I have just started using my late fathers Skoda Fabia '54' plate with the 1.2litre 3 cyl engine, my local dealer informed me that the car needs a £300.00 cam belt change after 4 years - I've checked all the pages in the manual supplied but cannot see any ref to this requirement.

I am aware of the need to maintain car correctly but the 1.2 engine seems just fine.

The car is low mileage ie 13600 miles from new the car has been serviced every year.

Any thoughts or advice most welcomed

Have a look at this thread, it might help.

http://briskoda.net/fabia-i/replacement-cam-belts/137191/?highlight=belt

The 1.2 3 cylinder engine has a metal timing chain not a fabric toothed belt. But I'd check up to see that this engine has had any useful modifications done to it to keep it running!

Maybe use "search" to find out what can happen to these engines if modified parts are/have not been fitted.

Hi,

I think the garage is trying to rip you off, the 1.2's have timing chains rather than a belt, which as far as I know shouldn't every really need replacing and should last the life of the engine.

David

I believe 3 cylinder 1.2's have toothed, 1.4 MPI's have CHAINS.

Just checked and yes the 1.2 is a chain.

Edited 15 March, 200917 yr by moley

Many thanks for all your thoughts and comments , I also searched on the internet and found refs to the chain rather than belt on these 3 cylinder engines, so I'll have another chat to the dealer.

Thanks again for the prompt replies.

here's a link to the full desciption of the engine:

http://store.hamsia.org/temp/ok3/Skoda%20manuals/SSP_045_en_Fabia_%D0%94%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B3%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B5%D0%BB%D0%B8%201.2%2040%D0%BA%D0%92%D1%82_47%D0%BA%D0%92%D1%82.pdf

Edited 15 March, 200917 yr by olduser1
added link to engine

The 1.2 engine has a "maintenance free" camchain. Its in the literature and your dealer should know better.

The only important thing to check is to never allow the oil level to drop below minimum as the cam chain tensioner is hydraulically operated and lack of oil pressure can lead to the chain jumping a sprocket or two causing top end damage.