Mention of liability if you don't follow the manufacturer's guidelines in the hand book, or for that matter, on official web sites is missing the point!

The hand book states categorically that the recommended replacement point is 120,000km. Nowhere does it mention anything about 90,000km, which would be the 60k mark. If we change it at 80K, we are following manufacturers published recommendations to the letter!

So again I ask, why is there a mad panic to change the cam belt on 60K. Can't be anything other than a clever early revenue generator!

I agree with above BUT - in many cases the Cam belt is changed on time not mileage. The time limit I believe is 4 yrs, so if you cover less than 60k you still need to get it replaced? My car is 4 yrs old in November and has done 31k. So the cam belt will be replaced October. The cost of a new engine is circa £7k.

I agree, there may be an age marker as well as a mileage marker, although there is still no mention of this in the handbook. My car is exactly 3 years old, with 60K, so I think I should be good for perhaps another 9-12 months

VAG don't make toothed belts. They buy them from (mostly) Continental and Dayco. These excellent belts are also fitted to vehicles of many other makes.

No other vehicle manufacturer to my knowledge puts a 4 year time limit on a toothed drive belt. Some (eg. Ford) place a 10 year limit.

Smell a rat in M-K?

rotodiesel.

BUT if you have an extended warranty surely you need to get the cambelt done as specified by Manufacturer or this warranty is void?

4 years is not written down anywhere and when I asked Warranty Direct about the 4 year change they suggested my dealer was after making a quick buck. WD want the vehicle serviced according to the published schedule at a VAT registered garage, nothing more than that. I pasted the email contents hereabouts someplace.

There are many variables for it subject to useage, a car that stops and starts a lot will theoretically strain the belt more than one that does long trips at a time, if anyone is worried I suggest you take the cover off and have a look at the general condition of it, cover comes off easy with two clips on the 1.9, then rotate the engine, I myself suspect VAG not having too much faith in the water pump rather than the belt and thats where the 4 yr limit comes in.

Any "variables" which apply to VAG, apply to every other car on the road.

The laughable thing is that VAG don't actually stipulate a water pump change with the belt - it's not on the schedule. The plastic impellers usually start to fail before the belt lets go.

Apart from the sheer dishonesty of the M-K "4 year rule", it's the pig-headedness of VAG in refusing to admit to design problems such as the water pump impellers disintegrating which costs their non-savvy customers so dearly.

These cars will run to huge mileages if you address their weaknesses. The dealers won't admit to any - so the average car costs its owner far more to run than it should.

rotodiesel.

4 years is not written down anywhere and when I asked Warranty Direct about the 4 year change they suggested my dealer was after making a quick buck. WD want the vehicle serviced according to the published schedule at a VAT registered garage, nothing more than that. I pasted the email contents hereabouts someplace.

I have phoned and also emailed Skoda Customer services yesterday asking them to state policy on my car as there appears to be two policies in existence. A very helpful girl named Gemma took down my details and said would get back to me. She phoned and asked for my Chassis No as they could not find it on their records (car has a personal number plate) and agreed she would put a reply in writing to me via email. I have asked for the reasons behind no other European Country saying 60,000 miles or 4 yrs and also to explain why the service book only says 120,000KM. I will post the reply when I get it.

Prepare for the usual M-K flannel "taking into account UK operating conditions... ...in the best interests of our customers... ...to give you reliable continued service" etc. etc.

You won't get a straight answer as to why these conditions only apply to engines sold in the UK though.

BS.

rotodiesel.

I have phoned and also emailed Skoda Customer services yesterday asking them to state policy on my car as there appears to be two policies in existence. A very helpful girl named Gemma took down my details and said would get back to me. She phoned and asked for my Chassis No as they could not find it on their records (car has a personal number plate) and agreed she would put a reply in writing to me via email. I have asked for the reasons behind no other European Country saying 60,000 miles or 4 yrs and also to explain why the service book only says 120,000KM. I will post the reply when I get it.

You really expect a (meaningful) reply?

You really expect a (meaningful) reply?

If I don't they will see another side of me - I can be an absolute B*****D if I get the A**E. I will not accept BS or flannel.

It obviously is not a straight forward question as I was promised an answer by email this afternoon - guess what no email.

They have now had the Make, Model, Reg, Vin No, Engine - so what more do they need. AND if it were as simle as all vehicles have 60k mileage or 4yrs why is it taking so long for an answer. I would guess they are trying to put the reasons for the UK being the only country to say this criteria in a way that it is believable. We will see.

Here is the reply from Skoda UK:

Further to our conversation on 6 August 2009, regarding the cam belt replacement guidelines for your vehicle, I am happy to respond to your enquiry.

Having spoken to our Technical Support Team, I can confirm that Skoda recommends the cam belt for your vehicle is replaced every four years or 80,000 miles, whichever is the sooner.

The cam belt is a perishable item, subject to environmental wear and these guidelines are in place to ensure the optimum running of the engine, taking into account the age of the vehicle and the wear and tear of the component. Replacement is a preventative measure and is entirely at your discretion.

Skoda revises guidelines regularly in order to offer the best service and most current and accurate information for our customers. The information above is therefore not stated in your Owner's Manual.

I have sent another email as they have not answered WHY other countries do not suggest this mileage and timescale?

Keep after them...

rotodiesel.

Good luck, I'll be amazed if you get a straight answer to that question. It would be nice to be told why this "policy" doesn't appear in any written document that is available to the public.

