robs12

Installed one of the Kenwoods under the driver's seat at the weekend. Huge difference to the sound and well worth while for not much money. Bought the adapter too but not sure really worthwhile other than to make sure no changes or cutting into the original car's system. It's a tight squeeze to get it in. If I was doing it again, think I'd just tap into the original speaker cables TBH. But does allow you to get all the wiring done and tested on the bench rather than under the dash, so then it's just plug and play. You need to cut into the speaker cables on the adapter anyway - I just used T-taps. Hardest part is disconnecting the lock on the glovebox to release it! Kenwood KSC-SW11 Compact Active Amplified Under Seat Powered Subwoofer 150W - £99.74 on ebay Connects2 CT10SK03 T-Harness - £19.99 on ebay Gebildet 12V 24V Standard Add-a-Circuit Fuse - £7.99 on amazon (for 4, used 2) https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07KWK9FYM/ref=ppx_od_dt_b_asin_title_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 T-taps £6.90 on amazon Couple of hours to wire and fit. Anyway, thanks for the pointers on the thread here, helped a lot, and well worthwhile.

When the engine was introduced, VW made lots of noise about the belt lasting for the life of the engine - it did not have a replacement interval and the VW blurb said maintenance free - see page 13 of the VAG Service Training manual here: https://procarmanuals.com/vag-ssp-511-new-ea211-petrol-engine-family/ VW blurb here, about half way down about toothed belt: https://www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/en/the-new-golf-das-auto-international-driving-presentation-2797/the-new-golf-powertrain-structure-engines-and-gearboxes-2835 Inspection was at ~160k miles, then again every ~20K, change only if needed. But Skoda UK suggest change it every 5 years/50K miles: https://www.skoda.co.uk/_doc/8b70c541-726b-4996-9999-66ebc7ca520b Take your pick....

LOL!! You need to find another garage...

I'm sure I read somewhere that once it's been changed form variable to fixed, it can't be changed back (I wonder why.. ;-))

I just used euroskoda in worthing for a 5yr service. Was cheaper than the skoda fixed price menu and they were pretty quick (I waited). First time I've used them but seemed OK other than tried to upsell me a brake fluid change (I had just checked it and didn't need) and air filter (I put a new one in myself last year). I think it's just standard practice...

Nah, it's just a difference of opinion. I tend to believe the manufacturer's documentation rather than what I read on an internet forum (even though VW do have a bit of a reputation for being economical with the truth 😉 ). Incidentally, here on the VW website is the VW news release from 2012 about the EA211 TSI engine : https://www.volkswagen-newsroom.com/en/the-new-golf-das-auto-international-driving-presentation-2797/the-new-golf-powertrain-structure-engines-and-gearboxes-2835 About half way down it says "the camshafts are not driven by chain here, rather by a single-stage, low-friction toothed belt design with a 20 mm wide belt and load-reducing profiled belt wheels. Thanks to its high-end material specification, this toothed belt's service life reliably spans the entire life of the vehicle." I guess that's what is meant by 'maintenance free' in the VW service training literature.

@Scot5, Calm down mate, I'm just linking to the official Skoda maintenance manual - from the manufacturer. There is a screenshot of the 2017 version here about 2/3 of the way down, which says the same (though it's just a screengrab, I can't vouch for whether it's genuine or not....I guess someone could have just fabricated it all😉) As I said above, I'm not judging whether right or wrong, just linking to a copy of the Skoda maintenance manual. Rather than writing a diatribe that may or may not be copied from various unknown sources (certainly some of what you posted appears a bit 'iffy' 😉), are you able to link to some Skoda documentation or dealer website or anything at all that says something different to their maintenance manual? I am interested particularly and specifically about the EA211 engine, requirements for which are clearly different to diesels and larger petrols.

LOL!! I think there is a little confusion being generated with this line too: Slipping cambelt anyone...throw some talc on it and get another few years out of it... 😁😁

The SKODA Mk3 maintenance manual is here and very clear: https://www.dropbox.com/s/zh8n0y4sz6jsxcd/Maintenance.pdf?dl=0 See page 16/17 for 1.2/1,4 Tsi, and page 24/5 for diesel cambelt maintenance schedule. Not judging whether it's right or wrong Scot5, but do you have any documentation from Skoda saying otherwise? It's been done to death several times already... For the 1.2/14 TSI, the VW EA211 engine ' service training manual' is here: https://procarmanuals.com/vag-ssp-511-new-ea211-petrol-engine-family/ Page 13 actually says the camshaft toothed belt is 'maintenance free'.

For Petrol 1.2/1.4 Tsi, the workshop manual clearly states inspect at 240K km and every 30K km after. No replacement times/years listed. The waterpump is separate to the cambelt, at the other end of the engine, with a separate belt - same inspection interval. For all diesels, belt should be changed at 210K km. For larger petrols, the manual is not clear...but could be interpreted as change at 120K km. Is there any documentation from Skoda that says otherwise? What salespeople in Skoda dealerships 'recommend' is another issue...