VR6 Serpentine belt - what miles?

[craigowl 0]

My car has done 101k and is 11 years old. Belt looks OK.

Anyone with a VR6 know of failures?

If so what was mileage/age?

Would appreciate any relevant info/experience, guys.

[vr6storm 0]

i was told by a VW head tech that the replacement schedule for the Serpentine belt is every 60k miles.........mine was changed almost 3 years ago at 53k............

[dr_mat 0]

Sounds like the tensioner will go before your belt, mate .. :)

[was8v 0]

Yeah - my tensioner bearing was making a horrific noise at 103k - took a look and the actual bearing had seized leading the the pulley spinning around the bearing and melting away - I got it just in time.

 

My belt was very old and decrepit looking, so I changed it too. Easy job and they are only about £15 or so.

[martyjmcfly 0]

I changed the belt last weekend as i noticed it made a dry wispy noise (more noticable under acceleration), almost like a brake pad slightly touching the disc (if you know what i mean). Changed it and hay presto know naff wispy noise.

 

I changed it a couple of years ago with one from GSF.

 

I had a new tensioner fitted couple of months back just for the hell of it.

 

My car is now on 92k and the belt was from VW.

[craigowl 0]

Thanks for contributions, guys.

[Supercharged 2]

Yeah, 60k sounds about right for a belt of that length... I very much doubt it's done 101k as I've seen a couple of VR's on 80-90k with what look like original belts and they are very worn/cracked altho this could have been to do with a failing tensioner..

 

If your not sure of the age and it looks a bit worn then i'd change it for the sake of 15 mins work and also a good time to check the tensioner, better than having the belt snap on a motorway!