Timing Belt Changed

dingding

HI,

Was looking at a 3 year old car recently, a UK import. On about 60K when all the other similar ones were 110K (Miles)

The said that the timing belt was replaced a few months ago.

VW Passat Diesel 2.0


Would there be a reason for this.

Or would you be suspicious of the car. Just noticed it on the web so I have not bothered to go to view it as it a good bit away.

Anan1

Go through the service history and call all the garages who stamped the book - this will tell you whether the mileage is genuine.

MuppetCheck

Three year old Passat at 60k is a little early for a timing belt change...sounds very suspicious to be...

As above, look at the service history. And maybe an Irish car, the Irish Passats are a better spec anyway and the history is often more verifiable.

supervento

dingding wrote: »

HI,

Was looking at a 3 year old car recently, a UK import. On about 60K when all the other similar ones were 110K (Miles)

The said that the timing belt was replaced a few months ago.

VW Passat Diesel 2.0


Would there be a reason for this.

Or would you be suspicious of the car. Just noticed it on the web so I have not bothered to go to view it as it a good bit away.

it is possible that there was a weep or leak from the water pump and due to water pump being driven by timing belt both were replaced, also possible if a timing belt tensioner or pulley were faulty or noising it would also be another reason as to why a timing belt would be changed before its specific interval. i dont have a link but there is a website which you can check the mot mileage entrys from previous mots with a the code from the v5, i think its a vosa website, remember reading it in the sunday times.

MuppetCheck

supervento wrote: »

it is possible that there was a weep or leak from the water pump and due to water pump being driven by timing belt both were replaced, also possible if a timing belt tensioner or pulley were faulty or noising it would also be another reason as to why a timing belt would be changed before its specific interval. i dont have a link but there is a website which you can check the mot mileage entrys from previous mots with a the code from the v5, i think its a vosa website, remember reading it in the sunday times.

Is it not also possible the seller is talking out of his posterior and the car is being sold ex fleet with the minimum preventative maintenance required and the changing of the best at 3 years old is absolute bollox?

George Dalton

Speaking from experience lots of dealers and garages will change the belt on these fleet cars at 60k miles. Have seen it loads of times on sales cars in our place.

I'm not saying that the car is legit in the OP's case of course, just pointing out that it does happen.

supervento

MuppetCheck wrote: »

Is it not also possible the seller is talking out of his posterior and the car is being sold ex fleet with the minimum preventative maintenance required and the changing of the best at 3 years old is absolute bollox?

without a doubt the seller could be talking out of his arse there is no one doubting that for a second, the OP asked "Would there be a reason for this"



i am just pointing out that there are several reasons why a timing belt may be replaced before its due, i have seen three year old passats as little as 80klms (genuine) having the water pump replaced because it was leaking, there is no one here saying the car is not ex fleet,i know often some fleet companies will extend the service intervals of cars so instead of having a car serviced at as recommended by the manufacturer at every 15,000mls they will often push it out to every 20,000mls so in this particular situation if it was a fleet car and came in for a service with 59,000mls and the timing belt is due on 2.0tdi VAG at 75,000mls the garage will recommend to the fleet company to replace the timing belt as it will be over due (by 5,000 mls) the next time he will have car for servicing, (not to mention the fact that some fleet drivers are often quiet careless regarding service intervals, timing belt intervals etc and because its not their own car and will leave the car go over the mileage before ringing a fleet company to tell them its due) hence having the job done before its due.


to be honest with you MuppetCheck i couldnt disagree more with you in relation the following two statements by you

"Three year old Passat at 60k is a little early for a timing belt change...sounds very suspicious to be..."

&

"the changing of the belt at 3 years old is absolute bollox? "


yes the car is 3 years old but the timing belt is due in 15,000mls anyway.

duploelabs

Apparently nearly all VWs need their timing belt changed every 50-60k

joehig

timing belt change is normally 70k , you were defo right to let that one go