Servicing

[MikeFGTI]

Hi,

I have an 06 GTi 2.0 which I have had since last January. It is due a long life service and has about 58k on the clock. There seems to be some confusion about whether the timing chain needs replacing-the VW garage have told me the car has a timing chain AND timing belt-the "chain never needs replacing and the belt will be due to be changed in April when the car is 4 years old."

Can anyone please confirm this is correct?

They have quoted me for a "VTS3" service which needs doing in the next couple of weeks, and then £220.00 to change the belt in April.

Also I think the car is strictly due a brake fluid change-if the brakes feel fine (not spongey etc) is there any need to do this?

Thanks in advance.

Mike

[smartypants]

£220 to change the belt is a steal - just get it done. Its required at 60k or 4 years anyway.

Get the waterpump changed at the same time - its £50-60 quid yet the same cost of labour to do the belt... so well worth doing it at the same time

[MikeFGTI]

Great, thanks-I'll do that.

Are they right about the chain never needing replacing?

Cheers.

[smartypants]

Well I've never had to change the chain on any of my previous cars that one (non-belt) - and done 130k and 100k respectively in them.

But probably wait for someone more authoritative to give you a 100%!

[Gene Hunt.]

Great, thanks-I'll do that.

Are they right about the chain never needing replacing?

Cheers.

.........NO THERE NOT.Had mine done as it was rattling like a bastard.Had mine done under warranty BUT car had had the belt/water pump etc(genuine vw) done as part of the deal of me buying it.
When it was replaced the garage said the chain was so slack it was really easy to pull off the drive gear wheels.Had the tensioner & all other parts replaced as well.Have you got a sort of loud diesel rattle when it's warm ?,mine did & so did a few others on here.This stoped when chain was replaced.

[MikeFGTI]

Mine had a rattle (particularly when starting, but also generally at tick over) which made the engine sound like a diesel. I complained to to VW garage a couple of times whilst the car was still under warranty. They initially denied there was any problem, then when i pushed them finally replaced the chain, tensioner etc. This was about a week before the end of the warranty, and did fix the problem. Unfortunately the rattle came back about 3 months later and I was told by their service manager that their "responsibility ends once the car is out of warranty" in respect of warranty repairs.

I have been meaning to put my thoughts in writing to them about the above, but haven't got round to it yet...