Hello,

My parents have a Skoda Octavia and they are driving back from holiday today when they had a problem and the breakdown company said the cambelt snapped.

Is this something that can be replaced easily or is it something that will write the car off? I'm sure a replacement engine is outside the worth of the car since its over 10 years old.

Best,

John

When was the cambelt last changed?

Does the AA man report any damage?

Depends on the age of the car, mileage etc as to whether the car is a write off. It will also depend on how much damage was done when the cambelt let go, your parents might be lucky if the engine was spinning at low revs and it will only need a top end rebuild. I'm sure someone more knowledgeable about technical stuff like Tech1e might be able to give a more definitive answer.

Ian

what engine is it?

what engine is it?

1.9L Petrol

They didnt do a 1.9 litre petrol?

They didnt do a 1.9 litre petrol?

Then my guess would be 1.8 litre then.

I'd normally go out and look at it, but its on a car transporter from Oxford to Hastings...

Best,

John

Probably guessing with the car being 10 years old it isnt an Octavia II then?

1.8 Turbo?

Probably guessing with the car being 10 years old it isnt an Octavia II then?

1.8 Turbo?

Ok sorry, I've posted this is the wrong forum! :

If it is the cambelt gone then it really depends on what the rest of the car is like, salvage engine could be an option but to be honest unless the car has some sentimental value its going to be hard for it to be economically viable. It will have at least bent valves Id say with the nature of the 20V engine, be worth popping the head off and having a look, might only be a couple.

Depends how much your parents are prepaired to spend on it,

Not to clued up on these engines but am guessing if cambelts snapped then pistons have probably clattered valves,

Might be cheaper to source a replacement engine rather than repair the original,

I do rather believe in better the devil you know when it comes to repairing or replacing cars

It depends I'm afraid.

I've a strong suspicion that the best way to fix the car would be a second-hand engine. If you're lucky, a cambelt failure might only stop the engine. OTOH it might also break a camshaft, bend valves, chip pistons, bend conrods and crankshaft, and even break the cam bearings in the head.

i have seen a diesel one snap before and the only damage it did was crush the hydralic buckets

i have seen a diesel one snap before and the only damage it did was crush the hydralic buckets

Yeah but those valves are probably straight down and two per cylinder, 5v per cylinder engines are a lot more complicated.

It could go several ways!

Either the belt snapped and the valves have came into contact with the pistons and bent causing the valve guides in the block to crack, in which case either a new engine or a rebuild.

Or if you are really lucky you may find that its just bend valves and all you need is a new set and a belt kit gaskets etc and its all fine.

Or it could be a combination of the above!

But from past experiences, fear the worst as it probaly is!!!!!!!!

But i hope you are lucky

Edited 8 July, 201114 yr by dannyboy759

this reminds me i need to order a kit and waterpump for mine think its close to being 4 years since the last one