I had my cam belt (& water-pump) replaced at 40,000 miles as specified, and have now clocked up 75,000 miles. I asked my local Skoda dealer recently about the next change and I'm told that they (the dealer) would have used a 'long life' belt (i.e. 80,000 miles) so it will not need changing again until I've clocked up 120.000 miles. I have seen no independent confirmation of this and wonder if anyone here is aware of these 'long life' belts? The part numbers of the belt and components changed at 40,000 miles were/are:

'Ten Roller' 038109243N

'Hex Screw' N10209603

'Bolt' N90712401

'Bolt' N10328001

'Belt' 038109119M

The car is a 2003 Elegance estate Tdi 130PD.

Grateful for any advice (confirmation?).

PS: the water pump was an OE one (contrary to the advice appearing elsewhere on this forum - simply because I forgot to ask for the all-metal one!

they are having you on

avoid this dealer - they obviously dont know what they are talking about

the issue isn't really that the belt won't do 80k - it might or might not, but highly unlikely the rollers and tensioner etc will all survive for that long

seek a vag specialist - will be cheaper than main dealer too

I'm sure that the change interval is 4 years or 60,000 miles whichever is sooner. VAG standardised on this some years ago.

they are having you on

avoid this dealer - they obviously dont know what they are talking about

the issue isn't really that the belt won't do 80k - it might or might not, but highly unlikely the rollers and tensioner etc will all survive for that long

seek a vag specialist - will be cheaper than main dealer too

I beg to differ. Rollers and tensioners are bearings and nothing but. All bearings are specified with the speed and load placed upon it as the main consideration, and are always over-engineered. It's very rare for any bearing to fail within it's design life unless it is subjected to some kind of abuse or lack of lubrication, and nearly always vastly exceed it. Many garages scaremonger people because they don't know what they're talking about. I changed my cambelt after 80,000 miles from the pervious change and the tensioner and roller were both in perfect condition. By that I mean no play and no signs of harshness. Now I'm not a design engineer but I seriously doubt that either of these components would've failed at anytime soon had I re-used them. Having said that of course it's obviously good practice to change them as it's better to be safe than sorry, or if the bearings used are of very poor quality. Years ago we didn't change these parts and no-one thought anything of it. It's only quite recently that cambelts are changed as a kit, and I suspect the main reason for that is commercialism.

I'm sure that the change interval is 4 years or 60,000 miles whichever is sooner. VAG standardised on this some years ago.

Thats what i have always gone with, with all my vag cars and touch wood never had a snapper

I beg to differ. Rollers and tensioners are bearings and nothing but. All bearings are specified with the speed and load placed upon it as the main consideration, and are always over-engineered. It's very rare for any bearing to fail within it's design life unless it is subjected to some kind of abuse or lack of lubrication, and nearly always vastly exceed it. Many garages scaremonger people because they don't know what they're talking about. I changed my cambelt after 80,000 miles from the pervious change and the tensioner and roller were both in perfect condition. By that I mean no play and no signs of harshness. Now I'm not a design engineer but I seriously doubt that either of these components would've failed at anytime soon had I re-used them. Having said that of course it's obviously good practice to change them as it's better to be safe than sorry, or if the bearings used are of very poor quality. Years ago we didn't change these parts and no-one thought anything of it. It's only quite recently that cambelts are changed as a kit, and I suspect the main reason for that is commercialism.

fair enough mate, but in my experience the belts will only break if and when a tensioner fails or rollers sieze and causes it to jump.

I know I wouldn't be happy running the risk - if you are good luck to you !

fair enough mate, but in my experience the belts will only break if and when a tensioner fails or rollers sieze and causes it to jump.

I know I wouldn't be happy running the risk - if you are good luck to you !

I used to work for the AA, and they had a laboratory in Basingstoke where they would carry out thorough examinations on components to establish the exact cause of failure. Cambelts often came up, and they published an information sheet for staff, and somewhere at home I'm certain I still have a copy. I remember the main causes of cambelt failure were:

Tooth Root Cracking

Over-Tension Stress

Oil Contamination

Age Hardening

This all sounds common sense but an in-depth explanation is given with each type of cause, and if you're interested I'll type it out another time.

