Hi,

Im looking at buying a Fabia 1.4 16v (100BHP) and looking to know when the cam belt should be changed. I know there are other threads about cam belt changes but none really give a definitive answer for me.

Its an 05plate (registered July 05) and done 40K. Im getting a service and mot done which has been agreed in the deal but wanted to know if i should expect the cam belt to be changed due to the 40k on the clock. Some have said 60K but i dont know if this is true. Just want to know in advance so i can check whats done on the service and know whether to speak up about this if it isnt done.

pretty sure its 60,000 kms - so ~40k miles.

I'm sure on a 05 car it will be 60k or four years. Only the earlier AUB or AUA engines were 40k.

Elsa is the only way to be 100% sure.

My 2003 1.4 16v Fabia has done 35,000 miles, so I take it from reading this I should look at getting the cam belt replaced some time soon?

My 2003 1.4 16v Fabia has done 35,000 miles, so I take it from reading this I should look at getting the cam belt replaced some time soon?

I would.

Just to throw a spanner in the works, 25 years ago when I had an Golf Mark one (1.1), which was serviced for the first 20,000 by a main dealer and then latterly by myself, I don't recall the cam belt was ever changed and it outlasted the car, which eventually went to the scrappers at 75,000 miles after 16 years (Rust). Further, the belt in this car was only partially enclosed from the elements and the car had been thrashed.

Similarly, before that, I had an second-hand Alfa-Sud (1.2, boxer), which proved to be in poor condition (Surprise !). As a precaution, I changed both belts at 40,000 miles, but I felt there was no need to, when I removed the existing belts I found there was no damage and only the slightest wear on them - the belts on this car were fully open to the elements and the engine had been well used !

I can't believe that materials technology, design specification and reliability haven't improved in the last 25 years.

IMHO it might be a issue with the VRS, especially the tweaked ones or, possibly, for those who thrash a 100BHP car.

Otherwise, IMHO just a thorough inspection would do. Trouble is, by the time you've removed all the installed crap to take a look at the belts, you might as well replace 'em.

Nick

Iif you're having a service at 40K, Davetrousers, you will probably be told to have it changed then. It is definitely worth replacing the belts at the recommended intervals on the 1.4 16v 100BHP engine, as my sister recently discovered in her Lupo Sport when the cam belt went at motorway speed. Job cost her £900 to fix.

Vauxhalls were 40k miles or 4 years (whichevers sooner)

Some people say 60k on VWs

Think mine is 60k