Does my SEAT Altea need a new timing belt?

Do I need to change my SEAT Altea's timing belt? It is a 1.9TDI which is four years old and has done 19,000 miles. The SEAT dealer say I should change it either at 80,000 miles or four years old. They said condensation could get into the rubber and cause it to snap. Is this true?
The SEAT dealer is giving you standard VAG advice, but is also drumming up work for himself. If you can find an independent VAG specialist, take advice from him. The edict came about because pulleys were failing prematurely on 1.4 and 1.6 16v petrol engines. The recommended change point on a 1.9 diesel before that was always six years or 60,000 miles, whichever came first. Change the water pump, too.
Answered by Honest John on

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