Hi all,

I have a predicament. My Y reg 2001 Skoda Fabia with 116k on the clock has (to the best of my knowledge) never had its cambelt replaced. I need to have an MOT in order to re-tax and insure it, but I'm guessing this would be required by the garage.

Can anyone please give me a good guide price and any other nasty surprises that might pop in an MOT for a Fabia of this age? The car is currently abroad and I don't really want to have to lug it all the way to the UK to then have to spend loads on it. If it's not worth it, I might just scrap it.

Thoughts?

This is the overhead valve engine which doesn't have a cam belt. MOT wise, front anti roll bar and console bushes come to mind, possibly a broken coil spring and handbrake travel, not forgetting the usual lights, tyres and wipers and ensuring that the front doors can be opened from the inside & outside and that the hatch, bonnet and rear doors can be opened so as not to present a refusal to test.

The 1.4 16v and possibly the 2.0l are the only petrol engines in the mk1 that have a cambelt. The rest have chains which need little or no maintenance, this would include the 1.4 classic which I'd imagine is 8v.

Edited 29 June, 201115 yr by Jim H

Yep when the chain needs to be replaced it rattles and the noise is audible from the front right of the engine.

The requirement of cambelt replacing for an MOT test is aimed primarily at Diesels where, I believe, the test is to stick the accelerator down as far as possible and look for black smoke out of the exhaust. Where the cambelt is not replaced in accordance with MFR specs this presents an increased risk of snapping, and consequently a broken engine. Customers not made aware of this are likely to try claim the garage damaged their car.

For petrols I believe the most they do is hold it at around 2500rpm, therefore about normal driving speed.