Hi,

It's my first post on this forum so hello to everyone...

I've just bought 2001 Fabia SDI yesterday, till now it has been serviced by SKODA (at following mileage 9600, 10000, 20000, 29700, 41000, 50700, 78000, 89000 right now its 93000) but it looks like Cambelt (toothbelt) has never been changed?!

I know it could have been done at local garage but is there any point in giving Skoda garage a call and trying to find this out or is it waste of time.

If I can't find out I'll do it within nest week or two but it's not the best time for me to spend another 400-500 pounds... :(

My next question regards high biting clutch in mentioned car, clutch itself seems to be fine. I know it is hydrolic operated one but is there a way to adjust it?

Many thanks for any advice or response...

Regards

well if it was me and there was any doubt in when the belt was changed i would change it. is 4/500 ponds not better to spend than your new fabia sitting needing an engine because it has snapped ? also as far as i am aware there is no adjusting on the clutch so i would go easy on it until it starts to slip ? this is what i would do personally. it is your choice.

Change it if any doubt. You can take the cover off and have a look at the condition. It should have been changed at 60K, so you'll probably be able to tell if it is the original. SWMO's SDI was bought a year ago and no documentation regarding belt, so put it in to local garage immediately. The one they took off had been changed recently, but not recorded in service book. You should be able to get it done for about £300-350.

I bought the same for my wife a few months back. 89k miles 2001 SDi Fabia. No record of cambelt change. I took the covers off to have a look at it with a view to changing it. It looked very new and there were white tippex (or similar) marks on the pulleys for keeping the timing set. I'm gambling it was done fairly recently.

Re the high biting point of the clutch - ours was the same too. Very high. Started to slip one day. Booked it in to the local garage (independant VW Specialist) about 10 miles away. Got a mile from home and the clutch totally died. Had to get AA relay to garage. Apparently there was not much friction material left at all!!! Just a few fibres.

Cost all in £300.80 - (3hrs labour plus the kit)

HTH

thanks for all replies...

in regards to clutch it looks like it's on it last legs but I still have to drive it for some time... money :/

quick illustration of it's state:

clutch pressed.....clutch released

1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...10

-----------------------****----

* - that's where clutch bites

I've read somewhere that reason for high biting might be air trapped in hydraulic system or low level of brake fluid...

in regards to cambelt i did what Golf-Fiend did and took off cambelt cover to look at it, to me it looks like it has been replaced fairly recently, got some photos for your opinion

Edited 11 November, 200817 yr by t0m3k

thanks for all replies...

in regards to clutch it looks like it's on it last legs but I still have to drive it for some time... money :/

quick illustration of it's state:

clutch pressed.....clutch released

1...2...3...4...5...6...7...8...9...10

-----------------------****----

* - that's where clutch bites

I've read somewhere that reason for high biting might be air trapped in hydraulic system or low level of brake fluid...

in regards to cambelt i did what Golf-Fiend did and took off cambelt cover to look at it, to me it looks like it has been replaced fairly recently, got some photos for your opinion

Yup me thinks clutch might be on the way out. Apparently they are a right pain to bleed properly without pressure at the reservoir and suction on the bleed nipple. Might be worth a shot.

Cambelts - hard to tell state of it without giving it a good chew and seeing what it tastes like. I recon it's the original looking at the writing on it.