The Benefits of Genuine Timing (Cam) Belts

Cam belts, or more accurately timing belts, are typically made of a solid material which reliably transfers your engine’s power from a crankshaft to a camshaft, causing your engine’s valves to open and close. A fuel/air mixture then enters a combustion chamber, combusts, and drives the pistons.

A timing belt must operate accurately over a long period of time, often in extreme heat and cold, all while being flexible enough to adapt and keep tension constant.

When should a timing belt be replaced?

You should consider checking and replacing a Genuine Volkswagen or ŠKODA timing belt from around 120,000km or 6 years (whichever comes first), but this very much depends on model, engine, driving style and climate. Failure can be catastrophic for your engine so it’s best to have it checked at reasonably regular intervals. This is especially true:

• if you drive a lot of short distances
• your Volkswagen is frequently left running while stationary (e.g. taxis)
• or if you have already driven more than 120,000 km or 6 years has passed

Tip: If you’ve purchased a used vehicle and are unsure of its history, it’s best to have your timing belt checked immediately