VW Polo cam belt

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#1307708 19-May-2015 11:29

Slightly off-topic, but can anyone explain why all cars don't use chains? Is there something inherently better about belts?

Handsomedan

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#1307712 19-May-2015 11:34

mattwnz: I would suggest reading the dog an lemon guide for the model, as that should contain a lot of useful info. It will probably be the best investment you can make when it comes to researching.

I would suggest NOT reading that nonsense, as his opinions on all cars of European manufacture are skewed...it would appear he is not a fan and feels everyone should share his view.

A good source of information (and having inexpensive repairs/maintenance) is www.vask.org.nz

It's the VW/Audi Sport Klub (of which I am a member) and they have some very knowledgeable folk on there who are always willing to give sound advice.

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#1307713 19-May-2015 11:35

Having a cam belt go in my Mitsubishi Pajero, I can't strongly enough recommend you do it early and often because compared to the cost of repair, preventive replacement is a pittance. I think it was $1200 to replace and 8500 to repair!

Thankfully I only had to pay $1200 of it.

These days I don't consider cars which have cam belts, only chains or other mechanisms.

insane

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#1307720 19-May-2015 11:59

trig42: Slightly off-topic, but can anyone explain why all cars don't use chains? Is there something inherently better about belts?

Quiter, less vibration and possibility of harmonic damage to the engine. Chains do stretch, so if a cambelt is changed as required should provide better timing / engine performance / economy over the life of the engine.

- in theory

freitasm

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#1307733 19-May-2015 12:14

Handsomedan: A good source of information (and having inexpensive repairs/maintenance) is www.vask.org.nz

That domain is flagged as distributing malware.

Sidestep

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#1307737 19-May-2015 12:20

trig42: Slightly off-topic, but can anyone explain why all cars don't use chains? Is there something inherently better about belts?

There's not a lot of difference.

When manufacturers engineer an engine they make lots of cost vs benefit asessments - likely life vs cost, noise issues, weight penalty incurred etc.

On light duty (car, ute) engines belts generally win slightly. But it's a close call.

For instance Subaru needed a way to run the cams on a pair of horizontally opposed heads.
On their 4 cylinder engines a long belt's used, on their 6 cylinders (slightly higer value engine) it's a chain.

Chains are a bit more expensive, heavier, noiser and more complicated, require lubrication, usually a tensioner, but generally last longer.
In my experience the (often hydraulic) tensioner's usually the failure point.

On the above Subaru, you'll need to replace the belt every 100km, the chain should last 300km or more.

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#1307738 19-May-2015 12:22

Chains are often regarded as lasting the life of the engine which can mean anything but usually long enough for 1st owner and maybe 2nd. Some engines have had trouble with oil pressure driven chain tensioners once the engine starts to get a bit sludged up or chain guides wearout. Chains aren't guaranteed to be trouble free.

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Handsomedan

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#1307745 19-May-2015 12:36

freitasm:
Handsomedan: A good source of information (and having inexpensive repairs/maintenance) is www.vask.org.nz

That domain is flagged as distributing malware.

Crikey!

Handsome Dan Has Spoken.
Handsome Dan needs to stop adding three dots to every sentence...

Handsome Dan does not currently have a side hustle as the mascot for Yale

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insane

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#1307750 19-May-2015 12:39

Handsomedan:
freitasm:
Handsomedan: A good source of information (and having inexpensive repairs/maintenance) is www.vask.org.nz

That domain is flagged as distributing malware.

Crikey!

Has been like that for years... I believe it's actually clean, domain owner just hasn't requested it to be re-crawled

mattwnz

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#1307763 19-May-2015 13:30

Handsomedan:
mattwnz: I would suggest reading the dog an lemon guide for the model, as that should contain a lot of useful info. It will probably be the best investment you can make when it comes to researching.

I would suggest NOT reading that nonsense, as his opinions on all cars of European manufacture are skewed...it would appear he is not a fan and feels everyone should share his view.

A good source of information (and having inexpensive repairs/maintenance) is

It's the VW/Audi Sport Klub (of which I am a member) and they have some very knowledgeable folk on there who are always willing to give sound advice.

A lot of the Dog and Lemon guide is actually factual, based on recall notices and other drivers feedback. But any research should be taken with a grain of salt, and do research from multiple sources. I have owned 4European cars myself, and all have suffer from reliability and electrical problems, and the Dog and Lemon guide picked up all of those problems when I read it after the fact. So I have a lot of faith in it that the information is good.The Japanese cars I have owned since have all been good and reliable without electrical problem.

The website you suggested doesn't appear to be a good one, as I get a malware warning. I would suggest removing the link.

mattwnz

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#1307765 19-May-2015 13:34

insane:
Handsomedan:
freitasm:
Handsomedan: A good source of information (and having inexpensive repairs/maintenance) is www.vask.org.nz

That domain is flagged as distributing malware.

Crikey!

Has been like that for years... I believe it's actually clean, domain owner just hasn't requested it to be re-crawled

If it was clean, it would be removed automatically. This page shows it has some major problems https://sitecheck.sucuri.net/results/vask.org.nz

Bung

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#1307787 19-May-2015 14:05

mattwnz:If it was clean, it would be removed automatically. This page shows it has some major problems https://sitecheck.sucuri.net/results/vask.org.nz

If you check the Blacklist status on the site you refer to vask is flagged on Google Safe Browsing and clean on 9 other sites. The problem seems to be a link somewhere to a "ddns.info" site that has been linked to malware in the past.

mattwnz

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#1307815 19-May-2015 15:03

Bung:
mattwnz:If it was clean, it would be removed automatically. This page shows it has some major problems https://sitecheck.sucuri.net/results/vask.org.nz

If you check the Blacklist status on the site you refer to vask is flagged on Google Safe Browsing and clean on 9 other sites. The problem seems to be a link somewhere to a "ddns.info" site that has been linked to malware in the past.

I have dealt with client websites who have been hacked and had malware uploaded to them, and the actual file that has been uploaded can be difficult to track down, as you sometimes have to trawl through thousands of files. But once removed, it then gets removed by the blacklists automatically after a period of time, or you can request it be manually removed too. But if it is manually removed, and then appears again, it is a sign that there is still a problem.

kiwitrc

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#1307875 19-May-2015 16:38

I wouldn't go near a car that required the cam belt to be replaced every 4 years.

Insanekiwi

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#1307902 19-May-2015 18:08

Where are you based freitasm?

Don't spend beyond 1200 dollars on cambelt kit and water pump replacement. I would recommend an independent VW specialist rather than going through big dealers - unless you have been servicing the car religiously through particular dealer and have good relationship.

I normally look at the age of the belts at around 8 years or 100km. Also depends on whether this is an import (mileage may not be as accurate as it says) and how it was kept and driven. i.e. for cars stored in cool garage at all times, and driven gently (as above) vs. cars sitting under NZ sun all day and driven in short distance at bursts of speed (may be 5-6 years or 80km)

I would say if you intend to keep the car for little while longer - wait till next year and replace it. That would make it 8 years but less than 80km most likely.

If you are in Auckland - I would recommend Brodie European. He does a good job at a competitive pricing.

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