Hello

My vRS is just about to have its 4th birthday and has travelled 37000 miles in its short life. It's set up for variable interval servicing and is due a service. So, I've booked it in with my local main dealer. They also suggested that it should have the cam belt changed at 4 years regardless of mileage. Anybody else been told that? I've read the various posts re: cam belt changes and they do seem to vary a lot regarding mileage. I have no symptoms or problems that cause me to be concerned about water pumps etc. So what do you think? Are they just trying to drum up extra business? :(

Get it done, once you get symtoms is too late. It makes a change that the dealers are sugesting this as they were oblivious not so long ago. I know mine will be done at 4 years and will be no higher mileage than yours.

As above, a belt doesn't always let you know (infact very rarely) its going to snap, better a few hundred quid out your pocket now than well over a grand if the belt goes in 6 months.

Mine was changed at 36k at 4 years old by the previous owner but i would of done it aswell.

Are they trying to drum up extra business from the water pump? From your point of view, very likely the answer is going to be yes. From the dealers point of view they cannot guarantee that it is going to last another 4 years until the next belt change, you as a customer would consider their work to have not been carried out correctly if the new cam belt were to fail within a year due to water pump failure and would be quite disappointed at having to pay £3000 for a new engine.

Thanks for your views.

I suppose I'm just confused that everywhere in Skoda's own documentation, it seems to suggest that the cam belt be changed at 60k miles. Certainly there is mention of inspecting the belt before then but there's no mention of it being necessary to change it on a time only basis. Just seems to me that if the manufacturer has fitted something with a mileage specified life (which probably they have stated on the conservative side anyway) then for it to need changing at half to two thirds of its supposed serviceable life is not very good. However, real world experience of owners is always very useful and obviously there is an issue here. Maybe it's a bit of a design weak spot?

It sounds as though it's almost automatic to replace the (plastic?) water pump at the same time. There seems to be mention of an all metal replacement pump in some posts. Is that a pattern replacement unit or a modified Skoda original part? Anyone know, please?

Added note: Thanks FordFan - so you're suggesting that the real problem is the water pump and not the cam belt it self, which should last the specified time. Good point.

OK - since posting this, I've found another thread with all the gen, so I guess I have my answers. thanks anyway.

Edited 7 August, 200817 yr by BarneyMcgrew

Which thread is all this on, have you a link?

I ask as I went to an independent garage with VAG trained mechanics and they told me the Cambelt was 60k miles but my 3.5 year VRS with 42k on the clock had a noise on the tensioner and they suggested I had the cambelt pack done early just in case (£198.74 inc VAT).

I completely trust them so I intend to have the work done very shortly. However, they never mentioned anything about the waterpump. What's the story on that?

A quick search on water pump wil bring it up, its mentioned loads.

my car is 3yr 3 month and done jus over 50k. will I be ok waiting till the 4 yr point or does ppl think i should get in changed on the next service? due in 3-6k

my car is 3yr 3 month and done jus over 50k. will I be ok waiting till the 4 yr point or does ppl think i should get in changed on the next service? due in 3-6k

When advising people its best to be cautious because if it did fail on you I'd feel terible - however I'd wait until 4 years but other factors should be taken into account such as power and driving style. It does tend to be age that effects these belts most as they perish just like your tyres would. It's the water pump that is the risky part. If you've got the cash get it done, if not I'd think the risk was quite low.

Hang on just noticed your mileage and distance till next service. If its aproaching 60,000 by your next service. Best to get it done.

cheers mate

I am hoping coz i am on variable service the indicator doesnt come on for a while as I put new oil filter and oil in after 15k.

I wanna push it a little so it all falls in together.

Ive got a remap on but most it is motorway miles and I drive at 65 ish most of the time and dont put too much load on the motor that often but I do have a bit of funn on the odd occasion ;-)

Ill see how far it goes then get it changed, Is it better to go to the skoda place or a local mech? or any VAG place for that matter?

If you are lucky you'll find a specialist in german cars near you (8 miles in my case). They'll use genuine dealer sourced parts, and do the work as well as, or better than the main dealer, but cheaper.

Dealers dont give such a terrible deal, at least ask them.

They will know to replace all the relevnt bolts, use genuine parts and will warranty their work.

Dealers dont give such a terrible deal, at least ask them.

They will know to replace all the relevnt bolts, use genuine parts and will warranty their work.

Sorry, but 90% of time this is BS.

2 examples on my Octavia:

Vindis Skoda Cambridge - overheated head gasket during/after TB+WP job, most likely by failing to remove airlocks, ie did not know how to fill the engine. This caused gradually increasing coolant loss due to overpressure in coolant system and coolant being expelled. Refused to cooperate on fixing. I had the gasket replaced recently at a specialist.

Another Skoda dealer (name witheld since at least they refunded the work charges) - were supposed to replace front suspension lower control arms, which have 5 or 6 stretch bolts each. They failed to replace a single stretch bolt and used impact wrench on every single bolt (every single one, including the roll bar ones I had to undo with 1m long breaker bar, and they're roll bar ones are normally only 50Nm or so).

The best part is that because I originally planned to do the job myself, but temporarily ran out of garage space, I provided them with both control arms AND all stretch bolts required (I ordered them earlier).

So much for knowing what and how to replace. Use independent garages or DIY. Independents at least depend on fixing the cars successfully to get a repeat business. Dealerships get business automatically through sales/servicing bundling. So if it's out of warranty, they don't care if they mess it up.

cheers guys i know a small garage in cardiff that does all that and they seem ok so far, dont like the skoda place much thou as they basically called me a lyer when my zorst was broken and knockin, said it was not doin it so I had a proper go at them coz it was in warrenty and they were gonna charge me. so I took the head d1ck out and showed him.

For the OP, it's a little over a year away for me, but mine is down for a 4 year cambelt change which will be something like 32_000 to 40_000 miles from the last one.

For claytarget, the dealers aren't all like that. Henry's welded up a broken zorst bracket for me at no charge and I couldn't even hear it. They also gave me a verbal advisory on the rear discs, and didn't even tout hard for the business, just "you'll need new rear discs in about ".