Engine and chassis

The timing belt transfers the force of the crankshaft to the camshaft. This causes the engine valves to open and close. The fuel/air mixture reaches the combustion chamber and drives the pistons with the released energy. The timing belt also often drives the water pump.

An old or very worn timing belt can tear and cause engine damage. The reason: The engine’s valve control falls out of sync and the piston strikes the valve with considerable force – often with 15 m/s. In most cases, the entire cylinder head has to be replaced. If you need to have your cylinder head replaced, please contact your Volkswagen Retailer.

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Depending on model, engine and driving style, a timing belt lasts for up to 360,000 km. Your Volkswagen Retailer can inform you of the change intervals for your vehicle or you can consult the Digital Manual. Particularly if you drive lots of short distances, the engine of your Volkswagen frequently idles or if you have already driven more than 150,000 km, regular checks are necessary.

By the way: The Volkswagen Approved Used programme comprises a check of the timing belt and other wear parts of every Volkswagen prior to sale. Come take a look!

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An incorrectly mounted timing belt can damage the engine. What’s more, replacing it isn’t easy – alongside technical expertise, it requires special, vehicle-specific tools. Have your Volkswagen Retailer replace it for you.

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It is often difficult to tell in advance that your timing belt is defect or could tear, as tears do not announce themselves in any way. It also cannot be identified by the vehicle’s driving behaviour or engine noise. That’s why you should stick to the prescribed service intervals. Your service employee will gladly check the timing belt in your vehicle for you.

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Spark plugs are specially adapted to the various engines and models, allowing for the longest possible interval between changes. Depending on the model, spark plugs are replaced between 30,000 and 90,000 km. We recommend having your spark plugs changed according to the service interval to prevent a decrease in performance, increased fuel consumption and costly resulting damage.

By maintaining the correct oil level and being mindful of your driving style, you can make spark plugs last longer: If the oil level is too high, spark plugs can become oily and sooty over many short distances as the engine does not reach the temperature that the spark plugs need to clean themselves.

Spark plugs are exposed to high pressure, vibrations and temperatures of up to 3,000 °C. At the same time, just a few spark failures damage the catalyst.

Even though changing them may appear simple, the slightest error can cause significant engine damage. This is because every engine requires a certain spark plug: The wrong one causes as much damage to the engine as the wrong tool or the wrong torque when tightening. Don't run the risk.

We recommend having your shock absorbers regularly checked via visual inspection from a mileage of around 60,000 km, e.g. during a wheel change or inspection.

Your shock absorbers are not visible from the outside. The risk here is gradual wear that often goes unnoticed. That's why you should have your shock absorbers checked on a regular basis.

Not only are defective shock absorbers less effective at offsetting vibrations and stabilising – your tyres will also not have the desired traction. The result: Longer braking distances, uncertain steering, less stable driving behaviour, causing safety systems to intervene more quickly. It can also be felt in the form of less effective driving dynamics.

A defective silencer is harmful and dangerous, as it means you cannot concentrate as well and may miss warning signals. Increased noise is also stressful for animals. Emissions escaping in an uncontrolled manner can damage components close to the silencer and any parts that fall off pose a risk for other road users.

Is your Volkswagen unusually loud? Is something making a clattering noise? Can you hear something rattling or a strong rumbling? You should have it checked. We also recommend having your silencer examined on a regular basis anyway – e.g. during the Vehicle Check or the inspection.

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It’s better not to. Its mounting should be both firm and elastic at the same time – it’s the only way it can hold the silencer and absorb oscillations. If a silencer is mounted incorrectly, it may result in vibrations. In the worst-case scenario, such vibrations damage the emissions system and vehicle underbody.

Volkswagen offers different types of gearbox. Most models house a so-called dual clutch gearbox. In addition to dual clutch gearboxes, manual and automatic gearboxes are also used.