Close up of the cambelt on the engine

Cambelt Maintenance

A snapped cambelt is no joke, particularly when you see the bill for rebuilding your engine.

Did you know?

If your cambelt breaks, major damage can be caused to engine valves and pistons - damage that can be very costly to put right

If you do get away without major engine damage, cambelt failure will still leave you marooned and requiring vehicle breakdown recovery.

The cambelt is made from a rubber-based compound that deteriorates over time, even with low mileage.

Your Volkswagen's cambelt must be renewed no later than the maximum change interval (this depends on model but typically ranges from 40,000 to 120,000 miles) Or after the recommended four years, whichever is the sooner.

What if I'm unsure whether my cambelt has been replaced or not?

Look in your service book. If your camshaft timing belt (to give it its full name) was replaced by a Volkswagen Authorised Repairer, it should be recorded in the service history.

Unfortunately, it's not possible to carry out a quick visual inspection of cambelt condition. To gain access to the belt, parts of the engine have to be dismantled.

What do we do?

We strip down the relevant parts of the engine and renew the cambelt and cambelt tensioner. Then we reassemble the engine and road test your car.

How often does it need to be changed?

4 - 5 years (4 years for cars registered before September 2009, 5 years thereafter). This may need to be changed sooner for high mileage drivers.

Benefits of having my cambelt changed:

  • Peace of mind knowing excessive wear to your engine and the risk of snapping of the belt have been minimised and that your engine life is prolonged
  • Special offer price with our Fixed Price Servicing for Volkswagens 3-10 years old, up to and including 2.0-litre engines
  • We give a 2-year parts and labour warranty on Volkswagen parts fitted after the manufacturer's warranty has expired.
  • Contact one of our dealerships to book your Cambelt change.

Get in touch to book your cambelt change