# VW Passat V6 Timing Belt

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/vw-passat-v6-timing-belt/48996>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** belts, volkswagen, passat, timing-belts\
**Created:** [May 17, 2010, 8:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vw-passat-v6-timing-belt/48996 "2010-05-17T20:34:15Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![owliepoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@owliepoo](https://community.cartalk.com/u/owliepoo)\
**Post date:** [May 17, 2010, 8:34pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vw-passat-v6-timing-belt/48996/1 "2010-05-17T20:34:15Z")

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I inherited my grandmother’99 VW Passat (V6) nine months ago. She was the only owner and the car came from Germany. When I had it serviced at my local VW mechanic (Kombi Haus) here in Sacramento they suggested I look through the car’s records and see if the timing belt had ever been replaced. They said on a 10 year old car that doesn’t have a ton of miles (67,000) it could go out at any time. When should I get it replaced and how concerned should I be about it?

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**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\
**Post date:** [May 17, 2010, 9:18pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vw-passat-v6-timing-belt/48996/2 "2010-05-17T21:18:15Z")

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When a timing belt snaps it will cause $2000-$3000 of damage to your engine and a breakdown whether it chooses to snap. So the concern is up to you.

I believe the interval is 8yr/105k miles whichever FIRST.

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**Author:** ![lion9car](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/59ef9b/32.png) [@lion9car](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lion9car)\
**Post date:** [May 17, 2010, 9:20pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vw-passat-v6-timing-belt/48996/3 "2010-05-17T21:20:10Z")

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You should replace it when the owner’s manual says to replace it. It’s not complicated.

If you don’t replace it, you’re risking an inconvenient breakdown if this is a non-interference engine and costly engine damage if this is an interference engine. Someone will be along shortly to tell you which one you have.

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**Author:** ![nfs480](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@nfs480](https://community.cartalk.com/u/nfs480)\
**Post date:** [May 17, 2010, 9:33pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vw-passat-v6-timing-belt/48996/4 "2010-05-17T21:33:45Z")

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Here I am, according to Gates this engine is indeed an interference engine. So get it changed ASAP!

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**Author:** ![Docnick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecae2f/32.png) [@Docnick](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Docnick)\
**Post date:** [May 17, 2010, 9:42pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vw-passat-v6-timing-belt/48996/5 "2010-05-17T21:42:09Z")

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Agree; it’s an iterference engine and these belts (on older Passats) have been known to snap BEFORE 60,000 miles. I would get it replaced YESTERDAY!

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**Author:** ![andrew\_j](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/91b2a8/32.png) [@andrew\_j](https://community.cartalk.com/u/andrew_j)\
**Post date:** [May 18, 2010, 10:56am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/vw-passat-v6-timing-belt/48996/6 "2010-05-18T10:56:16Z")

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It is actually the older 1.8T that is known to snap belts early due to a faulty tensioner design. A friend with 1.8T Audi and another with 1.8T suffered this fate, fortunately under warranty. The v6 is okay with this respect.