Robinsons Skoda in Norwich are CATEGORICALLY saying that all Fabia vRS turbo diesels have a cambelt change at 120,000km (74,520 miles). Now I, and I think everyone else on here KNOWS it's 60,000 miles. But I have to say I can't find any evidence for 60,000 miles on a diesel. Petrols, yes, but not diesels. It appears to be an internet myth.

Anyone know any better? It could well save a few high milers some money for another few months.

Snapped cambelts ruin you car's life. I changed mine when I found the dealer had not done it (stupid me should have got the dealer to do it or made him come down on price) at about 65k miles. Peace of mind. Water pump too. Get a decent one not a nasty flimsy plastic one.

Edited 15 December, 201015 yr by Newera

75000 miles or every 4 years whichever comes first.

75000 miles or every 4 years whichever comes first.

Sounds like a plan. For me it was nearly four years almost to the day that my car was registered.

I just do mine every 50000 miles as I have the benefit of a family mechanic who does it very cheaply and with VAG OEM parts. Simply for peace of mind

I agree about the 4 years, but isn't it 60,00 miles? Why would you have a MAJOR component change at a service interval between two other services? It makes no sense.

I'd go with the 4 years rule as well; if you're really lucky, a snapped cambelt "just" means some bent valves. If you're unlucky, smashed cam journals, broken camshaft, bent valves, chipped piston crowns and bent conrods and crank.

I'd go with the 4 years rule as well; if you're really lucky, a snapped cambelt "just" means some bent valves. If you're unlucky, smashed cam journals, broken camshaft, bent valves, chipped piston crowns and bent conrods and crank.

Now I'm no engineer or car designer, but it seems bizarre that manufacturers haven't yet managed to factor out such a cheap little part that can cause such big expensive damage if it fails

I'd go with the 4 years rule as well; if you're really lucky, a snapped cambelt "just" means some bent valves. If you're unlucky, smashed cam journals, broken camshaft, bent valves, chipped piston crowns and bent conrods and crank.

Yes, but what about those of us who actually use our cars and work on mileage rather than age?

how much is a cambelt change?

how much is a cambelt change?

Enough to be a pain. I would tend to go with somebody that can to it properly. I had four Pug 306/Rallye/GTis and cambelts were a constant issue. Would be interesting to see how many snappers there are out there that did not change etc. Then we could work out if it is a problem for any of the Skoda cars diesel or petrol.

Enough to be a pain. I would tend to go with somebody that can to it properly. I had four Pug 306/Rallye/GTis and cambelts were a constant issue. Would be interesting to see how many snappers there are out there that did not change etc. Then we could work out if it is a problem for any of the Skoda cars diesel or petrol.

Well, according to Robinsons, mine (which I believed was done at 60,000 miles as part of that service) wasn't so mine has now done almost 120,000 miles, which is why I was enquiring about getting it done again.

how much is a cambelt change?

£300-£700 depending on who you get to do it and how much you like getting ripped off.

Got cambelt and water pump (metal propeller) all in for £265.00

For piece of mind well worth it!!!!!!!!!

Now I'm no engineer or car designer, but it seems bizarre that manufacturers haven't yet managed to factor out such a cheap little part that can cause such big expensive damage if it fails

Many now have - it's called a cam chain - haha

If bikes can run to 100,000 miles or more on a chain that puts up with 10,000rpm+ - I don't see why car manufacturers still work with belts - other than COST

Edited 15 December, 201015 yr by DEAN0

Did mine at the end of October.

65000 miles but 7 years old!! (53 plate)

ok, that could be deemed risky. But I'm an enigineer & i look at the risk factors of product life.

If a cambelt was prone to faliure at the 60000mile / 4 year mark then there be a lot of people on this forum saying their cambelt has broken.

What engineers do is test the cambelt to breaking points. Then, once all the data is correlated you get a graph showing when failures start occuring.

This could look like this (from a sample of 1000, each step is based on a 1 year increment):

0 Failures @ <10000 miles

1 Failures @ 10001 to 30000

3 Failures @ 30001 to 50000

5 Failures @ 50001 to 70000

9 Failues @ 70001 to 90000

17 Failures @ 90001 to 110000

Therefore the point at which failures significantly rise is around the 70000 mark. So, a good position to change the cambelt would be around the 60000 mark as this gives the optimal mileage to failure ratio.

So, you're not guaranteed a cambelt failure just because you do 70000 miles instead of 60000. Yes, the likely hood goes up but only be a very small percentage. Its like car insurance - if you only do 10000 miles a year you pay less than if you do 15000 miles. The insurance companies say because you do more milage your more likely to crash... you may.... but its highly unlikely.

So, i say dont worry about cambelts so much, you maybe really unlucky & have one fail after 2 years or 30000miles, or never change one & do 120000 miles over 9 years.

But as a general rule I would get them done around the 4 to 5 year mark & the 60000 to 70000 mark.

Now I'm no engineer or car designer, but it seems bizarre that manufacturers haven't yet managed to factor out such a cheap little part that can cause such big expensive damage if it fails

They have - it's called a timing chain. Mind you, they come with their own set of maintenance problems as well :(

@ Chris Berry #16 - I do statistics (amongst other things) and would concur with your argument based on those data. If the actual data are different...

Timing Chain does the same job as a belt, but is a timing chain is noisier, less efficient, and more expensive than a timing belt.

Does last longer mind & some people argue that they started using belts so that the car manufacturers could make more money from servicing.

@ KenONeill

I just made that data up to show that an increase failure rate occurs at around 70000 miles.

So nobody print that out & take it into a garage to show them that its unlikely that your cambelt is going to break & they dont need to change it!!! LOL.

Now I'm no engineer or car designer, but it seems bizarre that manufacturers haven't yet managed to factor out such a cheap little part that can cause such big expensive damage if it fails

Mazda have

The MX5 has had a non-interference engine since 1989 cambelt snaps and there is no damage engine just stops, don't ask me how I know........

@ KenONeill

I just made that data up to show that an increase failure rate occurs at around 70000 miles.

So nobody print that out & take it into a garage to show them that its unlikely that your cambelt is going to break & they dont need to change it!!! LOL.

I got that; I was just saying that those data showed a specific pattern to a statistician as well, not that they were statistically acceptable evidence when you have an installed base into the 10s of thousands of engines, or even that they were real data.

Non-interference engine. Genius, never knew they existed, now I want one and to have my cambelt go just for the sake of it.

ok, I have to admit I'm confused - I was under the impression it was 4 year or 40000 miles. I'm sure i've read MANY posts here stating that... :wonder:

Now I may be confused, but happy-as I was anticipating needing to be done soon. I bought the car in july08 at 3.5 years, and 26k, so had the belt and pump done then. seeing as i'm up to 61k now, I was expecting to do it in May. However, If I have another 18 months and 45k miles to go I am going to be one happy little camper tonight!

so, who wants to give me the good news?!

PL

Mines a 53 plate, first belt done at 80k (before it was mine) and it's on 148,000 now. Best get the wallet out

Matt