My 2000 Jetta GL has a manual transmission and a 2.0L gasoline engine. The maintenance schedule on the vw website says the timing belt tensioner should be replaced at 40000 miles. When I called up the dealer to get prices, he said it need not be changed before 105 K miles. A mechanic told me I need to replace timing belt, tensioner and water pump at 60K miles.
Who is correct?
How much should the labor for it cost in time and $ (Northern Virginia)?
Where can I get an authentic maintenance schedule?
I'm looking right now at the MY2000 maintenance schedule for the 2.0 engine in my Bentley manual, and it does not call for tensioner replacement at all. The 1.8T and the 2.8 both require replacement at
105,000 mi, but not the 2.0.
Conventional wisdom says to replace the timing belt at 60,000. Bentley says 90,000. Common sense says that since the water pump is driven by the timing belt, you replace it whenever you replace the timing belt.
I had the timing belt and water pump replaced last week in my 2001 Jetta
2.0, approximately 60,000 mi. The belt looked perfect, no signs of wear or imminent failure at all. The water pump showed a couple of cracks in the impeller around the circumference of the shaft. Some people have their belts break at 60,000 and never have a water pump problem at all, so the correct answer is: Who the hell knows for sure? You play it conservative, because the consequences of belt failure are big-time, and replace both at 60k. Cost me $370 total, and that's really the only repair cost I've ever had with this car, so I can't buck too much.
I think every owner should get the Bentley manual. If nothing else, it's fascinating reading and really gives you a lot of admiration for the complexity of modern vehicles. It's got all the maintenance schedules in it, along with anything else you want to know.
Thanks! That is helpful. I guess the mechanic is going by conventional wisdom.
However a lot of the messages on this board seem to indicate that VW would cover the replacement of the belt if it failed under the 100K /
10 year warranty, and that there would be no damage to a 2.0L gasoline engine if the belt broke (damage to the diesel engine with zero clearance, though). What do you think? I don't want to spend the $400 odd until I have to.
, and that there would be no damage to a 2.0L gasoline
This one's a problem. I researched this on the 'net, and found equally-credible-appearing sources saying both that the 2.0L engine is an interference and non-interference engine. Damned if I know for sure. Dealer says it's an interference engine, Bentley doesn't offer an opinion.
I do know this, though: Whether the 2.0 is an interference engine or not, it definitely will not run if the timing belt breaks. I want to avoid being stranded somewhere, whether the valves are bent or not, know what I mean?
AFAIK the timing belt in the VW 2.0l 8V engine should last past 100K miles, but 140K is pushing it's limit! Also it should not cause any damage to the engine if the belt breaks. Now driving it at the redline and it breaks...........all bets are off! lol
It least have it inspected to see if you notice any cracking or oil soaking or unusual patterns that might be caused by a failing tensioner. It should only take a couple of minutes to peak at it. Oh and listen for any noises from the tensioner.
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