3 years old you say. Then your car is up for a cambelt change too. If the car is in for a cambelt change anyway, the variator is quite easy to replace and it'll only set you back some €90. Have the cambelt replaced NOW
They last 120.000 Km's or three years. Cambelts that is, not variators. The variators can go kaput very quickly, but also last for a long time. My former car needed one after 4 years and 66000 km's. My mothers car had it replaced after 11.000 Km's and my recent car is on 76.000 Km's and not a single sound yet
Cheers
Hoygaard
PS. Have the cambelt changed now, I cannot state this too often
