Hello. I am currently looking for something like an 04/05 Fabia Vrs and I'm aware that around the 60,000 mile/4 year mark it needs a cam belt change. The thing is that looking on autotrader there only seems to be about four cars of about forty that actually say that the belt has been changed.

How essential is it that the belt has already been changed on a vehicle this age? Is it part of the normal service programme (as many of these cars have full service histories, does this mean they should have had it done?)

Thanks.

Its more a precautionary thing so that they don't snap/slip. Just get it done when you buy it.

Hello. I am currently looking for something like an 04/05 Fabia Vrs and I'm aware that around the 60,000 mile/4 year mark it needs a cam belt change. The thing is that looking on autotrader there only seems to be about four cars of about forty that actually say that the belt has been changed.

How essential is it that the belt has already been changed on a vehicle this age? Is it part of the normal service programme (as many of these cars have full service histories, does this mean they should have had it done?)

Thanks.

yeah needs doing really at 60k or 4 years, but if they have full service history and are over 60k it should have been done and have a service sheet to prove it,

dont just go by the stamps , mine has ever skoda service sheet

It is essential if you dont want to end up with a few thousand pound repair bill for a new engine! When buying get proof that it has ben done. You are taking a huge risk if you dont.

Any 04/05 should have had it done. Otherwise dont touch it

When I'm ringing round a lot of people are saying "If it hasn't been done we'll get it done!". Shouldn't it be part of the car's service history? They claim to have a full service history yet it doesn't seem to have been done yet. What gives?

the fact that it isnt mentioned as having had it done doesnt necessarily mean it hasnt, if it has fssh and has done the correct mileage [or car is old enough] then it should have been, if unsure then do it anyway, better safe than sorry imo

cheers MM

Or if buying one which has no evidence of a cambelt change at the required time, then negotiate a lower price to take that into account, or insist that the cambelt is changed as part of the pre delivery inspection at the dealer.

Ian

So if the stamp for the 4th service is there it doesn't necessarily mean the belt has been changed? How else can I find see if it has been done?

Thanks again.

So if the stamp for the 4th service is there it doesn't necessarily mean the belt has been changed? How else can I find see if it has been done?

Thanks again.

Phone the garage that did the service, they usualy have a copy of the invoice on their computer system.

as above the dealer will have it in the history but also , in the service book theres a checklist of whats been done they should tick on each service also isnt there?

Or if buying one which has no evidence of a cambelt change at the required time, then negotiate a lower price to take that into account, or insist that the cambelt is changed as part of the pre delivery inspection at the dealer.

Ian

+1 on this. No problem on buying a car that hasn't had it done but just make sure you get it done. You should of course factor this into the price you're willing to pay.

Thanks everyone. It's all a lot clearer now.

So if the stamp for the 4th service is there it doesn't necessarily mean the belt has been changed? How else can I find see if it has been done?

It won't necessarily be done at the fourth service - you'll have to check around the 60,000/4 year mark - and it might not have been done at a service - my 2004 vRS's wasn't - it was done three months after the fifth service. (should still be recorded in the service book though)

The Fabia has a difficult-to-understand servicing requirement...

Skoda servicing has a smallish standard service with additional items which are extra, advised but not part of a particular service. Brake fluid, cambelts and gearbox oil changes are all good examples of this. They are recommended but additional in cost. It's why you dont get quoted £500 services off the bat like we do on Subaru for example which include cambelts in the service.

Edited 8 October, 201015 yr by Tech1e

gearbox oil changes

That's a new one - what's the interval? - it's not mentioned in the documentation anywhere and I didn't get asked about it on the 2004 car - though coolant is which you've not mentioned - here's the service sheet excerpt (not as comprehensive as the Service Book):

Annual inspection: ~ every 12 months

ï§ Oil change service: ~ see overleaf

ï§ 20,000 miles additional work: ~ in combination with annual inspection

ï§ 40,000 miles additional work: ~ in combination with annual inspection

ï§ Brake fluid ~ every 2 years, in addition to annual inspection

ï§ Coolant change: ~ every 3 years, in addition to annual inspection

(only cars with coolant G11 - blue / green colour)

~ every 5 years, in addition to annual inspection

(only cars with coolant G12 - red colour)

ï§ Air filter element renewed and housing cleaned: ~ every 4 years, in addition to annual inspection

ï§ Emission test: ~ due date

ï§ Wiper blades replacement: ~ preferably every 12 months

I was referring to DSG really.

I was referring to DSG really.

OK - but this is a Mark 1 topic...

Yeah but I was generalising on Skoda servicing and how additional items are added to service schedules.

Service sheets are now out of date and obsolete anyhow.

For example brake fluid is now 3 years on new vehicles for the first change and G12+ is a lifetime coolant with no interval.

Ensure it has been done and not just by the service box been ticked (anyone can add a tick) check with the service garage first, this is serious, and if the belt goes you are looking at a £1k bill

Not SKODA but I had a company peugeot 206sw, belt not due until 60k, I had just had the full 50k service,(car nine months old) drove out of the garage and within one mile bang the belt had gone along with all the valves No one to blame it happens. fortunately the company paid and not I

Consequently as I now run my own VRS I make sure it is done well within the limits

Shocked checking my mileage books, I have driven 2.48Million business miles, accident free until I bought my own car and a herd of deer jumped on me the first month :-)

National

my personal rule of thumb if it aint been done then get it done. Factor it in when you "haggle" for the car and get it done as soon as you can. For the sake of a few hundred quid its better than a new engine.

That really applies to any car that is belt driven, changes you can normally get away with.

Very essential £300 now, or £2000 when it snaps?

If you look at the service book, each box that is signed by the tech. has a tick box for "toothed Belt" , it can be ticked yes or no, I would go by that.

If you look at the service book, each box that is signed by the tech. has a tick box for "toothed Belt" , it can be ticked yes or no, I would go by that.

... but as has been pointed out if someone borrowed a biro they could easily tick the relevant box - or actually boxes since the tensioning pulley has its own separate box.

Makes for another reason to do as I did and have the belt replaced between services - that way unless you forged the stamp too it couldn't just be ticked afterwards...