Okay without getting things to complicated I have to VW's both had timing belts break. 1 a 2002 with 23,000 miles and the other a 1999 with 70,000 miles. Here is my question, is either of these motors a zero clearance engine? When the belt on the 2002 went I was told they were not zero clearance and a new belt would fix it. Now that the belt went on the 1999 I am being told that this engine is and it could of broke/bent valves. As far as I know the only difference between the two engines are the year and one has a warranty and the other does not. Now I don't know anything about VW, and in fact these are not my cars but people I know.

So can anybody tell me what the difference is and if they think the 1999 is going to have more damage than just a broken belt.

Both are officially interference engines. Sometimes you can luck out & the belt dosen't fully break and the valves will only get bumped a little but the belt still pulls enough to keep them moving & hopefully it wasn't doing 3000 rpm's at the time. Then you might be okay, but if the engine is revving & the belt snaps and the valves stop dead you're in for some new valves. It's usually easy to tell when they're bent, a little chancy to put on a new belt & try your luck. You may have burnt valves shortly down the road.

Well the first car (2002) we had fixed was on the highway I was told that it was not an interference engine, now the timing belt on a friends 1999 goes and a different dealer says it is. Thanks for clearing it up for me, the 2002 is actually going to be traded in and I am not sure what my friend is going to do with the 1999. Thanks for your help?