TheSamba.com :: View topic - what happens if timing belt breaks on wife's car??

Mon May 12, 2008 2:50 pm

My wife has a 98 Cabrio 2.0. The local VW dealer would love to replace the timing belt for $1100. With this engine what happens when it breaks? If it would just stop running I'm going to wait, but if all manner of chaos would ensue then I guess I'll find someone to replace the timing belt.

Thanks.

Mon May 12, 2008 2:53 pm

If it is an 'interferance' motor, a broken timing belt can cause some problems if valves are open and pistons hit them and will cost you more than 1100 in the long run. 1100 does seem kinda steep but then again, I got raped by a Firestone shop last fall when my water pump went out on a Sunday morning in my 93 eurovan and cost me over $800. The local shop I take it to normally said it should have cost around 600 or less.

Mon May 12, 2008 6:19 pm

I'm sure they would like to replace the timing belt for $1100 :shock:
I wouldn't put it off, I'd get it done, but elsewhere. It doesn't cost THAT much to do it.

Mon May 12, 2008 6:28 pm

The belt on my wife's 91 Passat 2.0l 16v broke. It had 7 bent intake valves and one broken. The repair bill came to $3800.

BTW.. .the belt was replaced at 60k and broke at 78k. VWoA told me 12 months/12k miles and they would not help.

The dealer gave me 25% off.

That's the way VW treated a 35 year customer. And since then i've owned 3 Honda with my wife's 03 needing two repairs past the warranty period. Honda fixed them both for free.

They now have my loyalty.

Mon May 12, 2008 6:50 pm

I guess a new timing belt is on my list of "fun" ways to help spend my "economic stimulus" check. I found a local guy who said he'd replace the belt for $600. I'll be damned if I'm giving VWoA $1100.

Mon May 12, 2008 9:53 pm

Well, it's not VWoA you're paying, it's your local business that is franchised under VWoA. Still I see where you're coming from.

But really, 1100 bucks for a timing belt job??? Its been like 7 years since I was a full-time mechanic but that job can't be that bad - that's just an 8-valve engine right? I did a timing belt on a 98 Jetta 2.0 that I bought for a friend of mine and I don't think it was no $1100 job. Even 600 seems a bit high, but inflation has really jumped since I worked on them.

Tue May 13, 2008 7:11 am

It was $670 for my daughter's Jetta -- also an ABA engine. There were other little things, too. So, $600 is quite reasonable.

$1,100 sounds more like a timing belt for a TDI.

Anyway, don't put it off. I have heard horror stories.

Tue May 13, 2008 8:40 am

glutamodo wrote: Well, it's not VWoA you're paying, it's your local business that is franchised under VWoA. Still I see where you're coming from.

But really, 1100 bucks for a timing belt job??? Its been like 7 years since I was a full-time mechanic but that job can't be that bad - that's just an 8-valve engine right?

Its been about 5 years since I was a full time mechanic. I just went to the sister dealership of my old employer to get an inspection. I was reading the "menu" of services.........$900 to do a 10,000 mile service on a KIA!!! thats just an oil change and a tranny flush from their description :shock: :shock:

Sun May 18, 2008 11:04 am

And the dealers wonder why people don't want to use them for service? They want $145 for the oil changes for my W8.

Wed May 21, 2008 12:11 pm

ovalteen wrote:
Its been about 5 years since I was a full time mechanic. I just went to the sister dealership of my old employer to get an inspection. I was reading the "menu" of services.........$900 to do a 10,000 mile service on a KIA!!! thats just an oil change and a tranny flush from their description :shock: :shock:

I left as parts manager for KIA Atlanta South 3 years ago, and at that time, we were charging $120-150 for the 10k service. On any model.

Sat May 24, 2008 7:53 pm

:shock:[/quote]

Ovalteen, I love your sig line. So true, so true. :lol:

I swear the commonwealth must heavily invest in monroe or gabriel or something. They never met a hill they couldn't pave over or a tree they couln't go around either.

Thu Oct 09, 2008 8:37 am

Get the timing belt replaced ASAP, my wife’s car 99 passat 1.8T had the timing belt slip and when I removed the head I discovered that all valves were bent and caused damage to the piston tops. It now sits in our garage because I can’t afford a new engine. I am seriously considering parting out the car. Anybody need parts?

Sun Oct 12, 2008 3:50 pm

$1100 :shock: I replaced the timing belt, complete waterpump, thermostat and tensioner in my 1995 Jetta with a 2.0 in three hours while working in the street. I think the parts from autohauz were under $200.

That also included me changing the oil and flushing the coolant.

Sun Oct 12, 2008 11:00 pm

MikeHill on May 12th wrote: My wife has a 98 Cabrio 2.0. The local VW dealer would love to replace the timing belt for $1100. With this engine what happens when it breaks?
Thomas the 66 fastback on Oct 9th wrote: Get the timing belt replaced ASAP
Timely advice :lol: