Volkswagen Vanagon Timing Belt Replacement at your home or office.

Our mobile mechanics offer services 7 days a week. Upfront and transparent pricing.

Estimate price near me

Service Location

Customer Ratings

(17)

Included for free with this service

Online Booking

Mechanic comes to you

12-month / 12k-mile warranty

Free 50 point safety inspection

Our certified mobile mechanics can come to your home or office 7 days a week between 7 AM and 9 PM.

Customer Ratings

(17)

Timing Belt Replacement Service

How much does a Timing Belt Replacement cost?

On average, the cost for a Volkswagen Vanagon Timing Belt Replacement is $474 with $152 for parts and $322 for labor. Prices may vary depending on your location.

CarServiceEstimateShop/Dealer Price
Show example Volkswagen Vanagon Timing Belt Replacement prices

What is a timing belt and how does it work?

An engine timing belt is a fiber reinforced, toothed drive belt manufactured using durable compounds such as highly saturated nitrile. The timing belt allows the crankshaft to drive the camshafts in the cylinder head at half the RPMs of the crankshaft. The camshafts then open and close the engine’s intake and exhaust valves in time with the movement and position of the pistons in the engine.

Timing Belt

When to replace the timing belt?

  • Every 60k-90k miles. If an engine is equipped with a timing belt, the timing belt must be replaced at the service interval specified by the vehicle manufacturer regardless of whether or not any problem is visible, typically in the range of 60,000 to 90,000 miles. Your vehicle owner’s manual should state the specific service interval.
  • Engine stops abruptly or will not start. Occasionally, timing belts can break, or skip, while the engine is running.
  • Rough engine operation. The molded, reinforced teeth on the timing belt engage gears on the crankshaft and camshafts. After many tens of thousands of miles, the teeth can wear or break, or the belt can stretch, thus causing the belt to jump position on the crankshaft or camshaft gears. Should the belt jump, the engine will run poorly and perhaps not at all.
  • Banging or clanking engine noise. On some engines, if the timing belt has jumped, the pistons and valves can collide and there will be noise and damage. These engine designs are referred to as interference engines. If your car has an interference engine, replacing the timing belt according to the maintenance schedule will minimize the chance that a belt failure will cause engine damage.

How do mechanics replace the timing belt?

Engine designs vary, and thus the replacement procedure will vary, but broadly, the procedure is as follows:

  • Disconnect the battery ground cable.
  • Once the engine is cold, set the crankshaft to top dead center with the number one piston on the compression stroke. Remove crankshaft pulley.
  • Remove all accessories interfering with the removal of the timing belt covers.
  • Remove timing belt covers. Lock camshafts, as required, and note position of camshaft timing marks. Remove timing belt tensioner and idler pulleys. Remove timing belt.
  • If replacing the water pump, do so at this time, and of course drain the cooling system first. If the engine cooling system thermostat is only accessible with water pump replacement, the thermostat should be replaced as well.
  • Installation of the new timing belt includes all of the above steps, performed in reverse, following strict guidelines to assure camshaft and crankshaft (and balancing shaft, if equipped) are in perfect alignment after tensioner has been set.
  • Upon completion of the installation, the engine crankshaft is turned by hand 720 degrees and the correct position of the timing marks on the crankshaft and the camshafts is confirmed.
  • The vehicle is road tested to confirm normal operation and a service sticker is affixed to the engine noting the date of belt replacement and the vehicle mileage.

Is it safe to drive with a timing belt problem?

No, were a worn out timing belt to snap while underway, perhaps on a highway, it creates a risk of complete loss of engine power while surrounded by fast moving vehicles. Once your vehicle has reached the recommended replacement mileage for the belt, you can eliminate the risk of sudden and unexpected timing belt breakage by having it replaced. If your engine is of the interference type, it is especially important to replace the belt according to the maintenance schedule because sudden breakage of the timing belt, while the engine is running, will likely cause significant damage to internal engine components such as the valves and pistons.

When replacing the timing belt keep in mind:

  • An interference engine should be carefully inspected before a broken timing belt is replaced because it may have sustained damage that will have to be repaired prior to installing a new belt.
  • The timing belt system includes idler pulleys and a belt tensioner. These components should be replaced along with the belt.
  • On some cars, the timing belt drives the engine’s water pump. Mechanics will usually recommend replacing the water pump at the same time that the timing belt is replaced.

Fast and easy service at your home or office

Backed by 12-month, 12.000-mile guarantee


Meet some of our expert Volkswagen mechanics

Real customer reviews from Volkswagen owners like you.

Excellent Rating

(17)

Rating Summary
17
0
0
0
0
17
0
0
0
0

Chris

21 years of experience
448 reviews
Chris
21 years of experience
Volkswagen Vanagon H4-2.1L - Heater Control Valve - Portland, Oregon
Chris communicated with me and even got here early. He was very nice. Did the work faster than I thought. Will definately use again.

Alejandro

10 years of experience
82 reviews
Alejandro
10 years of experience
Volkswagen Vanagon H4-1.9L - Car is not starting - Los Angeles, California
Alejandro took time, checked the entire electrical connections related to Ignition. Within 30 mins, he found the problem which was a loose connection between the Ignition switch and the connector. Told me how the issue can be fixed once I get the parts.

Joshua

28 years of experience
709 reviews
Joshua
28 years of experience
Volkswagen Vanagon H4-1.9L - Brake and Inspection Special - Richmond, California
Josh provided exceptional, friendly, and fast service.

Daniel

13 years of experience
58 reviews
Daniel
13 years of experience
Volkswagen Vanagon L4-1.6L Diesel - Pre-purchase Car Inspection - Nolensville, Tennessee
Daniel did a great job inspecting a vehicle we purchased. He was very knowledgable and helpful. He was on time and everything about this service worked well.

Excellent Rating

(17)

Rating Summary
17
0
0
0
0
17
0
0
0
0
Number of Volkswagen Vanagon services completed
187+
services done by our mechanics
TOTAL NUMBER OF EXPERT Volkswagen MECHANICS
1000+
experts on our platform

Recent articles & questions

How to Make Your Own Car Cleaning Solutions
Keeping Keeping your car’s interior clean can sometimes feel like an uphill battle when you don’t have the right cleaners on hand. Cleaning products can be expensive and some cleaners use harsh chemicals that may pose certain health risks after...
How Much Does a Mechanic Make in Alabama?
Automotive technician jobs in Alabama have an average mechanic salary of $31k, with some mechanics earning a salary of $52k.
P0162 OBD-II Trouble Code: Sensor Circuit Malfunction (Bank 2, Sensor 3)
P0162 P0162 code definition Trouble code P0162 is set when a malfunction is detected on the bank 2 sensor 3 oxygen sensor circuit. What the P0162 code means Bank 2 refers to the side of the engine opposite of cylinder...

check engine light 2013 Dodge Grand Caravan

A failed positive crankcase ventilation valve may cause an abnormal situation inside the engine that may trigger a response from one or more of the sensors. The best thing to do would be to have the vehicle read and the...

Would you advise in buying a mitsubishi starion as a daily driver? And is there any way to remedy any of its common problems?

If your research already allows a conclusion that the vehicle is unreliable, you should not buy the vehicle unless the price is heavily, heavily discounted to make up for the inevitable and predictable costs you will experience repairing and managing...

Cranks but won't start

Be sure there is adequate fuel in the fuel tank and that the fuel is not old. Check for adequate fuel pressure, injector operation, and a spark at the spark plugs. Basically, if the starter motor is turning the engine...

How can we help?

Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST.

1 (855) 347-2779 · hi@yourmechanic.com