Does my polo sport have a Timing Chain or belt?

smokey666 · Post by **smokey666** » Sat May 10, 2008 1:27 pm

Hi,

I've got the 100bhp sport version and its just coming up to 65,000 miles.

So I phoned up a garage to book it in for a cambelt change and they said that my car has a timing chain and not a belt, does anyone know if this is correct?

And if it is a chain will it need to be changed or will it need to be just checked over?

Cheers

david burton · Post by **david burton** » Sat May 10, 2008 2:10 pm

99% sure it's a belt

chewy · Post by **chewy** » Sat May 10, 2008 2:35 pm

I have the 100bhp sport and its just had a belt change not a chain. Also got the water pump and the idle pully done too.

smokey666 · Post by **smokey666** » Sat May 10, 2008 2:57 pm

thanks guys,

I was suprised when he said it was a chain, I shall go back to him.

Cheers

newpoloboy · Post by **newpoloboy** » Sat May 10, 2008 8:46 pm

Hi

on the subject of timing belts, is the 1.2 65PS model a chain driven one? is there any way i can check it out myself without tearing apart the engine

..

thanks in advance

Post by **alexperkins** » Sat May 10, 2008 11:03 pm

The 1.4 FSI is chain driven. As far as i know, only the FSIs and some diesels are chain driven.

RUM4MO · Post by **RUM4MO** » Sun May 11, 2008 1:49 pm

I totally agree that the 1.4 16v 100ps has a timing belt - I'd go to another garage if your current one has got their facts wrong - they might just get the belt change wrong. Personally I'd go the indep VAG route and as advised get the water pump changed as well - check up that they was genuine VAG parts, that way they should use a "cambelt kit" and exchange waterpump (cambelt kit has all the idlers rollers tensioner and belt).

As for the 1.2 chain/belt question - they are chain driven - this was the route cause of some early life failures - I think a mod kit is required.

1.4FSI - I thought they were belt driven, all 1.9TDI are belt driven - not sure about the 3 cylinder 1.4 TDI though - common sense would point to chain or gear driven though.

mikehowett · Post by **mikehowett** » Sun May 11, 2008 2:41 pm

RUM4MO wrote:I totally agree that the 1.4 16v 100ps has a timing belt - I'd go to another garage if your current one has got their facts wrong - they might just get the belt change wrong. Personally I'd go the indep VAG route and as advised get the water pump changed as well - check up that they was genuine VAG parts, that way they should use a "cambelt kit" and exchange waterpump (cambelt kit has all the idlers rollers tensioner and belt).

As for the 1.2 chain/belt question - they are chain driven - this was the route cause of some early life failures - I think a mod kit is required.

1.4FSI - I thought they were belt driven, all 1.9TDI are belt driven - not sure about the 3 cylinder 1.4 TDI though - common sense would point to chain or gear driven though.

The 1.4 TDI is belt driven, I think the only chain driven 9n is the 1.2.

newpoloboy · Post by **newpoloboy** » Sun May 11, 2008 2:56 pm

mikehowett wrote:
RUM4MO wrote:I totally agree that the 1.4 16v 100ps has a timing belt - I'd go to another garage if your current one has got their facts wrong - they might just get the belt change wrong. Personally I'd go the indep VAG route and as advised get the water pump changed as well - check up that they was genuine VAG parts, that way they should use a "cambelt kit" and exchange waterpump (cambelt kit has all the idlers rollers tensioner and belt).

As for the 1.2 chain/belt question - they are chain driven - this was the route cause of some early life failures - I think a mod kit is required.

1.4FSI - I thought they were belt driven, all 1.9TDI are belt driven - not sure about the 3 cylinder 1.4 TDI though - common sense would point to chain or gear driven though.
The 1.4 TDI is belt driven, I think the only chain driven 9n is the 1.2.

how can you tell/check?
thanks

mikehowett · Post by **mikehowett** » Sun May 11, 2008 3:41 pm

newpoloboy wrote:
mikehowett wrote:
RUM4MO wrote:I totally agree that the 1.4 16v 100ps has a timing belt - I'd go to another garage if your current one has got their facts wrong - they might just get the belt change wrong. Personally I'd go the indep VAG route and as advised get the water pump changed as well - check up that they was genuine VAG parts, that way they should use a "cambelt kit" and exchange waterpump (cambelt kit has all the idlers rollers tensioner and belt).

As for the 1.2 chain/belt question - they are chain driven - this was the route cause of some early life failures - I think a mod kit is required.

1.4FSI - I thought they were belt driven, all 1.9TDI are belt driven - not sure about the 3 cylinder 1.4 TDI though - common sense would point to chain or gear driven though.
The 1.4 TDI is belt driven, I think the only chain driven 9n is the 1.2.
how can you tell/check?
thanks

Just had a look at my Haynes manual and it says the 1.2 has a maintenance free timing chain.

M7 · Post by M7 » Mon May 19, 2008 5:15 pm

1.2 65 defo has a chain as mine slipped a while back and took ages to get the tool to adjust it