Good luck, I'll be amazed if you get a straight answer to that question. It would be nice to be told why this "policy" doesn't appear in any written document that is available to the public.

I couldn't agree more. Still I will make a bloody nuisance of myself if nothing else!!!

Well here is the latest reply to my request for an answer about EU countries NOT stating 4 yrs.

Our Technical Support Team have advised for you to follow the guidelines set by Skoda UK, which recommend replacing your cam belt every four years or 80,000 miles, whichever occurs sooner. I am unable to offer any information on maintenance guidelines in EU countries.

My reply to this was "Isn't that very convenient".

Just the usual BULLsh*t and useless crsp we have come to expect from this absolute shower of poo.

The same BS applies (of course) to the other VAG badges administered from the M-K site.

It is this type of total moral disregard for the customer (there are plenty of other examples) which will ensure that VAG gets no more money from me.

I believe Toyota trade far more honestly. When they've sorted out their diesel engines I'll be off.

rotodiesel.

I believe Toyota trade far more honestly. When they've sorted out their diesel engines I'll be off.

rotodiesel.

???????

Toyboater engines are ****ing ace both petrol and diesel, never met a cabby yet whose bad mouthed a Toyota.

The engines are usually (but not always) OK but the built-under-licence diesel fuel and DPF systems don't meet my reliability requirements yet.

rotodiesel.

The engines are usually (but not always) OK but the built-under-licence diesel fuel and DPF systems don't meet my reliability requirements yet.

rotodiesel.

Ahh, with ya, dpf, Don't Pay For it, Dire Poxy Filter, this "modern day" addition to motor cars is probably one of the best ideas poorly executed by all car firms, I know I don't ever want one, hows one gonna change the bulb in the dash once it blows from over use, funny thing is with a dpf, it's designed with the enviroment in mind, yet it forces an engine to run badly during regen cycles and uses up more fuel, where's the logic?

Well here is the latest reply to my request for an answer about EU countries NOT stating 4 yrs.

Our Technical Support Team have advised for you to follow the guidelines set by Skoda UK, which recommend replacing your cam belt every four years or 80,000 miles, whichever occurs sooner. I am unable to offer any information on maintenance guidelines in EU countries.

My reply to this was "Isn't that very convenient".

Just the usual BULLsh*t and useless crsp we have come to expect from this absolute shower of poo.

And no explanation from VAG about why it isn't written down anywhere in the public domain?

And no explanation from VAG about why it isn't written down anywhere in the public domain?

Well lets look at it logically, since the begining of time for belt driven engines they have needed a new belt at some point, the belt is made of rubber and plastic based materials and as such will react to heat and tension, I don't think 80k is an unreasonable time span for the belt life and it should be viewed as a best before label imo, I have had two belt episodes over the years, the 1st was in a MK3 Cortina GT with a Pinto lump, I was lucky because it broke as I turned a corner so the engine was virtually at idle speed so I got away with it, the second was an 8v Cavalier, I had it changed because the water pump was leaking, when the old one came off it had a hole in the middle as if someone had put an 8mm drill through it, so again I was lucky, that was the last time I thought car manufacturer's were just cashing in and now they get done religiously on time or within 5k of it either side, another clue is to look at a tyre on a car that has sat idle for 3 years, you will see the sidewall cracking and the general sheen of the tyre disappearing, rubber again, it breaks down due to many factors, £400 belt, £5000 engine, whats it gonna be?

Just had our second belt change and all aux belts for the first time at 160,000, did not need the water pump as that went at 102,000 so had the metal one fitted then, total cost £153.00 only took an hour and a half, at an indi

http://www.millburngarage.org.uk/

The owner and the mechanics here look after all the vehicles used at knock-hill race circuit, and all the boy racers cars

Edited 18 August, 200916 yr by skippy41

Well lets look at it logically, since the begining of time for belt driven engines they have needed a new belt at some point, the belt is made of rubber and plastic based materials and as such will react to heat and tension, I don't think 80k is an unreasonable time span for the belt life and it should be viewed as a best before label imo, I have had two belt episodes over the years, the 1st was in a MK3 Cortina GT with a Pinto lump, I was lucky because it broke as I turned a corner so the engine was virtually at idle speed so I got away with it, the second was an 8v Cavalier, I had it changed because the water pump was leaking, when the old one came off it had a hole in the middle as if someone had put an 8mm drill through it, so again I was lucky, that was the last time I thought car manufacturer's were just cashing in and now they get done religiously on time or within 5k of it either side, another clue is to look at a tyre on a car that has sat idle for 3 years, you will see the sidewall cracking and the general sheen of the tyre disappearing, rubber again, it breaks down due to many factors, £400 belt, £5000 engine, whats it gonna be?

I understand all that. Myself, I have had belts fail on a Cavalier and on a Mondeo. That is simply not the point. Why does the user manual say one thing, but VAG apparently only in the UK say something entirely different? My 2.5TDi is due a belt change at the end of September (4 years) according to VAG UK. But it has ~48k miles on it so according to the book, it doesn';t need doing for another ~32k miles. I intend to have the work done at the end of September (I need to get it organised!) but it will not be done at a VAG franchise.

Fred when you get to the time try a VW dealer 1st, mine was £50 cheaper doing it at the local VW dealer rather than Skoda and they work that engine a lot more than a Skoda dealer does, so less likely to get it wrong, have the aux belts replaced at the same time, hth.