Hello the forum,

My 06 octy vrs is now 4 years old, it's got 48500 on the clock, the dealer says the cambelt should be changed at 4 years or 120,000miles, & are recommending me to have it changed, I'm not sure it needs doing yet, as that's a pretty big difference in years old/milage, what do you guys think? They have come up with a price of £475.30 for small service, (oil, brake fluid, ect), cambelt change & mot, this includes 15% discount, applicable if I book it in, in the next month.

I've got to get it tested in the next week, but would like to postpone the cambelt for a couple of months. Any advice appreciated.

Edited 23 March, 201016 yr by DJD66

Not a bad price for that.

I got quoted £675 for 60K service + Cambelt on my previous car (Seat Ibiza 1.9 TDI 130 FR)

That's a very good price assuming it's a Skoda main dealer (out of interest who is the dealer ?). My Octavia will celebrate its 4th birthday in January and I will be getting the cambelt done, regardless of mileage, which I expect will be less than 60k. To be honest I don't think it is worth taking the risk not getting it done, cambelts can fail and when they do they cost mega-bucks to fix the resulting damage.

Here is a quote from the Irish Skoda website (duplicated exactly on the worldwide site) regarding their Genuine Belts and Pullys:

I have highlighted the most interesting part. I note there is no talk about Four years here. ?

Did you know that the service life of an engine depends on the service life of belts and tension rollers?

Should an engine timing belt brake during engine operation it can cause costly irreversible damage to vital engine components such as pistons and valves.

Therefore engine tension rollers have to meet a number of demanding parameters:

• Minimum extension of the belt during long-term stress

• Maintenance-free operation

• Error-free operation through the service life

The timing belt mechanism includes tension rollers that correctly tension the timing belt. The correct setting and quality of timing belts and tension rollers are therefore vitally important for the long service life of an engine and the safe operation of a vehicle.

The origin of these parts should not be ignored. We recommend genuine Å koda parts for Å koda cars. We guarantee the quality of the materials used. For example, our precise production processes have enabled us to extend the interval for changing a timing belt on a Fabia with a 1.9 TDI PD/74kW engine from 90,000 km to 120,000 km.

Å koda genuine belts and pulleys are now supplied in sets which contain:

• A timing belt

• Tension rollers

• Guide rollers

A bit of generic boilerplate text but none the less there is no mention of a blanket four year interval for ALL belts.

URL here URL

I got mine done at just under 52k miles just for piece of mind.

Also i am at Stage2+ and with the extra stresses on the engine didnt want to take the risk

I paid £646 for 3rd Variable service, Cambelt and WaterPump change so that is a good price

It's up to you really but my surmising is Pay £475 now or potentially £6k+ for new engine etc if it goes horribly wrong and snaps whilst at motorway speeds

Carl

Thanks for your replies, you all make perfect sense.

The dealership is Vindis Skoda Cambridge, the price doesn't include the waterpump. They are offering the 15% discount as they suppied the car to me, used on the 1st June 09.

Mot is being done on Monday, not by the dealer, they ship there's out to Vindis VW in Cambridge, as they don't do MOT's in house.

The garage doing the test, is also quoting me for the service & cambelt with the water pump, I always used them when I had my old octavia, & they were always very good, & looked after me.

On this reply alone i'd say do it

Thanks for your replies, you all make perfect sense.

The dealership is Vindis Skoda Cambridge, the price doesn't include the waterpump. They are offering the 15% discount as they suppied the car to me, used on the 1st June 09.

Mot is being done on Monday, not by the dealer, they ship there's out to Vindis VW in Cambridge, as they don't do MOT's in house.

The garage doing the test, is also quoting me for the service & cambelt with the water pump, I always used them when I had my old octavia, & they were always very good, & looked after me.

Sounds a great price to me! :yes:

Just make sure you ask them to change the water pump on the cambelt change. The pump itself is not expensive.......i reckon £30 tops (just ask them for a quote before just to be sure).

Whilst they have the cambelt off you may as well change the water pump. Its usually a 3-4 hour job so for another £30 odd quid you may as well get that done too!

You would hate the water pump going & them charging 4 hours labour to replace it!

