Its only in the last month or so I have learnt about wet cam belts in Fords and PSA group engines and the consequent failures leading to early engine destruction . For instance the Ford Eco boost is nicknamed the Eco boom in the motor trade.If you goggle wet belts the answer suggests VW use them in some of their engines although I cannot find any specific details .So does anyone know which if any VW engines use wet belts?

Perhaps this why my neighbour who works in reception at an independent repair garage said all modern cars are rubbish and designed to fail stick with your secondhand Skoda Roomster you've  had for 13 years. That said I'm always looking for a replacement for the Roomster should it go pop on me and want to make sure its not a wet belt engine.

No wet belts, only the exception of the small oil pump drive belt in the 2.0 litre diesel located in the sump. Thats not a timing belt and never heard of any failure.

Thank you xman nice to know.

 

Yes spoke to my neighbour in passing the other day and he said two cars with wet belt engine failures had been in the garage in the past week ,one a ford the other a Citroen and both written off due to high cost of engine replacement.

It seem to me that if you have one of these cars the best thing to do is change the oil yourself every year with the correct oil ,and don,t put and additives or engine flush in the engine. It also seems with the PSA group engines that you can at least check the condition of the belt by removing the oil filler cap. There is also a comb like tool to check belt wear you can use.

As I said to my neighbour ordinary punters like me are completely unaware of this problem.

Hi Bobspark, 

Yes there are a few Vwag engines with wet belts. I'm currently replacing the wet belt on my other halves Fabia 1.6 TDI. It's a 2013 cayb engined car with a little under 180k miles. Always had service on time with correct oil. We bought it with 130k on the clock. At the time I didn't know VW used wet belts. Having known the ford issues I would have avoided it had I know it had a wet belt. Crank seal was leaking so I looked into changing it myself that's when I found out it had a wet belt. It also started to develop a tick when cold from the top end. As the cam belt needed to come off to do the crank seal I decided to do the wet belt at the same time. When I stripped the sump off I could see more debris than I'd have liked in the oil strainer. The belt once removed is starting to break up. Seems the strainer was at least half blocked with bits of belt. So glad I changed it. Not back together yet as damaged the new crank seal trying to get the housing back on. Seems Tps don't supply the plastic seal installation sleeve with the seal like elring do for aftermarket seals. It's almost impossible to fit it without the sleeve or the VW tool. Also wanted to change the thermostat whilst I have the water out to do the water pump. But that's a shed load more work. So much needs to come off to even get it out. It also had a water leak from behind the oil cooler/ oil filter housing. Found the plastic oil cooler/ oil filter housing broken up & bits in the water way in the block. Seems these modern engines are sh*te & designed to fail. Your neighbour is right. I'm sure there are more Vwag engines with wet belts. I'm pretty sure the 2.0TDI , 1.4tdi also have wet belts. Below is some of the debris I removed from the oil pick up. Working outside so some got blown off the rag. Going to see if Tps have a new pick up pipe whilst I'm getting a new seal today. 

Edited 27 August, 20241 yr by pepperami666
Spelling

^^^Wet Belt?

 

The service guidelines, recommendations, advice or schedule from Skoda / VW Group in the UK was for the belt to be replaced at 5 years / 50,000 miles was it not? 

Edited 27 August, 20241 yr by Ootohere

 

 

 

 

I have drive a Fiesta with the infamous 1.0 Ecoboost (nicknamed EcoBoom!) engines with a wet timing belt. I am not looking forward to when it needs changing. I've been quoted £1500 from my local dealer and won't get change from £1000 if done independently. It is a very labour intensive job needing special gear. The crankshaft pully bolt is f-ing tight! 

 

I didn't know of the change in service intervals from 10 to 6 years, it might not be 1.0 Ecoboost. I might change it early at 8 years, not 10.  The newer EcoBoost engines have a Timing  chain which should be better, however it still has a wet belt to drive the oil pump. There has not been any reports of this belt failing or breaking up yet.