My wife's 1.6LX Octy started making a high pitched squealing noise yesterday. As it happens we were close to a friend who runs and independant garage, and worried that it was the timing belt, we went there. He confirmed that the timing belt was a possibility, so advised us to leave the car with him as it would be very risky to continue driving the car (ie to take it to Skoda dealer for repair). He is working on the car now, but other than the Timing belt what other possibilities are there. The only one I can think of is the water pump?

This car has over the 11 months we have had, given us to much trouble. While it is going on 5 years old, it has only 35K miles and has had a full Skoda service history. My old Felicias were so much more reliable! :(

PAS belt, Fan belt I can't see why the timing belt would squeal???

It is not the fan belt, just phoned the mechanic, he had already disconnected the fan belt, and the noise remains. Surely the timing belt would squeal if slipping just the same as a fan belt does if slipping?

I too can't see why a toothed timing belt would squeal. Water pump and/or alternator belts are prime sources of sqealing noises, as are worn clutches. If the timing belt slips then pistons and valves are likely to meet.

I don't think it is the clutch as it happens when the car is not in gear as well as when in. To give more information, the car sound fine when you just start the engine. As soon as you press the accelerator the noise starts. It continues when you return to idol. This makes me doubt that it is anything within the body of the engine (also the car feels normal to drive). I was not aware that the timing belt was toothed. I guess that the water pump is the most likely suspect. My friend says that once he has taken the engine apart enough to check the timing belt, he will change it anyway as despite the low mileage the car is 5 years old.

Anyone any idea how much the water pump would cost (my friend will only charge for parts not labour)?

Update. The car now has a new timing belt and tensioner, but that was not the problem. Turns out it is the distributer making the noise. A costly beast at