Mine was all done for around £600 so don't hesitate, that sounds a fair price!

Just had cambelt replaced today at 71k. Old belt examined and was absolutely like new, no cracking or visible wear whatsoever. All tensioners, bolts, mounts etc. in perfect condition also but obviously replaced as part of the kit.

I wonder how many miles you could actually do on a belt without breakage.

Still think VAG are over cautious but can fully understand owners changing early for peace of mind. Mine is a taxi so cannot really justify changing every 40k or so. After seeing the condition of the original belt today, 80k will be my replacement period, which, after all is the recommended mileage. Nothing in my literature says 80k or 4 years.

It has been 188,000kms since mine last had a timing belt, thats almost 120,000miles. Its going in tomorrow to have it done and I'll report back on the condition of the belt that comes off.

It has been 188,000kms since mine last had a timing belt, thats almost 120,000miles. Its going in tomorrow to have it done and I'll report back on the condition of the belt that comes off.

Be very interesting to see the result of that.

Be very interesting to see the result of that.

The car is in at the moment, I will have it back this evening, as soon as my mechanic has the belt off I will report its condition.

The car is in at the moment, I will have it back this evening, as soon as my mechanic has the belt off I will report its condition.

It'd be really good of you to do that, thanks. While you're at it, can you let us know how many miles a year you do/what sort of driving? Might be useful info.

Cheers for keeping the rest of us posted.

The car is in at the moment, I will have it back this evening, as soon as my mechanic has the belt off I will report its condition.

Excellent, if you manage to get any pictures up it would be much appreciated.

Sounds good guys. Mines used as a Taxi too so im doing 45- 50,000 miles of mxed driving over the year. Me being me can't afford problems with the car & just go by the book when it comes to maintanence. I had my cambelt done at 77,500 & my mechanic said it looked like new. It would be nice to see other peoples experience with their belts against the mileage done.

I'm pretty sure VAG just want to keep themselves above water by getting the belt done every 80,000 :yes:

I know I keep posting this on this topic but I have it in an Email from the factory in Mlada Boleslav that my Octavia 1.9 TDI cam belt is good for 120,000 Km WITH NO MENTION OF ELAPSED TIME--and I did ask them that specifically.

I'm surprised the Skoda dealers have not got Skoda to recommend a belt change every 6 months. That would keep the money rolling in.

Had a look at the belt that came off today, it looked a little tired but the edges had not started to break up yet and there was no cracking. I'm sorry that I didn't take any pics for you guys but I would say it would have been good for a few more thousand kilometres. If my mechanic is in work on saturday I'll ask him to get it out of the rubbish for me.

I do about 6000kms a month on all sorts of roads.

Had my cam belt just done 34000 miles . Four years old Octavia VRS 2.0 TFSI £450.00 with water pump and for that obviously collant change at Mitchell Skoda , Cheshire Oaks (No service) . Could have paid £300.00 at Independant but thought I'd pay extra for genuine and guaranteed for two years . Your price seems good though .

Fella's, I've put down a deposit on a 06 Octavia 1.4 Petrol for the missus a couple of days ago, picking it up later this afternoon. Car has about 94k klms on it and timing belt hasn't yet been done. What is the recommended interval for changing these ? 60k ? I've been quoted €300-350 by my local mechanic to change the belt and water pump so will look to get it done

The recommended Cam Belt replacement interval is only a recommendation and has to cover all types of driving and conditions ( low temperatures may well cause the belt to "stiffen" and increase stresses) . Obviously the manufacturer is going to be cautious as their reputation is on the line . Vehicles that do lots of stop/starts will impose repeated stress cycles to the belt ( & tensioner ), whereas steady motorway driving will induce the least number of stress cycles per mile ( lower revs + no violent acceleration). The belt materials will eventually degrade with time and possible contamination with oil etc. Just because the recommended interval is say 80.000,miles does not mean that it will fail at 80,001 miles. Or similary if interval is 4 years it does not mean it will fail at 4 years one day. The recommended interval is based on failure probablity and a safety factor. The latest technology belts have a "high flex" construction which enables vehicle manufactures to extend the replacement interval. My MK6 Golf 1.6TDI has a Continental (Contitech) "high flex" belt and the recommended replacement interval is 300,000 Km ( approx 200,000 miles ) ! If you delay the belt replacement then you are increasing the probablity that the belt will fail . Your choice !

