Volkswagen Golf IV (1998 - 2004) - 1.6 petrol timing belt change intervals ?

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Thu 3 Jan 2008 22:08
1.6 petrol timing belt change intervals ? - PA28Flyer
We purchased the Golf 1.6 Mk 4 Match in December 2006 at 30,196 miles fully serviced by the selling VW Specalist. During December 2007 we had the Golf serviced at 36,921 miles (60,00km).

Attached to the invoice was a customer advice notice upon which the Specialist had made the following enteries:
'Recommend cam belt renewal due to age criteria'.
'All tyres down to 4mm of tread' (2.4mm remaining we say).

We have read the Service Schedule serveral times and the only references to the 4 cylinder petrol engine camshaft drive belt are at 90,000km = check, 180,000km = changed on 4 and 5 cylinder petrol engines.

When my wife questioned the reason for the recommended camshaft belt replacement, the Specalist advised, that there had been a policy change by VW.(??)
Having searched the forum, on the subject of Golf camshaft drive belts, we can only come up with discussion relating to the diesel engines.
Can anyone help us with regards to clarification as to when the camshaft drive belt requires replacement? It would also be of help if costings for the replacement were to hand.

Put into the proper drop down menu category: say after me a 1.6 Match isn't a R32 !

Edited by Pugugly {P} on 03/01/2008 at 23:03

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Thu 3 Jan 2008 22:26
Petrol Engine Timing Belt - Pugugly {P}
I know little about the Golfs but wasn't the R32 Mk4 a 6 cylinder petrol.
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Thu 3 Jan 2008 22:38
Petrol Engine Timing Belt - Screwloose

There was a change by VAG to 40,000 miles and 4 years for many of their engines. This was advised to their dealers about two years ago; but I've never seen it published.

If that is a 16-valve unit; [no year/engine details given] it may not even make it that far - I've seen the tensioners collapse at under 20,000.
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Thu 3 Jan 2008 22:59
Petrol Engine Timing Belt - Pugugly {P}
OP says its an R32 by the way he's used the drop down categories.



Doh - knew I was wrong the OP does say what the engine size is in the text ! Anyway I'll re-categorize it now in the drop down menus.

Edited by Pugugly {P} on 03/01/2008 at 23:01

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Mon 14 Jan 2008 16:03
Petrol Engine Timing Belt - PA28Flyer
Thank you for the for the VW release time to their dealers. One would have thought that the dealer would pass such information on to their sales departments. No reference was made, to the reduced time between belt changes, when we looked through the Service Schedule prior to making the purchase.
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Thu 3 Jan 2008 22:41
Timing belt change intervals ? - pinkpanther_75
I queried this when I purchased an Octavia vRS a few months ago. My dealer originally told me it was only due to be changed at 180 KM (approx 120K miles), but after checking with Skoda UK I discovered that VAG had made a decision in 2006 to standardise cambelt changes on all engines (petrol or diesel) at 4 years and/or 40K miles.
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