Timing Belt or Timing Chain on 2011 Superb Estate?

[bigjohn]

YES!

 

My point is, despite the 5 year age, should I wait until mileage is higher before having belt/water pump changed ?

 

kgm

 

Hi,

 

What I'm trying to say is it doesn't have a toothed cam belt but a cam chain (follow the link above)

No toothed cam belt to change, but regular oil changes very important

 

I don't know how the waterpump is driven on the V6

 

All the Superb mk II petrol engines have cam chains and all the diesel engines have toothed cam belts

 

On the Superb III the 1.4 petrol and the diesels have toothed belts . The bigger petrols still have a cam chain but sadly there is no longer a v6 version

 

PS would love the v6 but with my mileage the fuel economy would be an issue

Edited 24 April, 2016 by bigjohn

[kgm]

Thanks all.

 

As the Skoda agent has advised the change I assume they are correct in stating it is a belt.

So taking earlier advice here, and theirs, I will book the job because of the 5 year time element

.

£485 for belt and pump does seem excessive. May do a little comparison shopping.

 

Again thanks!

 

kgm

[Mr Kop]

If you have pre-2013 1.8TSi mk2 get the chain tensioner checked to see if it's the revised version or the old one (see below). My 2011 TSi had the old tensioner - which has been known to fail causing the chain to be slack on start up and after increased rattling over days/weeks will eventually jump 4-5 teeth and allow valves to make contact with the pistons!

 

As a preventative measure I had it changed (no need for a new side pan as they are stronger than Skoda would lead you to believe!). New tensioner (revision T) was £40 and labour at my local garage was £160 including sealant. I've done 500 miles since and no oil weeps. £200 is not bad for peace of mind driving vs the chance of a massive bill for an head re-build.

 

Garage said that it isn't just a Skoda issue. They've done the same thing with many VAG cars, BMW's, Jag's etc.

 

Photo of old and tensioners below.

 

Worth checking for any 1.8TSi owners.

[WaveyDavey]

Thanks all.

 

As the Skoda agent has advised the change I assume they are correct in stating it is a belt.

So taking earlier advice here, and theirs, I will book the job because of the 5 year time element

.

£485 for belt and pump does seem excessive. May do a little comparison shopping.

 

Again thanks!

 

kgm

 

Have you taken it in yet? Just wondered what they had said / done seeing as it doesn't have a cambelt for them to actually change.

Edited 20 May, 2016 by WaveyDavey

[Tech1e]

Thanks all.

As the Skoda agent has advised the change I assume they are correct in stating it is a belt.

So taking earlier advice here, and theirs, I will book the job because of the 5 year time element

.

£485 for belt and pump does seem excessive. May do a little comparison shopping.

Again thanks!

kgm

It's a chain.

Edited 20 May, 2016 by Tech1e

[g_tee]

If you have pre-2013 1.8TSi mk2 get the chain tensioner checked to see if it's the revised version or the old one (see below). My 2011 TSi had the old tensioner - which has been known to fail causing the chain to be slack on start up and after increased rattling over days/weeks will eventually jump 4-5 teeth and allow valves to make contact with the pistons!

 

As a preventative measure I had it changed (no need for a new side pan as they are stronger than Skoda would lead you to believe!). New tensioner (revision T) was £40 and labour at my local garage was £160 including sealant. I've done 500 miles since and no oil weeps. £200 is not bad for peace of mind driving vs the chance of a massive bill for an head re-build.

 

Garage said that it isn't just a Skoda issue. They've done the same thing with many VAG cars, BMW's, Jag's etc.

 

Photo of old and tensioners below.

 

Worth checking for any 1.8TSi owners.

 

This is brilliant information. I will get in touch with my independent VAG specialist with this and see if they are aware/can do the job. I will get it done regardless because I've only just bought my car and don't fancy a new engine bill when the warranty runs out in 12 months time.

[Mr Kop]

Hey G-Tee, just to give you a heads-up: When I approached both Skoda UK and my local Skoda dealer, they both denied having any knowledge that the original timing chain tensioner was a problem. Skoda UK looked up this issue on their database and said that they have no reports of timing chain tensioner failure causing any issues!! Hmm....It's funny how the tensioner has been updated from revision A all the way to rev T, and that the major change is the very thing that has been failing i.e. the retaining pin that stops the hydraulic ram from withdrawing and therefore not tensioning the chain. The new revision has a completely different retainer - much more robust.

 

So you may not get much co-operation from your local dealer as to why you want the work doing. However, if you look on other VAG forums you'll find plenty of 1.8TSi and 2.0TSi owners who have had this issue (some with engine failures) and even reported it to Skoda/VAG.

 

Regular oil changes are a help but do not eradicate the problem. It is basically a design issue, which is why the post-2012 cars have all got the new style tensioner.

 

The work will cost a whole lot more at a dealership. I've heard £450+ quoted by some. And I'm not sure whether they have any better knowledge than an independent garage that has done this type of work on lots of other cars. (It's a personal choice which way you choose to go.)

 

Good luck.

[g_tee]

Well I have the 12 month Skoda warranty - but even so I am not sure I'd ever want the expense or bother of a damaged engine. After the 12 months is up I am then liable for all costs of repair and Skoda would by rights could argue that my car is too old to warranty blah blah leaving me with a sky high bill and a very low mile engine completely ruined. My car is 5 year old in June but only has 16500 on it - would just be a shame. I think I may go ahead and have the tensioner replaced as a preventative measure. £200, while not ideal, is a far better idea than risking the damage. Skoda told me there was no such recall - so I really should assume there is some risk in mine failing.

[Mr Kop]

You're right, especially as the car has done such low mileage. The tensioner kit that Skoda sell comes with the tensioner (rev T, £40), side pan (approx £80) and sealant (approx £60!!). I didn't use their expensive sealant or need a new side pan - as it can be removed and reused if done carefully. Labour is shown as 4hrs. So the Skoda bill is going to be pretty hefty.

 

But I would recommend first getting someone to check which tensioner you have on the car. This can be done by looking (with a small mirror on a stick) through an inspection opening (sealed by a circular rubber grommet) on the driver's side of the engine (see photo attached below). This would then confirm whether you need to replace the tensioner. I did this and saw what you can see below i.e. the old style tensioner, so had to get the work done. Any Skoda or decent garage should be able to do this inspection for you pretty cheaply so you can positively verify where you stand.

 

Hopefully you'll be one of the lucky ones. But if not get the work done asap.

[g_tee]

You sir, are a star.

[Mr Kop]

You're welcome.

If you or your dealer have any further doubts see this thread: '1.8TSi and 2.0 TSi engine failures'. There are numerous engine failures due to hydraulic tensioner issues.

[g_tee]

Yes I've read a few but don't go into the detail you did, I.e. Specific part revisions etc

[Carterbeatsthedevil]

Afternoon all,

 

I recently bought a 2011 Suberb 1.8 TSI and am keen to get the tensioner sorted. I have already bought a mirror on a stick (much to my colleagues amusement!) to suss out which version I have.

 

Assuming I have the old style tensioner, where would you recommend I buy the new parts from (Google for once has not been my friend on this one!)?

 

Also am I right in thinking the correct part number is 06T 109 467? 

 

Apologies for all the questions and thanks in advance for any help you can offer with this!

 

Cheers,

 

Ben

Edited 26 April, 2017 by Carterbeatsthedevil

[williamshatnerspants]

For TDI CR owners in NZ, the maintenance interval (from the service book) for the cam belt is 180,000kms (no time limit).