Good afternoon,

A family friend has just bought a 2001 Octavia 1.4 with 45k on the clock, and is asking me questions as they know I have a vRS.

They are wondering when the cambelt wants doing....now I assume it's about 60k or 7 years ish, so it will be due one!?

Can anyone shed any light on this please? I've not seen the car yet but apparently it's one owner and very tidy. Is there anything else that wants checking / doing on this engine as I'm not familiar with it

Cheers

James

Cam belt is due at 4 years or 60,000 miles whichever is sooner, same as the other models.

Cam belt needs doing asap.

Doesn't the 1.4 have a chain? Or am I imagining that?

EDIT: According to Wikipedia, the 8v AMD engine has a chain, the 16v has a belt.

1.4 I4 44-50kW (Å koda)

This engine was originally developed by Å koda Auto, before the company was acquired by Volkswagen Group, and is therefore NOT an EA111 engine. However, this engine was used in some Å kodas after the takeover.

engine displacement & engine configuration
   1,397 cubic centimetres (85.3 cu in) inline-four engine (I4); bore x stroke: 75.5 by 78.0 millimetres (2.97 in × 3.07 in), stroke ratio: 0.97:1 - undersquare/long-stroke, 349.2 cc per cylinder
cylinder block & crankcase
   grey cast iron; three main bearings, duplex chain-driven camshaft
cylinder head & valvetrain
   cast aluminium alloy; two valves per cylinder, overhead valve (OHV) with pushrods and rocker shaft
fuel system & engine management
   multi-point indirect fuel injection with four intake manifold-sited fuel injectors
DIN-rated motive power & torque outputs
   44 kilowatts (60 PS; 59 bhp) @ 5,000 rpm; 118 newton metres (87 ft·lbf) @ 2,600 rpm — AZE, AZF
   44 kilowatts (60 PS; 59 bhp) @ 4,500 rpm; 120 newton metres (89 ft·lbf) @ 2,500 rpm — AMD
   50 kilowatts (68 PS; 67 bhp) @ 5,000 rpm; 120 newton metres (89 ft·lbf) @ 2,500 rpm — AQW, AME, ATZ
applications
   Å koda Fabia Mk1, Å koda Octavia Mk1 

The 16v has a cam belt. The 8V fitted to the Fabia has a chain, don't think that we get a 1.4 8v Octavia in the UK, perhaps in other markets they do.

The 1.4 8v was sluggish and thirsty enough in the Fabia. Dread to think what it would be like in something Octavia sized.

Ahh, didn't realise it wasn't available on the Octy - New it was on the Fabia though, 1.4 MPI.

To the OP, get it changed then, unless they somehow have one with an 8v engine, then no need.