I asked about getting the cam belt changed at various local garages, and invited them to quote for the water pump being done at the same time. Each advised that the water pump change was not necessary, as my 56 reg Octavia II 1.9TDI has a keyed impeller, unlike my older 52 reg Octavia 1.9TDI, which had a plastic impeller, and these were notorious for the impeller becoming unstuck from the water pump drive shaft.

I've elected to defer changing the timing belt as my car has done very low mileage, and while I'm aware the advice these days is 4 years/40,000 miles, the service schedule for that car at the time it was sold to me was 80,000 miles, if I recall correctly.

Andy

Your cambelt is overdue on age grounds. If you want to risk needing a new cylinder head and possibly pistons carry on as you are.

Why? Does it take no time to remove the water pump, drain and refill the cooling system?

Usually an extra 0.3 hours isnt out of line.

I got it done at the time I had my cambelt done and will do again at the next one.

It was about £25 exchange for the new part and about an extra £15 for labour.

Makes sense as to ask a moving part to last 160k miles isn't a certainty, so for £40 you might as well have piece of mind.

As Ross says, it's £40 to save a £400 bill, rather than £40 to save total failure. The seizure should hopefully be less likely on a new part compared to an old one, as it's got new bearings and no corrosion.

As for the intervals, I've heard the 4 years thing, but what's all this 40k rubbish?

It was 80k when I got it and I've not had a letter telling me otherwise (although I did get a 4 year notice).

Edited 4 January, 201214 yr by cheezemonkhai

I elected to defer changing the timing belt as my car has done very low mileage, and while I'm aware the advice these days is 4 years/40,000 miles, the service schedule for that car at the time it was sold to me was 80,000 miles, if I recall correctly. Update 4th May 2012: Safely made it this far, and then decided not to push my luck...

I've had it done now, at Startin Skoda, in Powick. They advised that as there was the tiniest amount of play (but no leak) on the water pump shaft, I should have it done. Total bill £456.17, for a 1.9Tdi PD, but the courtesy car was free. Looks like others got better deals.

It snapped back in January so lets hope he's back on the road by now.

I wonder if the garage / Skoda UK payed out in the end?

It snapped back in January so lets hope he's back on the road by now.

I wonder if the garage / Skoda UK payed out in the end?

Yes - January 2011!! Rather an old thread that's come back to life. Shame that AndyLD wrote no conclusion - perhaps he was offered something on the basis that he didn't say anything publicly.

Could do with amending the post title too as the belt didnt snap,the nut/stud for the tensioner sheard off & caused the belt to lose tension,sounds like it was the garage that replaced the belts fault,no fault of the car or the timing belt. With all the threads on here about changing your cambelt at 4 years or not changing it at 4 years, a thread called my cambelt snapped wont help!

Could do with amending the post title too as the belt didnt snap,the nut/stud for the tensioner sheard off & caused the belt to lose tension,sounds like it was the garage that replaced the belts fault,no fault of the car or the timing belt. With all the threads on here about changing your cambelt at 4 years or not changing it at 4 years, a thread called my cambelt snapped wont help!

Especially since the belt had only been in for 12 months so kinda blows the 4 year argument out of the water!

So are you saying it needs to be less than 4 years!?

Maybe Skoda should play it extra safe and reduce the interval to every 12 months

So are you saying it needs to be less than 4 years!?

Maybe Skoda should play it extra safe and reduce the interval to every 12 months

Every Journey, just in case?

Every Journey, just in case?

Ha ha, I think that would be a sensible precaution.