Cam Belt Life Skoda UK answers

[oldstan]

Sorry George (george) but what you've said doesn't correspond with my own experience with a local main dealer.  No 'cons' in place.  They have a business to run so don't work for nothing but haven't stitched me up (to date).  Maybe you can't tar them all with the same metaphorical brush?

 

And regrettably I don't understand half of whay you've written.........

 

 

 

"It is a Lost in Translation thing the Service & Maintenance"

 

"It is a pity by now that Volkswagen Group Engines, Gearboxes and components that should have evolved over the Decades to the point of almost 100% reliability 

are still subject to common failures and components with less than the available longevity."

 

But that could just be me being a bit simple.

 

There was another contributor here who signed off with "george" (with a lower case "g").   Is that you, but with a different nom de plume?  If so, you used to lose me a bit at times then - but, again, it was probably just silly ol' me.

[freedie]

Same person.

Same...

[Rooted]

oldstan,   (no capitals)

same george,

talking the same sharn, 

just a different user name displayed.   You will notice i am one of the few that does sign off with my name.

 

I am not saying anything against the Dealerships that carry out the Service Schedules as set out.

& do everything on the List Printed out for the Type of Service the Customer is Paying For,

If Brake Drums should be Removed then they are, if it goes on the VAS Diagnostic then it does go on it,

If Enhancements or Updates are due, then they are done.

& if there are Service Campaign Items for that vehicle, the Customer is made aware.

 

But they are called by the manufacturers, 'Service Guidelines',  then not set out clearly in Owners Manuals for the EU or UK in the EU,

 

Then not clearly in Service Manuals. things are OK as Recommendations if Owners bother to understand what the Recommendations might be,

or Service Desk and Reception Staff bother to Understand then Explain Recommendations to Owners that are interested.

 

It is Car Mechanics and Internal Combustion Engines in the 21st Century, not Rocket Science.

 

Not everyone is being Ripped Off, some are, but then that is what makes the world go around, some just pay and trust,

but some are spending because they trust the Manufacturer or Dealer to be looking out for them, & always will believe they got good treatment, most will have,

It is correct where as you say, it is Business and making a Living.

 

It is nice sometimes where Independent Mechanics and Garages can make a Living dealing with Individuals and giving Value for Money and 

individual Servicing and Maintenance following 'Servicing Guidlines'  doing what that vehicle and owner requires.  JMO.

 

It is not beyond the wit of Man or VWG franchise Dealership Workshops and service staff to set out clearly the Service Schedules or Service Guidelines 

for various engines and vehicles clearly, and maybe in writing.

It is there on the Computer on the Desk after all.

 

george

Edited 8 August, 2014 by goneoffSKi

[carisbrook]

I went the vag specialist route for my yeti's 4 year service but I changed the air/pollen/fuel filter myself all were date stamped from factory 2010.So weren't changed at any service from my local dealer during those 3 years.I even got the specialist to upgrade the sunroof drainage tubes and the redirection to the wheel wells.its the first one he's done but he had a how to i got him from skoda and now reckons the next one would be done in under two hours(so far its cured the problem of the battery box filling with water)lve made the decision to keep the yeti until a time where Skoda service history won't add any value to the car come sale time.

Next year cambelt will be changed or at very least a good check.

[g6zru]

oldstan,   (no capitals)

same george,

talking the same sharn, 

just a different user name displayed.   You will notice i am one of the few that does sign off with my name.

 

I am not saying anything against the Dealerships that carry out the Service Schedules as set out.

& do everything on the List Printed out for the Type of Service the Customer is Paying For,

If Brake Drums should be Removed then they are, if it goes on the VAS Diagnostic then it does go on it,

If Enhancements or Updates are due, then they are done.

& if there are Service Campaign Items for that vehicle, the Customer is made aware.

 

But they are called by the manufacturers, 'Service Guidelines',  then not set out clearly in Owners Manuals for the EU or UK in the EU,

 

Then not clearly in Service Manuals. things are OK as Recommendations if Owners bother to understand what the Recommendations might be,

or Service Desk and Reception Staff bother to Understand then Explain Recommendations to Owners that are interested.

 

It is Car Mechanics and Internal Combustion Engines in the 21st Century, not Rocket Science.

 

Not everyone is being Ripped Off, some are, but then that is what makes the world go around, some just pay and trust,

but some are spending because they trust the Manufacturer or Dealer to be looking out for them, & always will believe they got good treatment, most will have,

It is correct where as you say, it is Business and making a Living.

 

It is nice sometimes where Independent Mechanics and Garages can make a Living dealing with Individuals and giving Value for Money and 

individual Servicing and Maintenance following 'Servicing Guidlines'  doing what that vehicle and owner requires.  JMO.

 

It is not beyond the wit of Man or VWG franchise Dealership Workshops and service staff to set out clearly the Service Schedules or Service Guidelines 

for various engines and vehicles clearly, and maybe in writing.