I know I keep posting this on this topic but I have it in an Email from the factory in Mlada Boleslav that my Octavia 1.9 TDI cam belt is good for 120,000 Km WITH NO MENTION OF ELAPSED TIME--and I did ask them that specifically.

I'm surprised the Skoda dealers have not got Skoda to recommend a belt change every 6 months. That would keep the money rolling in.

+1

I am afraid there seems to be a groupthink going on amoungst some of the membership with regard to timing belts.

I don't see the point of buying a car renowned for its reliabilty and then not trusting the manufacture's opinion on the life expectancy of a part.

I find the idea of four years for the life of a belt highly suspicious. - Long enough out of waranty to avoid a "good will" contribution from Skoda or a dealer and not too long as to happen when the car has been sold on to a second or even third owner who is much less likely to throw four hundred pounds around with abandon. It also coincides with the second variable service which is handy for the dealer.

Typically, if one were to suggest, as you have done, that four years appears nowhere in the service book or website then you will be told that Skoda have issued a TSB to dealers.

Again, no one ever produces this document and it matters not that you service book was printed last week - long after the TSB was supposed to have been issued. Since liability for defective products (and components) are covered by EU directives, one would assume that Skoda would make a point of writing directly to owners if there had been a change in the service recomendations.

Just my opinion - In the end, change your timing belt if you wish but unless someone can produce this mythical TSB then those who recommend four years when there is no mention in the service book should acknowledge that that is just their opinion and NOT fact.

The recommended Cam Belt replacement interval is only a recommendation and has to cover all types of driving and conditions ( low temperatures may well cause the belt to "stiffen" and increase stresses) . Obviously the manufacturer is going to be cautious as their reputation is on the line . Vehicles that do lots of stop/starts will impose repeated stress cycles to the belt ( & tensioner ), whereas steady motorway driving will induce the least number of stress cycles per mile ( lower revs + no violent acceleration). The belt materials will eventually degrade with time and possible contamination with oil etc. Just because the recommended interval is say 80.000,miles does not mean that it will fail at 80,001 miles. Or similary if interval is 4 years it does not mean it will fail at 4 years one day. The recommended interval is based on failure probablity and a safety factor. The latest technology belts have a "high flex" construction which enables vehicle manufactures to extend the replacement interval. My MK6 Golf 1.6TDI has a Continental (Contitech) "high flex" belt and the recommended replacement interval is 300,000 Km ( approx 200,000 miles ) ! If you delay the belt replacement then you are increasing the probablity that the belt will fail . Your choice !

Oh Christ I know that but if you were to go above the recommended figure you can have no complaints if she snapped on ya. I once had a belt go on a Vectra and it broke my heart to pay for the repair. Collected the car this evening, turns out the car has covered 85k klms so a bit more breathing space than I expected. Bought the car without OH seeing it in person and she's delighted with it. Her previous car was a Honda HRV and thinks this the bomb !! Happy days.

Just thought I would throw this in the mix, my 4x4 FSi is 3 years old and has done 16000 miles, would estimate by next year it will have done less than 25000 miles

would you still suggest cam belt/water pump change at this low mileage.

I know I keep posting this on this topic but I have it in an Email from the factory in Mlada Boleslav that my Octavia 1.9 TDI cam belt is good for 120,000 Km WITH NO MENTION OF ELAPSED TIME--and I did ask them that specifically.

I'm surprised the Skoda dealers have not got Skoda to recommend a belt change every 6 months. That would keep the money rolling in.

That's interesting because I was just quoted 74k by my local dealer for my 1.9TDi. He didn't mention a time limit. They have you over a barrel though as who is going to take the risk of ending up with an engine that's a mangled great lump of dead weight?

Mark

That's interesting because I was just quoted 74k by my local dealer for my 1.9TDi. He didn't mention a time limit. They have you over a barrel though as who is going to take the risk of ending up with an engine that's a mangled great lump of dead weight?

Mark

120,000 km does not quite equal 80k miles, it's seventy something miles.