# Timing chain **URL:** \ **Category:** Buying/Selling\ **Tags:** selling, beetle, volkswagen, timing-belts\ **Created:** [January 8, 2011, 9:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-chain/59724 "2011-01-08T21:17:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Indersingh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7feea3/32.png) [@Indersingh](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Indersingh)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 9:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-chain/59724/1 "2011-01-08T21:17:34Z")
with 85,000 miles on the clock, I have been advised by a local mechanic to replace the timing chain as a preventative maintenance measure . Please comment ---
**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 9:26pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-chain/59724/2 "2011-01-08T21:26:33Z")
Preventive Maintenance Measure ? To Prevent What, The Dealer Running Out Of Cash ? Timing Chains Don’t Have A Maintenance Interval. If You’ve Got A Timing Belt Then That’s A Different Story. What is the vehicle’s model-year and which engine is in this vehicle ? CSA ---
**Author:** ![nfs480](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@nfs480](https://community.cartalk.com/u/nfs480)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 9:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-chain/59724/3 "2011-01-08T21:27:13Z")
What year is the beetle and which engine does it have? I’m guessing that it has a timing belt instead of a timing chain (Gates shows belt for 2005 VW Beetle 1.8) and if it really hasn’t been changed it would be a good idea to do so. ---
**Author:** ![MikeInNH](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a587f6/32.png) [@MikeInNH](https://community.cartalk.com/u/MikeInNH)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 10:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-chain/59724/4 "2011-01-08T22:21:37Z")
What year is this car?? As everyone else has said…it’s probably a timing BELT. If it were a chain…they don’t need to be changed for another 170k miles. Timing belts these days have a life span of 100k miles or 7 years. You’re not near the 100k mile mark, but how close are you on years??? ---
**Author:** ![EdNC878991](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b3f665/32.png) [@EdNC878991](https://community.cartalk.com/u/EdNC878991)\ **Post date:** [January 8, 2011, 10:56pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-chain/59724/5 "2011-01-08T22:56:19Z")
No reason unless there is a problem with rail or tensioner to even touch it! I think it’s a belt through 06. I could be wrong. If it’s a belt it’s not a bad idea. ---
**Author:** ![Indersingh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7feea3/32.png) [@Indersingh](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Indersingh)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2011, 5:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-chain/59724/6 "2011-01-09T17:17:18Z")
its a 2000 VW Beetle, GLX,turbo assisted gasoline engine.Not sure whether it has a belt or chain drive. Apologies for the insufficient info ---
**Author:** ![Indersingh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7feea3/32.png) [@Indersingh](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Indersingh)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2011, 5:19pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-chain/59724/7 "2011-01-09T17:19:45Z")
its a 2000 VW Beetle, GLX,with turbo assisted gasoline, 1.8L engine. ---
**Author:** ![nfs480](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@nfs480](https://community.cartalk.com/u/nfs480)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2011, 5:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-chain/59724/8 "2011-01-09T17:21:13Z")
That vehicle does in fact have a belt and if it’s never been changed then it’s 10 years old and should’ve probably been changed about 3 years ago. I would change it ASAP if I were you as this vehicle is also listed as having an interference engine, meaning when the belt breaks it’s gonna do some damage. Expensive damage. ---
**Author:** ![Indersingh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7feea3/32.png) [@Indersingh](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Indersingh)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2011, 5:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-chain/59724/9 "2011-01-09T17:21:27Z")
Its a 2000 VW Beetle GLX with 1.8L, turbo assisted gasoline engine. Belt or Chain…don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![Caddyman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/caddyman/32/23_2.png) [@Caddyman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Caddyman)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2011, 5:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-chain/59724/10 "2011-01-09T17:22:38Z")
The OP WISHES it had a timing chain… ---
**Author:** ![Indersingh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7feea3/32.png) [@Indersingh](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Indersingh)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2011, 5:23pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-chain/59724/11 "2011-01-09T17:23:28Z")
More info…this is a 2000 VW Beetle GLX, with turbo assisted gasoline engine. Belt vs chain…don’t know . ---
**Author:** ![mshugna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ce73a5/32.png) [@mshugna](https://community.cartalk.com/u/mshugna)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2011, 5:53pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/timing-chain/59724/12 "2011-01-09T17:53:52Z")
Belt…but check yourself…[http://www.gates.com/part\_locator/index.cfm?go=part\_locator](http://www.gates.com/part_locator/index.cfm?go=part_locator)