The service book for my Octavia 2 shows replacement of timing belt at 120,000km. When arranging for a 60,000km service I was told that the belt should be changed at 4years (which is now).

Surely timing belts are expected to have a longer life than this, or are the dealers just drumming up more work as I have been quoted over £300 for the job. Also, why should there be a discrepancy?

I would be grateful for any views on this.

Edited 19 March, 201016 yr by Don Thirlwall

I agree that the VW group are crying wolf far too early on belt replacements. 80,000 miles is the recommended mileage for my Octavia but, your right, they're now saying "or 4 years as failures have been known in the 4th year".

They are obviously covering themselves. Dont know where your dealer got that totally insane price from. I have been quoted £340. I asked about water pump replacement and their service manager said it wasn't necessary and that they'd never had a problem with them. I said i thought that it was a Skoda recommendation that this should be done and he said no, not at all.

He said he would replace it if i wanted but definitely not necessary. So there you go. Some say it must be done, some say not nec. Who's right?

There's a full on discussion in another thread Check out the last post here

I couldn't say who's right and I doubt there's a definitive answer.

The water pump is little money to replace at the same time. Many on this site will tell you of leaking pumps a few weeks after a belt change. They can also fail badly and bring the belt down with it.

I had my belt & water pump changed at just under 52k miles

My Car is a 07 Plate vRS and i insisted on the belt change due to being Tuned to Stage 2+

They asked me if i wanted the Pump doing and i said only if needed. They inspected the pump and it was leaking ever so slightly so rather than take the risk i had it changed. Especially as it was only £100 extra.

For a 3rd Variable Service, Cambelt & Water Pump change came to £646.

£3000 is ridiculous. If your prepared to pay that i'll do it for you for £1500 :p

Carl

They can also fail badly and bring the belt down with it.

It won't be able to bring the belt down on the 1.9TDi as they are gear driven.

It won't be able to bring the belt down on the 1.9TDi as they are gear driven.

No there not,they are driven by the timing belt!

I had my belt & water pump changed at just under 52k miles

My Car is a 07 Plate vRS and i insisted on the belt change due to being Tuned to Stage 2+

They asked me if i wanted the Pump doing and i said only if needed. They inspected the pump and it was leaking ever so slightly so rather than take the risk i had it changed. Especially as it was only £100 extra.

For a 3rd Variable Service, Cambelt & Water Pump change came to £646.

£3000 is ridiculous. If your prepared to pay that i'll do it for you for £1500 :p

Carl

Sorry Carl, you don't get the job. The price was £300 not £3000 but thanks anyway.

Don

I had my belt & water pump changed at just under 52k miles

I will be doing the same at somewhere between 50-60k tops. It may be erring waaay on the side of caution but I just ain't going to take the chance.

At the moment my variable services are coming in at around 15,000 miles.

My last service a week or so ago was at 46,500.

I'm fully expecting my next to be around 60,000 miles and the car will be around 4yrs old so I think I'll get the belt/pump done at the next variable.

Just to be on the safe side.