
Apart from the heat ATM, this topic is scrambling my mind. If for example VW commercial sent it to me in writing, that the cambelt and water pump should not need changing until 140K and no age limit, and then it did happen to break, surley they would be liable for repair?
Not that I am a tight Git, and not that I want anything to go wrong, but it is just baffling me on whether to shell out the money for a replacement kit or not?
2017 plate, 150, done 19k so 9 years old. It was recalled in the second year as I recall to have the belt changed becuase of a faulty batch..
I have a T6 102 68 plate self converted campervan with only 20,500 and have exactly the same thoughts. I called the VW central telephone line and asked them directly the same questions. The answer was 140K and no time limit but it still sits on my mind. My T6 runs well and even though I could pay out the £1k for the cambelt and water pump I would then be worried that they actually did the job properly and then I start to get problems with the van for the first time ever since I got it in 2019 with 5k on the clock. They won't tell you not to get it done obviously. I think I will get it done this autumn though.

Anybody on the forum tell me how I can check that the work has been done (by e.g. putting a bit of paint on the current belt) as the belt sits behind a cover?
Forgive me if I seem untrusting re garages, but I had issues with a garage and another vehicle many years ago and find myself wary.

Might sell it as I don't use it as much as I anticipated. The 1st question will be asked by any prospective buyer "has the cambelt been done?"

P.s. wife does the shopping in her car ;)
 
I have a T6 102 68 plate self converted campervan with only 20,500 and have exactly the same thoughts. I called the VW central telephone line and asked them directly the same questions. The answer was 140K and no time limit but it still sits on my mind. My T6 runs well and even though I could pay out the £1k for the cambelt and water pump I would then be worried that they actually did the job properly and then I start to get problems with the van for the first time ever since I got it in 2019 with 5k on the clock. They won't tell you not to get it done obviously. I think I will get it done this autumn though.

Anybody on the forum tell me how I can check that the work has been done (by e.g. putting a bit of paint on the current belt) as the belt sits behind a cover?
Forgive me if I seem untrusting re garages, but I had issues with a garage and another vehicle many years ago and find myself wary.

Might sell it as I don't use it as much as I anticipated. The 1st question will be asked by any prospective buyer "has the cambelt been done?"

P.s. wife does the shopping in her car ;)
I can’t see a professional garage pretending to change a cambelt, it’s just not worth their reputation. Components are date stamped so I’d say your water pump failed in a few years if it was still the original you could prove it hadn’t been chnaged.

You can remove the top belt cover fairly easily to inspect your current belt and it will be fairly obvious if a new one has been fifteen or personally at the age of your belt I would at least visually inspect it
 
I can’t see a professional garage pretending to change a cambelt, it’s just not worth their reputation.
I've had it happen to a family member, who was a suspicious sort and marked everything with UV pen before taking the car in to a franchised dealer.

The company is no longer trading under that name so I would be happy to name them if the mods permit.
 
I can’t see a professional garage pretending to change a cambelt, it’s just not worth their reputation. Components are date stamped so I’d say your water pump failed in a few years if it was still the original you could prove it hadn’t been chnaged.

You can remove the top belt cover fairly easily to inspect your current belt and it will be fairly obvious if a new one has been fifteen or personally at the age of your belt I would at least visually inspect it
After a few years, a water pump might be difficult to determine it's age. I'm sure you are correct for the vast majority of garages.

I would like to find instruction on an east method of viewing the cambelt without it being a major job
 
Last edited:
Back
Top