Cambelt Issue?

[WaveyDavey]

I had the cambelt on the Superb done last week (CR140) as the car is five years old in November. It was done at my local VW specialist who look after both our cars.

Since it was done though I've noticed a slight whine when accelerating. It's only really noticeable when in traffic and constantly accelerating / braking etc.... Once up to speed you don't notice it. It's also probably more noticeable to me because it never did it before, that I can remember, rather than it being really loud etc.... With the car parked and the bonnet up and some revs on the engine the whine is a little more noticeable.

I called in at the place yesterday and they had a quick look and listen and said everything was looking ok and the noise was there but not what they would class as enough to be an issue and that they have done a few CRs and they have all had a slight whine after replacing the cambelt. They said the first couple they actually re-did the cambelt again only to get the same slight whine again each time. They also use VW parts etc.... As any dealer would so it's not that they have used cheap parts either.

They've advised me to keep an eye on it for another week or two and if it gets any worse to come straight back in but if it doesn't get any worse then it'll be fine. Now these guys usually really know their VAG stuff and have given me plenty of really really good advice in the past but I'm always concerned about cambelt issues and the damage that can be done.

[StuartTunstall]

This would worry me...

 

 "they have done a few CRs and they have all had a slight whine after replacing the cambelt" 

 

I would get a second opinion, maybe from a dealer... maybe they over tension the belt so it is the tensioner that is whining.... (Don't want to scare you Lol) 

 

I work in the motor trade, now at head office but used to sell parts, 9 times out of 10 any warranty claim we had on timing belt kits was a faulty tensioner, and when tested it was almost always down to the belt tension... 

 

Just a thought

[peterposh]

Did they change the pulleys ?

[peterposh]

Does it drive the water pump?

[bigjohn]

I had the cambelt on the Superb done last week (CR140) as the car is five years old in November. It was done at my local VW specialist who look after both our cars.

Since it was done though I've noticed a slight whine when accelerating. It's only really noticeable when in traffic and constantly accelerating / braking etc.... Once up to speed you don't notice it. It's also probably more noticeable to me because it never did it before, that I can remember, rather than it being really loud etc.... With the car parked and the bonnet up and some revs on the engine the whine is a little more noticeable.

I called in at the place yesterday and they had a quick look and listen and said everything was looking ok and the noise was there but not what they would class as enough to be an issue and that they have done a few CRs and they have all had a slight whine after replacing the cambelt. They said the first couple they actually re-did the cambelt again only to get the same slight whine again each time. They also use VW parts etc.... As any dealer would so it's not that they have used cheap parts either.

They've advised me to keep an eye on it for another week or two and if it gets any worse to come straight back in but if it doesn't get any worse then it'll be fine. Now these guys usually really know their VAG stuff and have given me plenty of really really good advice in the past but I'm always concerned about cambelt issues and the damage that can be done.

 

Sounds like it's over tensioned

[StuartTunstall]

My thoughts exactly as I mentioned above... 

 

This comment would concern me  "they have done a few CRs and they have all had a slight whine after replacing the cambelt" 

[WaveyDavey]

I wondered if it was over tensioned..... Now this may be a stupid question but will they be able to adjust it etc.... or is it going to be another new cambelt etc..... Is it something that if it's over tensioned it could ease over a few weeks?

 

 

I might call in at the dealers and ask if someone can just have a listen. It's just how to explain it without them maybe being a bit funny because i had it done elsewhere. I'm thinking about saying something like i have been working away so had it done away from Sheffield while i was away etc.... and i'm back for a few days so wanted a second opinion before heading back away again???

 

 

The place that did it have always been really really good.... Anyone from this area will know how good they are and the guy who runs it. They have done cambelts on our other car before with no probs either.... That's what threw me as normally i would have been happy with their advice but this time it just didn't seem right.

[sherlocks VRS]

I've fitted hundreds of common rail cambelt kits and never had a whine from them after fitment, I would suggest its been over-tightened, Although there isn't much adjustment on the adjuster?

Did you have a full kit with pulleys and tensioner and waterpump? and did you have a aux belt as well? 

[WaveyDavey]

I've fitted hundreds of common rail cambelt kits and never had a whine from them after fitment, I would suggest its been over-tightened, Although there isn't much adjustment on the adjuster?

Did you have a full kit with pulleys and tensioner and waterpump? and did you have a aux belt as well?

I'm assuming from this that it was a full kit.......

"We only use Original Equipment Manufacturer belt kits which include the tensioner, any idlers and the belt itself. We always replace the water pump (if driven by the belt) and only ever use Genuine Volkswagen pumps. When we replace the pump the coolant system is drained and the additive replaced with Genuine Volkswagen G13 coolant additive, which is capable of withstanding temperatures of minus 36 degrees Centigrade".

[WaveyDavey]

Been out in the car today and didn't actually notice it very much.... In fact I think I slightly heard something a couple of times..... Like I said in my first post I think the reason I notice it is because I can't remember it from before and not because it is a loud whine.

[MarkTB]

I've always use Volks-Tek in Dronfield. They are really good guys and they'll have a listen for you no quibble. I've nipped in with queries that haven't led to any work for them and they've always been really helpfull! Maybe saves the awkwardness of asking the stealer??

[WaveyDavey]

I might try them Mark.... I have a couple of people I can ask to have a listen over the next week or two. I'll report back here with the outcome.

[WaveyDavey]

Just an update and to put this one to bed i think...... I got a second opinion last night at a Brisky meet. I asked a fellow member, who works for VW at one of their dealerships in the service department, to have a listen to see if it sounded out of the ordinary and the outcome was...... "Sounds ok to me". We then had a listen to his own Octy vRS which is on it's third cambelt and that had a similar sound when revved. 

 

 

So it looks like the specialists were right and there should be nothing to worry about. 

 

Again just to point out it was never a sound that you could hear over the sound of the engine but just a very very slight noise that you usually don't even notice unless you specifically listen out for it. I'm also still not 100% certain it didn't do it beforehand. I've realised i notice more after i've been driving the wife's mk1 Fabia vRS and then go back to the CR diesel in the Superb.

 

 

 

Anyway it all seems to be nothing to worry about.

[lichfielddriver]

Q. If a belt is changed and inside (say) 10,000 miles it breaks is a garage liable for the collateral damage or just the belt?

[WaveyDavey]

Not 100% sure but the place that did mine said that they were covered under warranty for 12 months. They seemed to make out as though it covered all damage when they were telling me.

[james0james]

Hopefully the above will be a rare occasion,the garage could be a high street car franchise or a guy working out of his shed in back garden but the rules are the same.

 

Its all down to the sale of goods and services act,we all know about that .and .

 

The above garage business will be aware of the said act and they have insurance to protect themselves,all sounds good  .

 

 not really as the insurance is just to cover their legal costs,so they can employ a legal team and have a very limited liability to the extent they would just legally need to reimburse you the cost of the parts used,not much of use when you need a new engine. .

 

So before having a cam belt changed get it in writing (or use your camera/phone covertly) to record what would be their attitude if the engine became unservicable in a reasonable time after work completion. That works for a lot of trades,believe me its worth doing. 

 

James.