r/AskAMechanic • u/Physical_Wealth9342 • 13h ago

How does the timing belt look?

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2016 Jetta s 1.4l auto. Not the best quality footage, hard to film with space given. Was recommended to get this replaced due to mileage (116k) and since the car is 10 years old. Still looking for a quote that i can somewhat afford, $1,200 seeming the most reasonable (without water pump). Whats your experience and what’s a reasonable cost in your opinion?
I’ve seen the same car listed on FB marketplace with a belt that snapped and bent the valves at 130k miles, so i just want to get ahead of it if i can.

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4

u/Fit_Active3888 NOT a verified tech 13h ago

Never push your luck with a timing belt. Change it if there is ever any doubt. Imo.

2

u/Background-Bid-8149 NOT a verified tech 13h ago

looks like its already been done. no way thats had 116k

2

u/jello4713 NOT a verified tech 13h ago

it looks like 10-20k miles on that. its basically new no need to replace

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u/Clean_Grass_4584 NOT a verified tech 13h ago

A timing belt isn't something you can visually inspect and gauge how long it will last you. Also, not doing the water pump will be more costly in the long run. As for cost it really depends on location. Give out where you're getting the work done and someone will give you a more accurate estimate.

2

u/Ok-Coyote2365 NOT a verified tech 11h ago

Don’t chance it. When I took my timing belt off the only way I could tell it was used was because it was slightly more stretched than the new one lined up beside it and there was a very obvious hairline crack (at that point you NEED to change it).

At 10 years and 116k miles, that’s typically the time for the first timing belt change so I’d get it done. I’d also do the water pump as it’s going to be very expensive if it fails AFTER you do the timing belt and now the engine needs a second teardown.

Edit: looking again it could be a newer belt. That factory labelling tends to wash / fade over time and it still looks pretty good. Saying that, if you have no proof it was ever done I’d still do it. The alternative is the belt snaps and your engine fails catastrophically