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Engine Specific Info and Questions => IDI Engine => Topic started by: 92EcoDiesel Jetta on August 18, 2015, 10:35:59 am

Title: Timing belts
Post by: 92EcoDiesel Jetta on August 18, 2015, 10:35:59 am
I've read t he current crop of Continental timing belts for the 1.6 are junk. I've got one on my 92 currently. Anyone have had bad experience with them? I've heard Gates makes a good belt. In searching the web I found this guide http://www.gates.com/~/media/files/gates/automotive/catalogs/automotive/timingbeltreplacementguide.pdf?la=en (http://www.gates.com/~/media/files/gates/automotive/catalogs/automotive/timingbeltreplacementguide.pdf?la=en) which shows our MK1 and MK2 belts to be a Gates T043.


Further search for Gates T043 I find that you can have it shipped free to a Walmart store near you for pickup. I didn't know you can order parts via Walmart's website! I am going to give them a call to see what the deal is.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/42689569?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222227031071046&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=68363925048&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=96157700208&veh=sem (http://www.walmart.com/ip/42689569?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222227031071046&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=68363925048&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=96157700208&veh=sem)
Title: Re: Timing belts
Post by: rs899 on August 18, 2015, 06:17:11 pm
I have had nothing but good news out of Conti belts for 20 years, but the last one I put on was 4 years ago.  I am about to spin up a Mitsuboshi on my 1.6 rebuild.  Don't know how it will work but seems to be a lot stiffer that Conti.  They are an OEM to a lot of Jap cars.
Title: Re: Timing belts
Post by: turboedbug on August 18, 2015, 09:24:01 pm
What about a good quality tensioner? Or are the chinese knock offs decent
Title: Re: Timing belts
Post by: vanbcguy on August 18, 2015, 09:35:10 pm
I've never heard anything bad about Continental timing belts myself.  Gates is fine though... my last T-belt on my 1.6 was a Continental, no problems.  My current t-belt on my TDI is a Gates.

DO NOT USE CHINA KNOCKOFF TENSIONERS!!!!  The belt itself rarely fails (unless it's a Rothenberger Engineering one), it's the tensioner that causes problems.

Litens is a common good quality manufacturer of timing belt tensioners.
Title: Re: Timing belts
Post by: turboedbug on August 18, 2015, 09:41:27 pm
Ya thats what I assumed about the tensioners
Title: Re: Timing belts
Post by: turboedbug on August 18, 2015, 11:02:15 pm
How bout swag tensioners or skf
Title: Re: Timing belts
Post by: vanbcguy on August 19, 2015, 03:56:49 am
SKF is fine. Haven't heard of Swag personally.

Sent from my XT1097 using Tapatalk

Title: Re: Timing belts
Post by: 92EcoDiesel Jetta on August 19, 2015, 10:50:22 am
Any comments on timing belts from Walmart online? There was a problem with font size being too small as to be illegible which I corrected. I called Walmart online customer service and was told as best they can tell, they get the belts directly from Gates.

I've read t he current crop of Continental timing belts for the 1.6 are junk. I've got one on my 92 currently. Anyone have had bad experience with them? I've heard Gates makes a good belt. In searching the web I found this guide http://www.gates.com/~/media/files/gates/automotive/catalogs/automotive/timingbeltreplacementguide.pdf?la=en (http://www.gates.com/~/media/files/gates/automotive/catalogs/automotive/timingbeltreplacementguide.pdf?la=en) which shows our MK1 and MK2 belts to be a Gates T043.


Further search for Gates T043 I find that you can have it shipped free to a Walmart store near you for pickup. I didn't know you can order parts via Walmart's website! I am going to give them a call to see what the deal is.
http://www.walmart.com/ip/42689569?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222227031071046&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=68363925048&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=96157700208&veh=sem (http://www.walmart.com/ip/42689569?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222227031071046&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=68363925048&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=96157700208&veh=sem)
Title: Re: Timing belts
Post by: libbydiesel on August 19, 2015, 11:39:19 am
If it is an authentic Gates belt that has been properly handled, as far as the belt goes, it doesn't matter where you get it.  That said, your dollar is your most powerful vote.  I prefer to vote for companies that actually support my vehicles rather than companies that get off on selling cheap crap to the sleeping masses.  YMMV.
Title: Re: Timing belts
Post by: air-cooled or diesel on August 20, 2015, 01:19:53 pm
about the only thing I buy at wallymart is maybe rotella(break-in for me), a/c charge, washer fluid, or sea foam, id tend to stay away from anything else,, try napa for gates belts, better quality and handling of product. napa's v-belts & serpentine belts are gates, for a better price than other places(usually). although prices of rubber have gone up significantly in recent. napa filters are wix, I don't know yet if napa fuel filters are wix. pay somemore for a better product(if even the same name,,)