First up Hi to y'all and kudos on this excellent site. I have just got myself an 03 1.9 tdi fabia estate.

It has 74K on the clock and a full skoda service history, it is due a service in a couple of months and checking the history the timing belt has never been changed. What mileage should it be done at? Also if i do need it done at this service is there anything else i should get done while they are in there as i plan to keep this car for the long term so would spend a few quid extra for extra care and attention.

Cheers

Hello and welcome along to this forum, I hope you enjoy yourself and your car.

The timing belt and tensioners or toothed belt in the service book should be changed every 60K miles (90K km) or every 4 years, so I would definitely get the garage to change it at the next service. If you do a search on here most people change the water pump at the same time, as it's run by this belt and prone to failing. It's expensive @ £300 + but if it breaks, pistons hit valves and say goodbye to the engine. So re-check the service book to see if the Toothed belt has been changed and ticked off in the past 4 years.

HTH

Just want to add that if it hasn't been changed maybe you should bring that service forward and get it done for your own peace of mind, particularly as it is overdue (if not done). I have just had mine done at 4 years and 36K. Theold belt looked ok but it is the tensioner that can go causing the belt to jump. I had my water pump replaced as well. Good preventative job as if it goes the whole belt assembly has to come off, cost me £275 at Impossible Performance in Canterbury.

Edited 8 April, 200917 yr by Matt Bodycombe