2001 New Beetle 2.0L Gas Timing Belt

That is really peculiar - but I can confirm the statement. In contrast, for the 1.8L turbocharged engine, the timing belt and tensioner are scheduled to be replaced at 100,000 miles.

On the manual TDI, it was 60,000 miles.

I assumed the 2.0L engine was just a bored out version of the 1.8L engine. If this is correct, then it is an interference design.

AC

I'd say that manual was clear. Check every service starting at 60 K miles, if wear or damage is noted replace. If not replace prior to

BTW, define 'gentle miles'...

No damage should occur if the timing belt breaks on your AZG/AEG engine! ;-) I have seen some belts last over 140K miles, but some water pumps not last past 65K miles. The water pump could damage the belt since it is driven by that belt. SO if one goes bad change all! ;-)

That engine will get better when it has over 100K miles on it and it is properly maintained! ;-)

JMHO

Well, in the manual, it clearly states for the TDI engine to "Change" at 40K miles.

But then for the gas engine it gives this vague answer. So, what, bring it to a garage or dealer and how do they check this? Is it hard to get at to even look at? Forgive me if I say I haven't had the best luck with my local VW dealer these days. They told me 60K was "replace". So they're answer is "yes, you need one." If that's the case I guess I better start shopping.

Yeah? ...the brittle plastic impeller syndrome on those??? I did a TB job on an 01 golf 1,8T and "upgraded" the waterpump to one with steel impeller. Just lightly tapping the old one on concrete shattered it like nothing. But the "upgrade" water pump (meyle) left it overheating because the impeller was never attached to the shaft properly and slipping. So he ended up with a VW replacement and I ate doing the job over again, after the endless agravation of bleeding the system and trying to determine what was going on with it!

My experience with timing belts is that they don't so much "wear out" with mileage, but deteriorate with time and mileage. And that deterioration definitely gets accelerated by any oil leaking on it. I also imagine extreme hard running (opposite the "gentle miles"?? ; ) ) maybe adds to it by hotter temps? Mainly, especially city driving... some people who like to drive aggressively (never me, ) may be turning 2 to 3 times the rpms, so really it does total more trips around for the timing belt and must raise the belt temp as well. Not that it wears the teeth down, but heat and flexing breaks it down. Personally, I tend to keep the date of last replacement in mind for "gentle" mileage or low mileage vehicles. LOL, 2001 doesn't seem old but that's going to be 9 years. If it is non-interference, it's WAY less risk involved to go without changing it. I'd even run an interference engine way beyond mileage if I could inspect the whole belt, which is no easy thing to do. So it's safer to just replace it. But on your non-interference engine, if you can just access part of it to get an idea of it's overall condition... or just change it every 10 years, 200k miles like I do on my Camry : ) LOL.

Yes that plastic impeller crap! I have seen one WP seize up too and it took out the belt.

WOW I will have to test all of the metal impeller pumps before installation now and I think I use Meyle or maybe Graf?. Thanks for the tip and sorry you had to do the job twice on that 1.8t engine. Well at least you know that it is done right now and it was not you after all! ;-)

As a follow-up on this, my local private mechanic searched his service database and found documentation that says 2001-2003 2.L "Manufacturer suggests replacement at 105K miles"

lol Yep JUST past the warranty period! ;-)