Timing belt

[GolfGL]

My cars comming up to 60k and i want to get the timing belt changed, i heard on another thread to change the tensioner as well, is this important on the golfs? how much should a garage be charging for the labour, tensioner and belt on a MK3 1.8? cheers.

[Speedydub]

deffo have the tensioner done - mine seized up and the belt broke fcuking 4 valves  :-[

Not sure of the cost tho

[gibby]

I'm getting tensioner done on Wednesday so I can let you know cost on Thursday and I reckon ?120 tops for a belt change but that's cheap when you consider the cost of not changing it. Mines a mk1 by the way.

[GolfGL]

Local mechanic said ?100 for belt and labour (is this average ) but just wondering if hed include tensioner or should i say i want it done aswell but just so i know does any one know the cost

[gibby]

?100 sounds more than reasonable to me but I bet it doesn't include the tensioner but get it done while everything is stripped off and it will cost less now. Wish I knew about the tensioner when I had my timing belt changed in January. A guess but I'd reckon no more than ?150 to get timing and tensioner done by this guy.

[VeeDubGTI16v]

you want to get the bits from vw yourself and give them to the mechanic and say fit these cos hell probably use a gsf elastic band for the belt   and definately wont change the tensioner if not mentioned.

[gibby]

GolfGL, I got mine sorted today, cost me ?112, this includes parts and labour. If you get the belt done, get the tensioner done too, timing belt was about ?10 and the tensioner wheel was ?25 so get the tensioner done when doing the belt, see the end of this thread for details -

http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=14285.0

[richy]

alternatively, just buy the parts and do it yourself.