Cam belt or Cam chain?

[lebjos]

Hey guys,

I've just bought a new Polo Match 1.2 TSI manual (66 plate). I thought it had a chain-driven cam but there seems to be a plastic cover where it should be. Does this mean it's a cam belt instead?


Thanks

[RUM4MO]

Yes, VW Group seemed to be having trouble with getting chains that stayed working okay in these small engines.

So, chain>belt>chain>belt - guess what the next engine will have going by that "series"?

[daydotz]

They went back to cam belts yours will be

[lebjos]

Brilliant

I'll be sure to put some money aside for 40,000 miles then so I don't accidently blow up the interference engine...

[RUM4MO]

I'm not too sure what the miles/years change suggestion is with these engines, but I'll need to find out though. The newer 1.0TSI 3 cylinder engines also have a belt - but at launch it was claimed to last the life of the engine, is that not another way of saying when the belt breaks, replace the engine?!? I'm sure, with time, the suggested miles/years for changing that belt will change!

[KiwiME]

It's a maintenance-free belt now on your EA211 engine.

[RUM4MO]

It's a maintenance-free belt now on your EA211 engine.

Maybe true right now, but I'd be keeping an ear to the ground as, as time moves on, engine suppliers tend to find that they need to "modify" their service procedures!

Ford needed to do that in the 1980s with the CVH engines, Vauxhall needed to do that with the GSI 2000 engines (dropped from 90K miles to 35K miles over night!), and no doubt many more.

[joe6]

Had a Vauxhall coupe 2.2 (2000 registration) and that has now done 160k (now my daughters) with a chain drive and still not noisy. VW seem to have lost the plot with chains!!

[calummcauley1]

so does the 1.0 tsi i have in 65 plate rline have a belt also , i had to replace my girlfriends chain in her 1.2 s 60 plate this year after obly owning it for 6 months and it had only done 54 k and been serviced reguarly at arnold clark with the previous owner , so im currently staying away from AC regarding repairs etc

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[RUM4MO]

I can't answer for sure, but if that engine has a black plastic cover over the driver's side of it, it will be a cambelt, if it is an alloy metal cover, it will be a chain.

[calummcauley1]

I can't answer for sure, but if that engine has a black plastic cover over the driver's side of it, it will be a cambelt, if it is an alloy metal cover, it will be a chain.

ok thanks , will check when im home and post what i find for future reference of others

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[alexperkins]

My Tiguan has a maintenance free belt, but it's 100k or 5year life realistically as my dealer has now confirmed

[6RPotentialBuyer]

I'll be sure to put some money aside for 40,000 miles then so I don't accidently blow up the interference engine...

I've got a 2010 Polo S (1.2 60hp) with 43,500 miles. Cambelt/chain has never been replaced. I think VW recommend 6 years or 60,000 miles (Whichever comes first) Should I think about getting an inspection done? I've only had the car since July but it doesn't sound out of the ordinary. Last thing I want is for it to fail though

[calummcauley1]

I'll be sure to put some money aside for 40,000 miles then so I don't accidently blow up the interference engine...

I've got a 2010 Polo S (1.2 60hp) with 43,500 miles. Cambelt/chain has never been replaced. I think VW recommend 6 years or 60,000 miles (Whichever comes first) Should I think about getting an inspection done? I've only had the car since July but it doesn't sound out of the ordinary. Last thing I want is for it to fail though

my girlfriend bought a polo s 60 plate 1.2 60ps in sept last year at 53,000 miles she had done 3000 miles in it up until may and then the car started stuttering so took it to the garage i use next tp my work who plugged in computer etc and it showed cam shaft sensor failure so replaced the 2 of them and provlem was still there , so he oppened the sump and behold thechain had jumped took it to dealer who were no help at all so had to get it replaced my self in the end i waited for euro car parts 30 % discount code got emailed to me and got the chain kit air filter oil oil filter for around £180 which was alot better than the supposed £750 i got quoted from arnold clark , i am never using them again as it had been serviced by them from new the only owner it had before my girlfriend

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[vc-10]

The pre-facelift 1.2s (the 3-cyl, with either 60 or 70PS) had a chain. My old Polo, now used by my brother, has that engine (although an earlier version with 65PS) and it's on about 170k now with (I presume) the original chain. It's certainly not had a new chain since I bought it, and that was in 2009 with 82k on it.