Engine and Chassis

The timing belt transfers the force from the crankshaft to the camshaft. This causes the engine valves to open and close. The fuel/air mixture enters the combustion chamber, burns and drives the pistons with the energy released. The timing belt often drives the water pump, too.

An old or very worn timing belt may tear and cause engine damage. The reason: The engine valve control is driven out of sync, the piston strikes the valve like a bullet – often at 15 m/s. In many cases, the entire cylinder head has to be replaced.

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Depending on the model, engine and driving style, a timing belt can last for up to 360,000 km. You can ask about the precise change intervals for your vehicle at your Volkswagen Partner. Especially if you drive a lot of short distances, your Volkswagen is often stationary, or if you have already covered more than 150,000 km, the timing belt should be checked on a regular basis.

By the way: Within our used car programme, “MasterCars Certified Pre-Owned.”, we check the timing belt and other wear parts of every Volkswagen before selling it, see for yourself!

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An incorrectly installed timing belt can damage the engine. Plus, changing it is not easy as you not only need a lot of technical know-how, but also vehicle-specific tools. Contact your Volkswagen Partner to change it.

Often you cannot tell beforehand that your timing belt is defective or could break, because there are no signs of imminent breaking and it also cannot be recognised from the driving behaviour or engine noise. So, stick to the prescribed service intervals. Our service employees will check your timing belt for you.

Spark plugs are specially adapted to the various engines and models, which allows for the largest possible interval. Depending on the model, spark plugs are changed between 30,000 and 90,000 km. Have your spark plugs replaced in accordance with the service interval to avoid losses in performance, increased fuel consumption and expensive consequential damage.

You can extend your spark plugs’ service life by maintaining the right oil level and with the correct driving style. If the oil level is too high, the spark plugs may become oily, and if you drive lots of short distances, there may be a build-up of soot, because the engine does not reach the temperature it needs to clean itself.

Spark plugs are exposed to high pressure, vibrations and temperatures of up to 3,000 °C. Even just a few spark failures can damage the catalytic converter.

Even if changing it seems simple, the smallest error can cause serious engine damage. Every engine needs a different spark plug: The wrong one will damage the engine as much as the wrong tool or the wrong torque applied during assembly. Don’t take the risk.

You should have your shock absorbers checked regularly via visual inspection from approximately 60,000 km onwards, e.g. when the tyres are changed or during the inspection.

Your shock absorbers are not visible from the outside. The problem with this: Gradual wear that often goes unnoticed – you may not even realise that the driving behaviour has changed. So make sure you have your shock absorbers checked on a regular basis.

Defective shock absorbers don’t counterbalance vibrations as effectively as they should and are not as efficient when it comes to stabilising. Your tyres don’t have optimal traction. The consequence: Longer braking distances, uncertain steering, less stable driving behaviour. This causes safety systems to engage at an earlier point, which will also become apparent through less efficient driving dynamics.

A defect silencer is damaging and dangerous, as it reduces your concentration level and means you may not hear warning signals. Increased noise is also stressful for animals. Any exhaust gases that are released in an uncontrolled manner may damage components close to the silencer and parts that become detached pose a risk to other road users.

Is your Volkswagen unusually loud? Is anything clattering? Do you hear any rattling sounds or a loud humming? Then you should have it checked. We recommend having your silencer checked on a regular basis anyway – e.g. during the Vehicle Check or the inspection at your Volkswagen Partner.

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It’s better not to. Its suspension has to be both firm and flexible. This will keep it safely in place and allow it to absorb any vibrations. If it's incorrectly installed, vibrations may occur. In the worst case scenario, these may damage the exhaust system and the underbody of the vehicle.