[tdi-guy]

I am attempting my first timing belt replacement and interested in what people think it will take me to complete the repair. It depends on loads of factors so here is a little info to help color your estimate. I am a marine engineer so I have worked on many diesel engines but usually with connecting rods as big as I am (6 ft), cylinders with 5ft diameters, and you can stand inside the crank case (I have a picture of that somewhere). I am doing this on my 2006 BRM engine, Blauparts parts kit and their special timing belt tools. I have read chittychittybangbang's articles twice for this repair too and it seems straight forward. I will be doing it at my friend's shop where I have access to a lift, air tools, torque wrenchs, engine lifting beam and a helping hand when I need it. I am not trying to race through this, I will be thorough and methodical in my work but I just am not sure if its going to take me three days or four hours. Oh, I guess i should say oil changes take me about 20-30 minuters and changing my brake pads is usually an hour from start to clean up.

Another reason I want to know is because I will be at my friends shop at 3 ish this afternoon and he said he wants to go home at 9 and I am not sure if I can finish it tonight in the 6 ish hours I have. I dont want it to go over into tomorrow morning but if it must I want to mentally prepare to ask my wife to come pick me up!

Thanks for your help with estimating.

Byron

 

[Keithuk]

Timing belt replacement duration

Are you talking about when they should be replaced or how long it talkes?

Volkswagen Jetta (05-11) 1,9D TDI PD 2005-07 Engine code: BRM

Timing belt - Renew Every 80000 miles or 48 months
Timing belt tensioner - Renew Every 160000 miles or 96 months

Repair Time:
Remove and install 2.50 hrs

Whats your mileage?

 

[tdi-guy]

how long it takes

I was looking at how long it would take me to swap it out along with all th other goodies. I was hoping 4 hours at a good easy but focused pace would get it rolling out the door. I have 118K on it, I bought this rig at 80K and the timing belt replacement cost was probably something to do with the sale. I realized this after the fact but truth be told it probably would not have detered me, I have wanted a TDI for a long time and this one became available. I was holding off because I didnt have $1,500 to give a shop and then I stummbled onto the kits and tool rentals to do it yourself, then this site and the instructions here. I am not a huge car buff by any means but good with my hands, have an ability to read and understand directions and enough brain power to stop when something seems off and do a little more research.

So in your opinion other things I should do at 118K where otherwise I have no service history on the car. I am thinking of replacing the manual transmission fluid replacement, brakes and clutch fluid?

Thanks for the advice.

Byron

 

[gt4494]

If you have general mechanical skills and can use tools and follow directions (you sound like you do) I would plan on 4-6 hours.

Do the research, familiarize yourself with the procedures in the FAQ and just dig in.

 

[dieselsquared]

Is it verified that VW specifies 80,000 miles or is it still inspect at 80,000 and change at 100,000 miles? The dealer says 100K.

 

[chittychittybangbang]

Vw.com and other places say 80,000 but you could probably get away with 100. Personally, I wouldn't since it's not worth the risk-benefit. But if you're at 81,000 miles I wouldn't stop driving the car. If you're at 120,000 I would stop driving the car and change the belt before moving again.

 

[dieselsquared]

I previously had a 2000 Golf TDI. It was totaled at 325,000 miles. I now have 2006 Jetta TDI. The dealer told me the timing belt was to be changed at 100K but I've read 80K. Since I bought it at 84K, perhaps they were just trying to get out of changing it. I'm now at 98K and getting ready to attempt the change myself.

Thanks for the quick reply!

 

[dieselsquared]

By the way, where in vw.com does it say 80K?

 

[Keithuk]

By the way, where in vw.com does it say 80K?

It doesn't Autodata say 80k and I'm sure VW would back this figure up?

I have 118K on it,

Well at 118k I would change the belt and the tensioner then you know you are safe for another 80k, its a small price to pay if anything went wrong and it broke? If you don't know the service history of the vehicle then you start again?

 

[chittychittybangbang]

By the way, where in vw.com does it say 80K?

it should be somewhere under owner information - maintenance schedules

 

[ironpen]

How much should it cost?

Does anyone know how much dealerships charge to change the timing belt? I have a 2006 Jetta TDI. TIA

 

[YMZ]

Well at 118k I would change the belt and the tensioner...

... as well as the water pump and idler...

Does anyone know how much dealerships charge to change the timing belt? I have a 2006 Jetta TDI. TIA

Too much...

Most dealerships in the U.S. don't have a terribly good reputation for doing this properly or standing behind their work... Would you happen to be taking a trip to the Atlanta area any time soon? There are a couple of well-regarded independents there... (Roger Feldt and Troy Sentz...)

All the best,

Yuri

 

[ironpen]

Yes I do go to Atlanta occasionally. How long does it take to do the job? I don't like the idea of sitting around all day in the waiting room.

 

[chittychittybangbang]

I'd except 1200-1300 and 4-6 hours.

 

[YMZ]

How long does it take to do the job?

It's best to either combine this with another goal for the trip - so that you can leave the car behind (and possibly rent a car for the day), or else make this the only point of the trip and join in the "fun" - learning a thing or two, if you're interested in this type of thing... This is the type of job that I consider making an extra effort to make sure to get done right by someone experienced with the type of engine... I drove for almost 4 hours to get to a TDI-club "guru" for my first (emergency) timing belt replacement... have done the next 5 myself...

4-6 hours.

If nothing goes wrong (or is found to be urgently needed - like a crank seal or something to do with the camshaft, injectors, or maybe a newly discovered broken glow plug...)

Yuri

 

[Keithuk]

I have a 2006 Jetta TDI.

So you have 2 cars but only 1 listed?

Car: 2011 touareg TDI

 

[ironpen]

I do. '06 Jetta TDI and the '11 Touareg TDI. For the life of me, I can't figure out how to add the Jetta. Someone give me a hint please! WELL, with a little persistence I figured it out!!

 

[Keithuk]

Well if you click on User control panel on the bar near the top then click on Edit Your Details and add it at the end of What car model/year do you have textbox.

I see you've done it now?

 

[tdi-guy]

I had three quotes in the Baltimore/DC area of $1,500 from stealerships and independents. I also heard there is a bad track record for doing it correctly and thought if i did it myself i would know it was done if not very well at least with some concenr for the condition of the vehicle after the first drive away. It took me 7 hours from start to finish, taking my time and reading the instructions well at every step.

 

[mattredmond]

I'm curious as to what "I also heard there is a bad track record for doing it correctly" means... Do the stealerships not replace everything they should? Or are engines crapping out after the work is done?