It is there on the Computer on the Desk after all.

 

george

Another one for my Ignore list!

 

fred  Fred

[Rooted]

You are welcome. 

 

I love this section,

it is where you are told in no uncertain terms that members do not like your input, but where they contribute very little them selves.

 

george

[Llanigraham]

And how useful are some of your entries here George?

 

We will need to see how many Yeti form 2009/10 are still actually on the road come 2020,  and getting ready for their 3rd cam belt change.

 

george

[Rooted]

You are the most welcoming of all here,

 love your Fan Boy Yeti stance.   But you are Off Topic again getting your digs in at someone Off Topic.

[looby]

I think George is getting out of his depth... :|

[kibby]

Generally tolerant of all postings on here (everyone is entitled to an opinion) but I'm a bit confused about the point(s)

being made as it appears to be mainly stating the obvious. Don't necessarily like it if you make any negative comments

about the product/Skoda in general that a few members 'pile in' but again it's their perogative.

 

Assuming there is no hidden agenda we are free to take notice or ignore without being nasty about it.

 

I find that most members contribute well within their experience and 'newbies' are also well catered for from knowledgable members.

 

No offence intended.

Edited 8 August, 2014 by kibby

[Grumpy Geaser]

A month or so ago m y colleague who has a Tiguan with same engine as my 2013 @ltr 140 Yeti  had his  Cam Belt replaced at dealer insistence after 4 years. Out of interest I asked my German Office to ask their local Skoda Dealer what their belt change recommendations were. He advised me that they inspected after so may Km but would change at 6 years, I'm not doing enough miles so mine will change on time. I challenged Skoda UK with this info (Germany had used my engine number so no translation error) and they phoned me back the very next morning saying that Skoda technical had just issued a change notice for later engines increasing time interval to 5 years. He wouldn't, or couldn't, say why Germany were still running to 6 years before changing.

 

Still puzzled as my Freelander engine was rated for 10 years or 110k miles - I'd have though VAG could match that easily

[Llanigraham]

A month or so ago m y colleague who has a Tiguan with same engine as my 2013 @ltr 140 Yeti  had his  Cam Belt replaced at dealer insistence after 4 years. Out of interest I asked my German Office to ask their local Skoda Dealer what their belt change recommendations were. He advised me that they inspected after so may Km but would change at 6 years, I'm not doing enough miles so mine will change on time. I challenged Skoda UK with this info (Germany had used my engine number so no translation error) and they phoned me back the very next morning saying that Skoda technical had just issued a change notice for later engines increasing time interval to 5 years. He wouldn't, or couldn't, say why Germany were still running to 6 years before changing.

 

Still puzzled as my Freelander engine was rated for 10 years or 110k miles - I'd have though VAG could match that easily

 

Which Freelander engine?

[Combi08]

My Combi 2.0l DTI (140bhp) was bought in Belgium in 2008. The servicing plan is quite clear about cam belt replacement: every 150,000 km (~94,000 miles). There is nothing about timed replacement - cam belts are not mentioned in the 4 year and 6 year recommendations for component replacement. I have seen a written 4-year UK recommendation from my local Skoda dealer. My last "variable" service, at around 53,000 miles, was earlier this year in France and the Skoda dealer there recommended a cam belt change at that time, the car being 6 years old. However, I'm staying with the servicing plan recommendation and will have the belt changed at about 90,000 miles, so 33,000 (or over 3 years) to go! Am I daft or what?

[Yety]

 

Well at least they won't have rusted into oblivion like a Suzuki!

 

Graham - how dare you!!!!!!!!!!!!  

 

My SJ is D reg, 195+K, on all original components except the block (swopped for a Swift steel balanced crank/piston assy). Yes, I know it has 16v piston pockets on an 8v head, but I've taken care of that

 

Yes it does have a little cosmetic rust in non essential places, which I keep on top of constantly, but only to be expected on an old high mileage cheap car that has had a hard life, mostly on gravel roads and mud.

 

This could be one exception to your "rule"

[freedie]

... or it could be the exception that proves it!

[Llanigraham]

Jerry,

You know what I meant!!

 

(Did you see the "spotted" of your Yeti at Radnor BORC?)

[rriggs]

I have a 2010 Yeti TDI CR 110 (CFHA) which has only done 24k miles. 

 

My service book says 180000km (112000 miles) for a cambelt change with no time limit mentioned.  As there's a lot of talk out there about this four year limit I wanted to check if mine was due.

 

I phoned my local Skoda dealer today and they have told me 5 years.  They said (and I quote) "Skoda are always changing their minds about intervals but currently it is 5 years".  He did say it used to be four years but the current recommendation is 5 years.  There's nothing on Skoda's website about this but VW's website does say that cars built after 2009 are five years which matches what Skoda are saying. 