Also a cambelt must never be re-fitted and used once it has been removed. This is because there is no way of knowing exactly how much of the initial yield has been taken up on the original tensioning. Cambelts must be correctly tensioned first time.

hmm tensioner not wearing.

When I did the cambelt on mine last at 4 years 35k the tensioner did have wear!

not sure if it was the exception but my mechanic replaced them and showed them to me at the time.

It's false economy not to change the waterpump (if cambelt driven) and all the bolts and rollers and tensioners at the same time as the belt. They may well look fine now, but after 120K and 10years? It's a pointless risk. There is a recent thread on here reporting tensioner and/or pulley failure after just a cambelt change.

It was only a few years ago that vauxhall changed the cambelt change interval from 80k to 40k due to the idler pulleys failing & i have come across a few ford zetec engines that have had the idler pulleys & tensioner pulleys fail before the specified change interval.Bearings do fail,we had a tensioner pulley fail on one of our land rovers at work due to the bearings failing in the pulley.In my 20+ years as a mechanic ive seen more cambelt failures due to failed idler/tensioner & water pump pulleys failing than cambelts snapping.

According to Unit 18s website, the interval on the PD engine is 80k and no need to replace water pump.

According to Unit 18s website, the interval on the PD engine is 80k and no need to replace water pump.

Unless VAG have changed the recommended interval again (always possible), the service interval is 4 years or 60,000 miles across all of the engines. I don't think that there ever was a service interval on the water pump, but as everything that has to come off for the pump is already off for the belt it makes sense to swap it at the same time, particularly as the plastic impellors can break up at any point.

I would perhaps go to every other belt change for the changing the water pump, but others may have a different view.

My local indie (ex-Audi master tech) includes the price of the water pump in his cam belt changes as a matter or course, price for my non-pd is around £250.

Unless VAG have changed the recommended interval again (always possible), the service interval is 4 years or 60,000 miles across all of the engines. I don't think that there ever was a service interval on the water pump, but as everything that has to come off for the pump is already off for the belt it makes sense to swap it at the same time, particularly as the plastic impellors can break up at any point.

I would perhaps go to every other belt change for the changing the water pump, but others may have a different view.

My local indie (ex-Audi master tech) includes the price of the water pump in his cam belt changes as a matter or course, price for my non-pd is around £250.

That is not a bad price, as I guess a cambelt kit to purchase, along with a metal water pump must be around the £110-120 mark.

I changed the water pump on my mine last time (120k), and I have just bought a metal one for the 180k change. I am as yet undecided if I will change it though.

According to Unit 18s website, the interval on the PD engine is 80k and no need to replace water pump.

I've started something here, haven't I!? What/where is '18s website', freedom? Yours is the only post that appears to confirm what my local Skoda dealer has told me! Although I've never had reason to doubt the integrity of the local dealer in Stevenage, everyone else here seems to think I should stick with either 40 or 60,000 miles. This is all VERY confusing for a young lad!! Someone on here seems to have had his belt changed for £250. I forked out £621 for my change at 40,000 miles (that did include an OE water pump though). Very grateful for all the replies. Sorry I haven't responded before but I've had trouble getting into the site for some reason (still not sure it's been fully resolved). Where do I go from here? I'm now on 78,000 miles and reluctant to spend another 600-odd quid if it isn't strictly necessary yet.

Like you i have the 130 pd elegance octy 1 , and now on 126k miles , its had 2 belt and waterpump changes at 60k and 120k , both at a VG Indy , with experience . For the cost of the pump its worth doing as everything is already striped down . Staying with mine at every 60k , thats what Skoda recomended originally . Go to a decent indy , same parts as dealer but less on labour rate , the last change was £306 all in and that was only 3 months ago .

