Solve Your Volkswagen’s Timing Belt Problems in Decatur
In the past few years, the VW reputation has become under fire due to quality control issues with the timing belt in some of their vehicles. Let’s take a closer look at this problem and how you can solve timing belt problems if they happen to you.
The Important Function of the Timing Belt
Some vehicles use belts and some use chains. Either way, the function is identical. The timing belt links the top and bottom halves of your engine together via both the crankshaft and camshaft. This allows your transmission to rotate in perfect synchronization with the rest of your engine.
While timing chains are preferred for their, timing belts are still a great choice in vehicles. However, it is worth noting that timing belts often can’t withstand the same amount of wear and tear as timing chains. Timing belts will last around 60,000-105,000 miles, where as timing chains can last for around 120,000.
VW has recently come under scrutiny for their unsuitable timing chains, which has also led to concerns over the quality of their timing belts, too. This issue is limited to 2-liter EA88 engines manufactured between 2008 and 2014 that use timing chains. Many VW drivers are now more aware of their timing belts than ever. They feel they have to look out for problems more frequently than other drivers, which may make potential new owners question the VW brand.
Signs of Timing Belt Trouble
Timing belts do not tend to give their drivers much warning before they start to negatively impact your VW. When the belt starts to fail, it will knock the timing of your pistons off-kilter. This, in turn, will cause the valves to fall out of correct timing, which then makes your whole engine fall out of sync. This is a catastrophic event for your engine.
However, you may be one of the lucky ones and be warned of failure through the illumination of the check engine light. Particularly attentive drivers may also hear there engine make a rattling sound. These two symptoms should be seen as serious and should never be neglected by drivers.
If timing belt problems go unnoticed, then your VW will likely be unable to start or will stall out suddenly when driving. If this happens when you are on the road, you need to remain calm and coast to the roadside and call for recovery. Do not continue to try to drive your car, as this will create a safety risk and do more damage to your Volkswagen. Even if your VW starts up again, an engine that is out of sync will begin to destroy itself. Cylinders will crash into valves and irreparable damage will occur. You may face an expensive rebuild or may have to buy a new engine entirely.
You should always remember that the cost of replacing a timing belt pales in comparison to the cost faced by drivers experiencing total engine failure. Oftentimes, this results in the purchase of a new car, which turns out to be more beneficial to the driver than replacing the engine.
Fixing a Troublesome Timing Belt
Even if your VW is likely unaffected by the timing chain scandal, it is worth it to be a little more cautious when it comes to the health of your timing belt, particularly if your VW was made between 2008 and 2014. To help ensure your timing belt remains in perfect working order, you should always keep on top of regularly-scheduled maintenance to prevent being caught out unexpectedly by timing belt failure.
You should never try to repair the problem yourself, as we’ve already learned that a working timing belt is crucial to the health of your engine and the overall usefulness of your car. Poking around when you may not know how to properly repair this component is likely to cause more damage to your engine and cost you more in the long run.
Choose Munich West
For VW drivers in Decatur and 
Atlanta, GA, Munich West makes a great choice for professional servicing and expert repairs. You can trust our trained technicians at Munich West to make quick and affordable repairs as well as maintain your car’s components with thorough inspections each time you visit our shop. Contact us today for an appointment or stop by to speak to our friendly staff.
