Genuine Volkswagen Golf SportWagen Drive Belt

Volkswagen Golf SportWagen Drive Belt Parts and Q&A

• Drive Belt
  04E-121-605-E
  Q: What is the significance of Drive Belts in vehicle operation and how should they be inspected and replaced on Volkswagen Golf SportWagen?

  A:

  The drivebelt(s) which are situated in the front of the engine are very important in the functioning of the vehicle and its parts and because of the work they perform, their components are prone to failure with time and it is because of this that they need regular check and adjustment so as to prevent serious damage to the engine. Four-cylinder engines normally use a serpentine type of drivebelt that is self-adjusting and is used to power all other accessory-related components, compared to five-cylinder engines that are fitted with two serpentine type drivebelts with the outer belt driving the air conditioning compressor and the inner belt driving the alternator and water pump. Things to check to inspect the drivebelt: make sure the engine is not on, open the hood, and look at both sides of the belt to check the cracks, separation, fraying and glazing of the belt as well as the ribbons on the underside to ensure that they are of the same depth. The tensioner also automatically adjusts the belt tension and does not need any manual adjustments. To change it, unscrew the splash shield under-vehicle fasteners then draw the shield. On 1.8L and 2.0L timing chain motors and 1.4L timing belt motors, clockwise rotation of the tensioner and attaching it with a drill bit to retain it in place then routing the new belt over the pulleys and releasing the tensioner. In the case of five-cylinder engines, an outer air conditioning compressor belt is changed, then an inner alternator and water pump belt, the engagement under the pulley grooves should be made. Replacement of tensioner would entail removal of drivebelt, attach the tensioner to the engine and re-attach it to the engine with the necessary torque. Two tensioners are required with the 2.5L models, with the air conditioning tensioner belt being removed first so that the alternator and water pump tensioner can be accessed and then installed in the same order as the belt was removed.