I've started something here, haven't I!? What/where is '18s website', freedom? Yours is the only post that appears to confirm what my local Skoda dealer has told me! Although I've never had reason to doubt the integrity of the local dealer in Stevenage, everyone else here seems to think I should stick with either 40 or 60,000 miles. This is all VERY confusing for a young lad!! Someone on here seems to have had his belt changed for £250. I forked out £621 for my change at 40,000 miles (that did include an OE water pump though). Very grateful for all the replies. Sorry I haven't responded before but I've had trouble getting into the site for some reason (still not sure it's been fully resolved). Where do I go from here? I'm now on 78,000 miles and reluctant to spend another 600-odd quid if it isn't strictly necessary yet.

Hi,

Unit 18 are a site sponsor and VAG specialist based near northampton. Have a look on the main forum page and you'll find them in the "site sponsor" section. There's also a link to their own website in there.

£621 that's robbery! Even the local VW dealer to me only wanted 400! If that was for cam belt and water pump only, you've been ripped off my friend. Unit 18 will do it including water pump for a shade over 300 inc vat. Give them a call, they're very helpful and not too far from you. I'm having cambelt and a service done there next month and I'm in Yorkshire!

Hope this helps,

Martin

It was only a few years ago that vauxhall changed the cambelt change interval from 80k to 40k due to the idler pulleys failing & i have come across a few ford zetec engines that have had the idler pulleys & tensioner pulleys fail before the specified change interval.Bearings do fail,we had a tensioner pulley fail on one of our land rovers at work due to the bearings failing in the pulley.In my 20+ years as a mechanic ive seen more cambelt failures due to failed idler/tensioner & water pump pulleys failing than cambelts snapping.

Lets be fair it is a bloody ford....Half the quality of a VAG car...lol

Hi,

Unit 18 are a site sponsor and VAG specialist based near northampton. Have a look on the main forum page and you'll find them in the "site sponsor" section. There's also a link to their own website in there.

£621 that's robbery! Even the local VW dealer to me only wanted 400! If that was for cam belt and water pump only, you've been ripped off my friend. Unit 18 will do it including water pump for a shade over 300 inc vat. Give them a call, they're very helpful and not too far from you. I'm having cambelt and a service done there next month and I'm in Yorkshire!

Hope this helps,

Martin

the specialist near me does them for £260 all in...including water pump..

Edited 6 March, 201115 yr by mountie66

the specialist near me does them for £260 all in...including water pump..

Thanks for all the responses. I've just re-checked the invoice for my last belt change and realise that it did include £115 for tyres, but it still would appear I've paid well over the odds! Also just realised the car will be 8 years' old come December this year (where the hell did the past 4 years go?) so I suppose I'm coming up to a change irrespective of the mileage(?). I might give that VAG-man in Northampton a bell later. Thanks again for all the responses. This site is worth its weight in gold! - I replaced both front wishbones last year on the Octy and would never have had the confidence to do that without the help & advice from all you out there!

the specialist near me does them for £260 all in...including water pump..

Which specialist do you use mate

Interested to know as mine is due next year

Cheers

Damo

Which specialist do you use mate

Interested to know as mine is due next year

Cheers

Damo

He is a really good friend that opened his own business he has worked for audi,and volkswagon...He is the only one who touches my car...I won't even take it to a dealer...Let me know when ya want it done I can hook you up with him ..

He is a really good friend that opened his own business he has worked for audi,and volkswagon...He is the only one who touches my car...I won't even take it to a dealer...Let me know when ya want it done I can hook you up with him ..

Like I said, Cambelt is not due until next year but I have other work that needs doing before.

Pm me if you dont want it known public

Cheers

Damo

Hi all, I've just purchased a Mk1 Octavia with 67,000 miles on the clock. I've checked the receipts and the belt was changed nearly 8 years ago at 49,000 miles. Should I change again, or will it be OK to keep it on until, say, 100,000 miles?

4 years is the suggested change point if the car does not accumulate a great many miles in that time. The belt can age and crack just as much over time as it will in a high load/high mileage environment. You would be wise to consider a water pump at the same time.

Many thanks. I've found this kit: Gates KP15559XS-1. Is this a good one?