Well - Today was interesting!

Car booked in to my local mechanic to change the cam follower.

Engine set to TDC, followed by WTF?! from the mechanic. I went to see what the issue was.......

A nasty 4" gash straight through the cam belt length ways! Bottom pulley of cam belt also loose, where the previous mechanic had rounded all 6 bolts and given up trying to tighten them!!

On the plus side, after 97000 miles, the cam follower only showed slight wear and metal. Replacing that $26 part just saved my engine.

My mechanic was shocked it hadn't already failed. It would appear the belt has somehow rubbed on the inside of the cam belt cover. The inside of the cover was smashed up, and the plastic had melted in areas.

All being sorted now though! It only went in for the follower change and uprated DV.

Very relieved!

Lucky escape!

I've never been so annoyed and yet so happy at the same time, whilst parting with my money!

Who last changed the belt!?

Not too sure mate - Was done at 73000 miles. The cambelt cover needs replacing as it is shot internally. We're completely baffled as to how this has occurred. The car is also mapped!

That's a shame, I'd loved to have seen the guys face when you showed him the rounded-off bolts!

Very lucky escape, there is already a failed cambelt thread on the first page of this forum!

I would love to see the bloke face when showing him said bolts. Good job my local mechanic is a VAG enthusiast and awesome mechanic. He'll sort it all.

I've only had the car a couple of months. I'm just happy it was caught in time. Honestly could not have had more than a few hundred miles left in the belt - at most!

Calmed down now, I was ****ed off!

Now I'm looking at it this way. I spare no expense on my cars, they're my hobby. I'll get everything replaced (coilpacks already done).

At least I'll know it has all been done properly!

Go and buy a lottery ticket!

seriously look on the bright side-

1/ You've got a good mechanic

2/ If you weren't so enthusiastic it'd all have ended in tears very shortly. Then you would have been REALLY upset. Think of all the money you've saved by spotting it and go and treat the other 1/2!

That's what I'd do....not

Haha, I'm more likely to treat the mechanic for spotting it!

Brakes, clutch and air intake upgrades next. I'm justifying these to myself by stating, they would of equalled the cost of a new engine haha.

Haha, I'm more likely to treat the mechanic for spotting it!

Brakes, clutch and air intake upgrades next. I'm justifying these to myself by stating, they would of equalled the cost of a new engine haha.

That's exactly the logic I use to justify buying stuff I do not necessarily need all the time.