The timing belt is one of the most crucial components of your Volkswagen Amarok’s engine, so maintaining it in excellent operating order is essential. Although these belts are designed to last a long time, wear and tear or breaks occur occasionally.
A damaged or broken belt can lead to severe engine problems. This implies that the manufacturers’ recommendations require timely replacements of the belt.
In this blog, we will examine the timing belt issues, including its function, the need for replacement, when and how to replace it, etc., to give you a comprehensive idea about maintaining your VW Amarok in optimum operating condition.
What is a Timing Belt?
The timing belt is a long, toothed rubber belt with nylon fibre reinforcement. Its essential operation is similar to that of a bike chain, but it is smaller, lighter, and more suited to the compact design of contemporary engines.
The timing belt joins the crankshaft and camshaft of the engine of your Volkswagen Amarok and travels through the cylinders. As you may expect, for your engine to function properly, these two components must be synchronised.
A timing mismatch can cause pistons to strike valves and cause severe engine damage, involving bent valves, damage to the cylinder head or camshaft, and scraping of the piston and cylinder wall. The timing belt maintains its coordination by ensuring that the camshaft and crankshaft rotate at the same pace.
How do Timing belts differ from Timing Chains?
Timing belts are made of rubber, while timing chains are made of metal, yet both have the same function. They will align the top valve train and crankshaft of your engine. Whichever one your car has, the symptoms are the same when it fails.
Both can suffer wear and tear, and an engine problem might result from not replacing a worn-out belt or chain. Replacing them is significantly more cost-effective than replacing an engine or a vehicle.
Why Should You Replace the Timing Belt?
Timing belts, unfortunately, do not last forever. They may eventually crack or tear apart, which could lead to significant issues. If you travel a lot, the belt loses a lot of its flexibility and resistance, especially when you drive in urban areas and restart frequently.
A faulty timing belt may pose a significant threat to your Volkswagen Amarok. If it breaks entirely or slips over the tooth, severe engine damage may result, necessitating a costly repair. The engine will immediately stop if this belt bursts or escapes from its place. Numerous engine parts may also sustain damage as a result of this failure.
That’s why replacing the Volkswagen Amarok timing belt at recommended intervals or when you identify any malfunction is vital.
The Appropriateness of Timing Belt Replacement
Timing belts may fail unexpectedly, causing significant damage to your car’s engine and components, so it’s critical to understand the signs of a malfunctioning timing belt to prevent this from happening to your Volkswagen Amarok.
The following are a few of the most typical indications that the Volkswagen Amarok’s timing belt is malfunctioning:
Engine Not Starting
The engine of your Amarok may not start at all if the timing chain or belt has cracked, jumped a few teeth, or fallen off entirely.
Slapping Noise
As the engine started up, you could hear something slapping around. The sound of rubber hitting something could be audible as soon as you turn on your Amarok and sounds like a rough, rattling sound.
Fall in Performance
The engine may run out of time if the timing belt has jumped a few teeth but hasn’t yet broken off or fallen. Reduced performance results from the irregular opening and closing of valves due to a shifting timing belt.
Low fuel efficiency
A misplaced or damaged timing belt reduces fuel economy because the engine has to work more than necessary to keep up with demand. When the engine timing is off, fuel efficiency will decrease.
Glazed Timing Belt
Examine whether the timing belt on the Amarok is glossy if you are looking at it directly. It is highly suggestive that something may be seriously wrong if it is dry and slick.
Other Indications of a Timing Belt Failure
- · Shavings of metal in the oil
- A ticking sound is coming from the cylinder head.
- Low oil pressure
- Excessive engine bay vibration (caused by an engine misfire)
Volkswagen Amarok Timing Belt Change Frequency
It is advisable to follow the manufacturer’s recommendations to change the timing belt and avoid an engine breakdown of your Volkswagen Amarok. It is generally advised to replace them every 500,000 kilometers or five years.
Your car still requires a timing belt replacement even if it hasn’t been driven far. Even if you don’t drive your automobile very often, there is a chance of timing belt material getting deteriorated with age. The timing belt gets damaged too soon under certain circumstances, such as coolant or oil leaks.
The timing belt replacement intervals for your Volkswagen Amarok can vary based on the engine and model year.
Here are the timing belt change intervals for the different models of Volkswagen Amarok.
| Model | Engine Capacity | Interval for Timing Belt Change |
| Volkswagen Amarok 2.0 TDI 4Motion 2010 – 2016 | 122 hp | 200 000 kilometers |
| Volkswagen Amarok 2.0 TDI 4Motion 2010 – 2016 | 140 hp | 200 000 kilometers |
| Volkswagen Amarok 2.0 BiTDI 4Motion 2010 – 2016 | 163 hp | 200 000 kilometers |
| Volkswagen Amarok 2.0 BiTDI 4Motion 2010 – 2016 | 180 hp | 200 000 kilometers |
Essential Considerations for Replacing the Timing Belt on a Volkswagen Amarok
The replacement of the timing belt on a Volkswagen Amarok is crucial. It requires a sound knowledge of engines and components to replace a timing chain, which is not easy.
Engage an Expert European Auto Mechanic
It is advised to perform this replacement with the assistance of a professional mechanic with the necessary expertise and access to the required tools.
Timing belt errors can lead to disastrous consequences and involve expensive repairs and replacements. For these reasons, it is strongly advised that you contact a qualified expert who can properly handle the task and ensure the safe and efficient operation of your Volkswagen Amarok model.
Check the Tensioner Roller
The timing belt of the Amarok is kept in the proper position and under the required tension by a timing belt tensioner. During regular operation, the belt strains and might become loose, causing it to fall off or vibrate. This is prevented by the tensioner, which applies a constant force to the belt.
A malfunctioning tensioner cannot maintain the timing securely, resulting in significant engine problems. Thus, ensure that the tensioner is also inspected and replaced if necessary when changing your Volkswagen Amarok timing belt. Knowing that your car won’t face any timing belt-related failures soon will make you more secure.
Cost of Replacing the Timing Belt
The usual cost of replacing a timing belt is approximately $500. The cost can be enhanced up to $1500 if it involves removing certain engine components for better accessibility and replacement.
You may find the cost of replacing the timing belt on your Volkswagen Amarok quite high. Still, you must appreciate that by doing this on time, you can avoid expensive engine repairs that might happen due to timing belt failures.
Why AVW Group?
The AVW Group has excellent knowledge and experience in repairing automobiles, especially European vehicles like Volkswagen. We can design individualised maintenance programs for clients and engage the top auto repair experts in Melbourne who can handle any immediate servicing requirement for your vehicle.
We have made investments in the best infrastructure and equipment to guarantee high-quality service and ensure the use of the best components for your car. AVW Group is dedicated to delivering premium services in compliance with the guidelines and service schedules provided by the manufacturer.
One essential part of your Volkswagen Amarok car engine is the toothed timing belt, and it’s imperative to ensure they are perfectly working because any mistiming makes the valves come into contact with pistons, which results in engine breakdown. The experts at AVW group analyse the timing belt conditions and replace them with great care and safety using OEM tools that eliminate the possibility of any misalignment and save your car from any unexpected and serious failure.
AVW Group helps reduce your maintenance expenses, so you can get high-quality auto repairs from AVW Group at the most competitive pricing. Please do not hesitate to contact us for any maintenance issues with your vehicle; we are here to handle the same with the utmost care.
How to Contact AVW Group?
- Got a query? Give us a call at 03 9078 8334.
- 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM: Monday through Friday
- In need of assistance? Send us a message at info@avwgroup.com.au.
