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2007 Volkswagen Jetta Sedan Base 4dr Manual

2007 Volkswagen Jetta Sedan
Trim Info:
Front Wheel Drive, 4 Door Sdn, Compact
22 mpg city / 30 mpg hwy
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January 4, 2013, 4:03 pm

Lrodriguez B
 

Question: What problems will a Timing Belt cause

My check engine light had turned on earlier in the morning and I was scheduled for an oil change that afternoon. So I took the car back to the car dealership for the oil change and told the mechanic about the check engine light (I purchased the car three weeks prior to this) After the diagnostic test, I was told by the mechanic that I needed a timing belt. The mechanic sprayed wd 40 on the timing belt. The car no longer makes the "whistling" in the morning when its first turned on, however should I get it fixed already. And should I believe him ?


January 13, 2013, 3:50 pm

Elizabeth K
Expert Mechanic

Timing belts need to be replaced as preventative maintenance at regular intervals, determined by mileage. Check engine lights don't have anything to do with timing belts. Though it could have come on for another reason... if it comes back on, take is somewhere else for a diagnosis.

It is unlikely that WD40 was sprayed on the timing belt since that is under a cover and not accessible, and they don't make noise. It is possible that WD40 was sprayed on a serpentine belt, and if that quieted a noise, then the serpentine belt should be replaced. And I would not trust anything else advised by a mechanic that sprayed WD40 on a drive belt, since that would cause the belt to slip more, doing the opposite of what it should be doing.


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