 

http://www.volkswagen.co.uk/owners/servicing/what-we-check-and-why/cambelt-change

 

Five years seems reasonable on a low mileage car to me so if that's what my local dealer says then that's what I'm going with and will get the belt changed when it's serviced next year sometime around its 5th birthday.

 

Cheers

 

Rog

[rriggs]

Further to my previous post, Skoda UK have since contacted me and have told me that they can't tell me the interval for my car until they talk to the factory.  They are in the process of doing this and will get back to me by Friday with an answer.  I would have expected a stock answer but that makes it sound like they are checking for each vehicle/case.....

 

I'll be sure and let you know what they say.

 

Cheers

 

Rog

[silver1011]

I'm not so sure why people get their knickers in a twist over the cambelt change intervals.

 

Skoda UK aren't withholding information on the intervals, they are available at the point at which the car is purchased. If you don't like it don't buy it.

 

For ages it's been 4 years, now its 5 years, simple really.

 

If you want a con then look no further than Skoda's £139 minor or fixed service compared to the £259 major or variable service.

 

George does have a point, they are both basically an oil and filter change with some visual checks. The extra items listed under the major service (pollen, air and fuel filters) are only replaced "if required" which for most engines is well over 60,000 miles.

 

So those of you paying £259 or more for a service before the car is 3 years old or has covered 60,000 miles perhaps are being conned?

[rriggs]

I don't think I'm getting my knickers in a twist. I just want to know if I need to spend £400 now or next year. My local dealer was quite clear but it surprised me that SUK couldn't answer the question immediately without referring to the factory.

Cheers

Rog

[Yety]

Jerry,

You know what I meant!!

 

(Did you see the "spotted" of your Yeti at Radnor BORC?)

 

 

OK, I'll let you off on this occasion   

 

Yes, I've had corre with my namesake, and again it's not BORC, but BCCC - I'll run for cover

[dieselV6]

I don't think I'm getting my knickers in a twist. I just want to know if I need to spend £400 now or next year. My local dealer was quite clear but it surprised me that SUK couldn't answer the question immediately without referring to the factory.

Cheers

Rog

 

You do not need to spend any money until the belt reaches mileage limit or unless the belt shows definite signs of wear. It needs to be inspected, not replaced, until mileage limit is reached.

 

SUK did not refer anything to factory, the 4/5 years timing belt con is exclusively VAG UK invention.  Also, in my opinion the belt con is far worse than a regular servicing con, because many/most people can DIY regular servicing, while a belt job does require some knowledge and specialized tools. Factor in also quite a few engines that get eventually destroyed by workshop numpties at some dealerships because of the timing belt change, as happened to my Mk1 Octy, and it is clear that an early belt replacement is just not worth the risk. I'll be keeping my engine's belts to full mileage, and inspecting them from half mileage onwards.

[rriggs]

SUK did not refer anything to factory, the 4/5 years timing belt con is exclusively VAG UK invention.

So why did he not just tell me that? He called me to tell me he'd referred it. Why would he do this and spend five mins on the phone explaining instead of just telling me five years?

The reason I want to get it right is my car is still under (extended) warranty so should there ever be any timing belt related claim it would be subject to following SUK inspection/replacement guidelines.

Cheers

Rog

[silver1011]

He will have been checking the mileage.

 

The 5 year interval is blanket across all Skoda UK models.

 

However if a pre-determined mileage is covered before 5 years then the cambelt will need changing early.

 

You only need to read any cambelt related thread here on Briskoda to see that the mileages are known to vary even on two different cars that are of the same model/engine/year.

[dieselV6]

So why did he not just tell me that? He called me to tell me he'd referred it. Why would he do this and spend five mins on the phone explaining instead of just telling me five years?

The reason I want to get it right is my car is still under (extended) warranty so should there ever be any timing belt related claim it would be subject to following SUK inspection/replacement guidelines.

Cheers

Rog

For the same reason why the car salesman always has to go away and "ask his boss" when negotiating the price, basically to create an impression that someone more important/relevant makes this decision.

 

Speaking of official Skoda Auto responses, this is the closest I got to a qualified response from Skoda Auto (not SUK):

 

"I cannot comment on change intervals in other ŠKODA markets but would reiterate that the UK Importer reccomends a proactive

Service Action in order to miminise the risk of catastrophic engine damage caused by cam belt failure."

 

So basically Skoda Auto washes their hands off the UK 4/5 year cam belt con, saying it is the matter of the importer (VAG UK / SUK).

 

Frankly, you will make your own decision, but my experience with dealership belt replacement ended up in a repeat of the job a year later, and a head gasket replacement on top, all for my money, and I am not alone in this or similar experience.  The only snapped belts (or belts that jumped timing) I personally heard about on cars with known prior history (as opposed to having been bought used 6 months earlier) were after workshop belt jobs. So I'd rather keep the belt for as long as possible (and inspect it), then DIY replacement.

Edited 21 August, 2014 by dieselV6