Good morning all. I've just had my 2.5 V6 TDi serviced at 3 years/37000 miles. I'm fairly happy with the Skoda dealer that I have used for a long time now. The service was £155 and new rear brake pads were £102. Didn't think that was too bad.

It appears that when the car has its next annual service 4 years/~50000 miles I need the timing belt done. The price quoted to do the cam belt change is ~£600. Apparently the service guy says it's a kit containing 3 belts and the tensioners at about £180 and 5.5 hours labour. The 4 year service is quoted as £330. So........... with an MOT at ~£50 that's going to be well over a grand without anything like front brake pads or disks etc... that perhaps will need doing.

Now, I'm going to keep this motor until about 6 or 7 years old. The dealer this morning says the cam belt change doesn't include a new water pump and he doesn't recommend it.

Maybe for peace of mind I should insist on a new water pump for peace of mind? Thanks.

Why does dealer recommend NOT changing water pump. All the "In the know" techie people on this site (Roto, Lummox etc) recommend the pump as it is merely the cost of the pump as all the hard work getting to it is already done with the Cambelt?

I have the same car and will definitely be having all you say PLUS the water pump changed next year when car is 4 yrs old and will probably have done 35000 miles.

Regards

john

Thanks John, I thought this to be the case. I was a little surprised by the service blokes comment as otherwise he's always been pretty knowledgeable.

I know Roto has had experience of these pumps failing so I believe this is why he says have it changed as if it goes 6 months later you will get a much heavier bill as you start from scratch. From memory the Pump is only about £40 I think so it's not worth the risk in my opinion. Even if the pump was £100 it still isn't worth the risk.

I will check your prices for the job out with my Main Dealer (I have complete faith in them) and see what differences there are if any. Probably in the New Year and I can pop in for a chat and a coffee.

Will advise in new Year.

Merry Xmas

Regards

Regards

Another point - have Rubber Gaiters on Drive Shafts checked. I have this scheduled for March next year along with Air Con service, Plenum chamber check (whilst I am there), under carpet on N/S front foot well and Brake fluid change. I look after this car better than either myself or the wife - but don't tell her for christ sake!!!

Regards

Thanks John. I plan a plenum chamber spring clean myself soon. Worth keeping an eye on the known issues on the car as this motor will be run until I don't need a big motor any more, about another 3 years. So far it is a very comfy, reliable, pretty lowish cost workhorse. There, I've doomed it now!

The V6 TDI belt changes are hard work, hence the cost - and I'd agree on any engine, if it's got a belt driven pump change it.

Try a specialist (or even a VW dealer) instead of a Skoda dealer - they will almost certainly know the engine, do a good job and will charge less than Skoda.

The V6 TDI belt changes are hard work, hence the cost - and I'd agree on any engine, if it's got a belt driven pump change it.

Try a specialist (or even a VW dealer) instead of a Skoda dealer - they will almost certainly know the engine, do a good job and will charge less than Skoda.

Hmmm, the local VAG dealers I trust less than the (so far) pretty good Skoda dealer. The labour quoted is 5.5 hours, the VAG hourly rates are much higher than the Skoda dealers.

I might try those awesome-gti folk over Irlam way, that's pretty close to me. Their website excluding VAT from the prices does put me off though. I think that is a bit underhand, its not like paying VAT is voluntary is it?

You may have read my troubles on another thread..

But my water pump was definately leaking when the cambelt etc was stripped off. It had residue down the front of the engine block.

The pump seemed to be leaking from a small core type plug that sits under and to one side of the pulley.

There is certainly a lot of labour in a belt change.. £600 doesnt seem to bad to me.

Editted to say,my car has just done 55k...

Yes, I read of your troubles, Superb2.5. I bought the 2.5 TDi and now of course I realise that the better long term motor to buy would have a been a 1.9 TDi 130 but c'est la vie. The missus actually influenced that decision as much as me to be honest, we wanted a 2.0 (glad we didn't get one, that was a new motor at the time and its shortcomings were not as well known) but there was a good deal offered on a pre-reg 2.5 for the same price as a 2.0 so we bought it. We actually didn't consider a 1.9TDi since we traded a 1.9 Octy TDi and we thought the 1.9 would have been underpowered in the Superb. I guess it's likely I'll bite the bullet and chuck a grand at the dealer in a few months time to maintain goodwill, but I'll insist the water pump is changed. It seems to make sense to me.

I might try those awesome-gti folk over Irlam way, that's pretty close to me. Their website excluding VAT from the prices does put me off though. I think that is a bit underhand, its not like paying VAT is voluntary is it?

They're good folks at Awesome.

Incidentally, most garages I've dealt with quote ex VAT... including the dealers.

My 04 Superb 2.5 V6 Tdi is now due a belt.

Henry's in Glasgow have quoted £503 including vat and Ingram's in Ayr have quoted £529 including vat.

Both prices are from dealers and include the water pump change!

I take it this must be a good price.

Hmmm, the local VAG dealers I trust less than the (so far) pretty good Skoda dealer. The labour quoted is 5.5 hours, the VAG hourly rates are much higher than the Skoda dealers.

?

I can't understand that myself, I recently had my 1.9 one changed at a VW agent, cost £422 for belt,tensioner,pump and 2 aux belt's, Skoda quoted me £450 for just the belt and tensioner, plus VW guy's know the car a lot better than Skoda one's do due to volume, as for 5.5 hrs I can't see this either, I dropped mine off at 9am had a chat with the receptionist for nearly an hour as she used to work for another garage I used 20 years ago and hadn't seen her since then, car was still outside when I left and I got a call at 2pm to say it was ready, so that's 4 hours max and I think it was probably only three tbh, ring around you could save £150 by driving it 30 miles.

Changing the belts on a 1.9 is a walk in the park compared with the V6.

rotodiesel.

Indeed, the V6 TDi is a big job, two belts to change and two tensioners, and your mad if you dont change the water pump.

Indeed, the V6 TDi is a big job, two belts to change and two tensioners, and your mad if you dont change the water pump.

Thanks, it's given now I think.