....am I correct in thinking that only Diesel Engines need this doing?......thanks

No.

If you have a cambelt (afaik all Skodas with VAG engines have one) the cambelt should be replaced - intervals may vary, but 60k miles or 4 years (whichever comes first) is often mentioned.

If you should change water pump at the same time - opinions differ, but could be a good idea, since changing the belt means doing more than half of the job to change the pump, so when you're there...

I've noticed that the service books can be a bit vague on cambelts in petrol engines, where change in diesel engines are clearly mentioned.

No.

If you have a cambelt (afaik all Skodas with VAG engines have one) the cambelt should be replaced - intervals may vary, but 60k miles or 4 years (whichever comes first) is often mentioned.

If you should change water pump at the same time - opinions differ, but could be a good idea, since changing the belt means doing more than half of the job to change the pump, so when you're there...

I've noticed that the service books can be a bit vague on cambelts in petrol engines, where change in diesel engines are clearly mentioned.

Thanks for that. We may be in the market for a new motor within a couple of months and cannot really decide between a 1.6 petrol or a 1.4 Tdi. we are trying to offset cost's between the two. we Intend keeping this one for a good few years but only do about 5/6k miles a year, mainly town work with the odd long trip thrown in. At the moment we have 5 year old Silverline Estate with less than 30k on the clock

Edited 24 September, 200817 yr by ag.morley

They all need cambelts on the same sort of distance/time. The water pump is less necessary on the diesel, but still good insurance for all it costs to do when the cambelt's out anyway.

BMW's (Apart from some mini), toyota Yaris d4d don't have cambelts, but as said pretty much all VAG engines cars do.

Most cars do these days and the timing chain is still done at about 100k. Main advantage of the chain is that you can run it longer as you will get warning that it's on it's way out as the noise goes up.

The 2.0 TDI is an 80k interval or 4 years IIRC.

im having this done very soon, but im having problems locating somewhere that stock a water pump with a metal impellor, and before anyone suggests it i have done a search,

anyone have a definate part number for the metal impellored water pump and somewhere that i can order it from

nice one!

mark

I think GSF parts have a metal impeller. GSF Car Parts, cheap car parts direct to you

dont think it states wether its a plastic impellor or metal on the website

Alot of VAG engines are now going back over to chains if they havent already. The 1.2 has been since day one, the new 1.6 FSi engines are chain driven as are the new 1.8 and 2.0 TSi engnes.

its a 2001 vrs so no chance, but thanks anyway for the info tho lummox

Personally I'd suggest to replace the pump at the same time as the cambelt, and go for a metal impellor. Does cost a little bit more to do the pump though as have to replace coolant and the pump isn't, as I understand, quite directly behind the cambelt (other fittings have to be removed so takes a bit longer). Gives me piece of mind though...

I personally always change the water pump when doing a cambelt booked into U18 but I see no harm in using the genuine water pumps, not had a replaced one fail only the factory items.

where do you get the metal impellor pumps you fit lummox?

Like I said i dont, I fit genuine ones and never had a problem.