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VW Golf 2009 1.6 TDI - timing belt or timing chain?
nick205 - 31/1/25 at 10:43 AM

Morning all,

Can anyone advise please, does a VW Golf 2009 1.6 TDI have a cam belt or a timing chain?

My son's replacing his car and looking at one of these tomorrow. 73k miles, 2 former keepers, good main dealer service history, but no record of cam belt / chain being replaced.

Just wanting to understand what's there before he makes any decision.

Thanks

Slimy38 - 31/1/25 at 11:14 AM

I'm 99% sure VW engines are all belt. A 2009 car should have had two maybe three by now, I believe there is a mileage and a time interval. So even with low miles it should be done every 5/6 years.

nick205 - 31/1/25 at 11:24 AM

Thanks Slimy

Having owned VAG family cars in the family (private and company) for quite a few years, they've all been cambelt, with as you say a years or mileage change interval.

However we've never had a 1.6 TDI so it's something new though.

Mr Whippy - 31/1/25 at 12:49 PM

Looks fun

Slimy38 - 31/1/25 at 06:38 PM

quote:
Originally posted by Mr Whippy
Looks fun



Yeah my 2.0 tdi is pretty much the same, and given how much needs to be removed just to get to the belt I just handed the keys to the local VAG specialist!

On mine the water pump was the most expensive part, it's some magic-trickery pump (electric coupler?). £475 all in, and they had it for the entire day.

Mr Whippy - 31/1/25 at 07:14 PM

£475's not bad for what looks a sh£te job tbh, at least it makes the car easier to sell as a belt change is always a good thing.

I actually did work on this engine as my sisters Golf was the same, and would service it for her. It was quite a good engine as she was on the dual carriageway most of the time doing 60 miles a day so an ideal use but I did have to change the glow plugs out as they failed one after the other. Apart from that no other issues and at 100k miles it was spotless inside. I did think of buying it off her but she wanted to trade it in.



[Edited on 31/1/25 by Mr Whippy]

nick205 - 4/2/25 at 02:48 PM

He bought the car, it's a 2010 Golf plus 1.6 TDI with a cam belt (not a wet belt). It's getting booked in for a cam belt/oil pump change in March. As above comments, it looks a pig of a job to get to the belt, before doing the actual change.

Car is clean and tidy inside and out. Moving from a Peugeot 208 to a Golf his feedback points are

Accurate gear changes
Firm positive steering