>My 99 A4 TDI Jetta has about 53k Kilometres on the Od.    My dealer says
>it needs to have the timing belt serviced and has warned that this will
>cost in the $500 CDN dollar range.   Ugh.
>
>Why so much and what does the timing belt do for the diesel that makes
>it so expensive... other than the fact its a VW of course!!
>
>And it this absolutely necessary ?

Not at that kilometerage. Should do 120000km before needing a new belt.

Our diesel Toyota Corollas & Coronas have a 120,000km replacement
interval. New belt is about $25US here in NZ; not from a Toyota
dealer, though!!

If you do NOT replace the belt at the correct km you run the risk of
having it break. Then you will need a new ENGINE. As we found...
--
Andrew Grebneff
165 Evans St, Dunedin 9001, New Zealand
<andrew.grebneff@stonebow.otago.ac.nz>
Seashell, Macintosh, VW/Toyota van nut
Hmm, Windows For Dummies...  You got that right!!!
Friends don't let friends do Windows
Macs rock...Windoze wobbles