vinkodex.Timing belt: 120 thousand kilometres, and a snap means a rebuild
Typically above 120,000 km. It does not show up on every car.
critical
severity
above 120,000 km
mileage
3
sources
3 sources next to the write-up.
The fault
How you spot it
The four-cylinder 2.0 TDI and 2.0 BiTDI run on a timing belt, not a chain. Replacement of the belt is due at around 120 000 kilometres.
If the belt snaps, the damage is severe: the piston reaches the open valve, and then the valves, the pistons and the cylinder head all have to be repaired. The replacement is therefore not an item that can be left out.
The work itself is complex: a specialist workshop takes between eight and twenty hours over it, and because of the precise alignment it is not a job for home. The tensioner and the auxiliary belt have to be replaced along with the belt.
One thing is worth asking about, because many people mistake the part here. On this engine there is also a chain-driven unit: the drive of the oil pump and the balance shaft. Its wear is worth inspecting or replacing within the work that goes with the belt change, because afterwards it would need opening up separately. So look for that on the invoice for the belt change as well.
Which model
Who it affects
The card opens the generation, the engine or the transmission.
Generations and models
1 generations.
Volkswagen
2H
Amarok
M 93 / CC BY-SA 3.0 de
Volkswagen Amarok 2H
2010–2020
vinkodex.Checklist
Timing belt: 120 thousand kilometres, and a snap means a rebuild
What you would check for this fault. Take it to the car.
Before you buy
Checklist
What you tick stays on this device only.
Sources
How we know
Engine FinderVW Amarok Common Problems: Engine and Transmission IssuesComplete guide to VW Amarok problems including timing chain failures, fuel pump issues, turbocharger problems, DPF blockages, and electrical faults. Solutions and costs included.
What BreaksVW Amarok 1 — All Engines, Problems & Buying Guide (2010–2020)VW Amarok 1: 46 common defects and weaknesses. 7 engines (DDXB, CFPA, CNFB, CNEA, …), 140–258 hp. Reviews, durability and buying advice 2010–2020.
automotivefaults.comAutomotive Faults - Common Car Problems & SolutionsFind common issues, fixes, and reliability info for cars by brand, model, and year.
Information, not an expert opinion
We write the descriptions, and we put the source next to them. A person reviews them before they go out. They are still information, not a technical expert opinion.
- A fault on the list does not mean the car you are looking at has it.
- A fault missing from the list does not mean the model is fault-free. Write-ups are made model by model. Not all of them are done.
- You decide whether to buy. This is no substitute for an inspection. That needs a workshop and a history check.