[beetleexploiter]

HELP!The serv. advisor at a local VW dealer told me our '99 Beetle, 2.0, was not an interference motor. I didn't have the $745 he quoted me for the timing belt job, so I asked could I just drive it until it breaks and then have it towed there and he said yes. At 125,000 miles, I think the timing belt may have broken yesterday. The poor Beetle, that was my mom's ride to church and groceries, literally, became exploited by me when she stopped driving at 85. Anyway, tow truck driver tells me it's an interference motor. Towed it to a friend's house, GM mechanic by trade, he says he'll take a look, tried to start it for him, he says sounds like the timing belt may have broken, like it's not getting any compression. Is our Beetle toast, or is there a slim chance it'll ride again with a new timing belt?

 

[VDubYah]

They are an interference engine. If the timing belt did break you are in for an expesive repair to replace bent valves and maybe danaged pistons. There is a removable cover in the front top of the enginge on the passanger side. 2 clips and it comes off. If the belt is loose its busted on has slipped, both are bad news. Sorry to be the bearer of the bad news but you deserve to hear the truth.

 

[idriv442]

I'd be taking it back to the dealer. He should have known it was not a good idea to drive it til it breaks. Well not for you. Great for him. A few hundred turned into a few thousand. Sorry bout your bad luck.

 

[SMG]

$$$$$

 

[Oldbugman]

umm it's not a motor...It's an engine. And the dealer service advisor did you a terrible injustice.

 

[missourimule]

Your dealer is an idiot. It is an interference engine. With luck, only the valves are bent and the pistons are not damaged sufficiently to require replacement.

 

[akasha1963]

Damn shame the dealer didnt put that in writing. You could have made him eat his words & the expense of repairing/replacing the engine. Blowing a timing belt on ANY engine is never good. Either that was ignorance or greed on the dealers part.

 

[Pushing Fifty]

Just out of curiosity, because I honestly don't know...but when did the old 2.0 liter switch to becoming an interference engine? I once had a 1996 Golf and an old mechanic told me the same thing; that if I broke that timing belt no valve damage would occur. I nevertheless had the belt changed, anyway.

 

[peanutsmom]

You would be VERY lucky if no damage was done but by you tring to start it again some damage was probably done. I can't stand sales people that is why I am so happy I am married to a car guy and have learned so much. When we have been looking at cars you should see the looks I get from the sales guys when I start asking these questions. I had one guy dig out the owners manuel and look something up. They quickly learn they can't screw with me. Esp since I am not gonna back down from what I know I want. If I am gonna go into debt for something it better be what I want. lol.. Anything with a belt is an interferance motor. Chains are a whole nother story.. lol.

 

[beetleexploiter]

Thank you, everyone.

Well, thank you, everyone for the truth, apparently the dealer figured I'd have it towed there and then he'd spring the additional costs on me. Poor Beetle, it was a good "old reliable". Poor me, literally.

 

[missourimule]

Keep us apprised. I'd be interested in the cost of repairing this. It would require the head coming off and hopefully no damage to the block or pistons; only bent valves. I'm guessing about $3,000 or so.

 

[beetleexploiter]

I would keep you apprised but...

My mechanical engineer older brother has decided the Beetle is junk and is telling me that I should get a used Beetle of similar vintage and use the broken Beetle for parts. His buddy, a GM mechanic, was going to replace the belt and water pump for $150 labor, was going to get parts from link found on forum for like $150. After collaborating they both have decided there is most likely valve damage and more and not worth the repair. If something happens with the Beetle, brother's wife says to write to Volkswagen of America, copy dealer on it, I'll report back to you Beetle people.

 

[Pushing Fifty]

Anything with a belt is an interferance motor. Chains are a whole nother story.. lol.

As a New Beetle nut who also has the mechanical aptitude of a gerbil, I didn't know that. Fortunately, I've always had timing belts replaced when the manufacturer recommends it.

 

[connieray]

Timing belts are cheap to replace until they break. Whoever told you to drive it until it breaks has been living under a rock for a long time.

 

[Oldbugman]

Anything with a belt is an interferance motor. Chains are a whole nother story.. lol.

Not true, seen many a Mitsubishi 1.8 sohc, 2.4 sohc and 3.0 sohc break a belt and cause no valvetrain damage, seen Toyota 2.2 sohc break belts and not cause valvetrain damage. Seen Suzuki 1.3 sohc engine break belt no valvetrain damage.And the list goes on. Now on the other side of the equasion if it's dohc you usually have big time valvetrain damage. So the blanket statement anything with a belt is an interference engine is simply not the case. It may be with VW engines but not every engine. Personally I would throw a belt on it and try to start it. What would it hurt, if it doesnt start your out the cost of a belt if it does and runs well then you saved the expensive of buying a new car.

 

[beetleexploiter]

Update on broken interference engine

Our GM mechanic friend's most recent recommendation was replace valves and install a remanufactured head, his estimate $1200-1400. That has to be way less than a dealer because his labor for timing belt and water pump was $150. He said he figured 3 hours labor (on water pump and timing belt). That's accurate for him, he's a rocket. That was until he took a small, flexible camera and found out that besides bent valves, at least 1 piston has a hole. Back to the buy a used '99 Beetle and keep the other for parts. Window motors are a staple. Why didn't I take it to him before the belt broke some of you may wonder. The mechanic is foremost my brother's friend, his best man, and older brother didn't know if he would want to do that sort of work apparently. One nice thing is, the mechanic says, "You know my number now and you can call me..." Thank you for sharing your knowledge Old Bug Man. Beetles were our family's alternative to the typical sedan when I was a kid...I was the youngest of 3 so I got the middle of the back seat and the (drivetrain?) hump. I remember once we took a cousin with us on a road trip and my dad put a roll of paper towel on top of the emergency brake and I sat between the 2 front seats. That was our '73 Super Beetle we named, what else, Herbie.

 

[SMG]

$1200 for a remanufactured head? What a rip-off.

 

[beetleexploiter]

$1200 for everything...

No, that was cost of replacing valves, installing remanufactured head, timing belt, water pump. Again, that was before he found out the pistons were damaged, now he says it would be essentially rebuilding the engine.

 

[beetleexploiter]

Timing belts are cheap to replace until they break. Whoever told you to drive it until it breaks has been living under a rock for a long time.

How is $768 cheap? The New Beetle is not your grandfather's "people's car". Soon only bond traders and attorneys will be able to afford to drive.

 

[Abwitschen]

2000 Volkswagen engine

If the car is sitting still , The car was turned off then the timing belt broke would've it done damage to the engine ?
al