Hi folks,

my Fabia vRS SE has just celebrated its fourth birthday at the end of May, meaning it's due its cambelt change. My localish dealer (West End Garage, Broxburn) are doing a deal whereby they're offering a cambelt change for £199. When I contacted them to ask if this included the waterpump change, they replied no, and said that it wasn't necessary to change the waterpump at the same time. Is this true? They said that if I did want the waterpump changed (incl. coolant), I'd have to pay an extra £50, so even then, £249 for a cambelt and waterpump change still isn't too bad.

They said that the £199 deal includes the bolts and tensioner, whatever these are.

One thing they did say was that whilst i'm getting the cambelt changed, I may as well get the alternator belt changed at the same time, but this would be an extra £30. Again, is this necessary?

So, what are your thoughts, folks? Should I just go for the cambelt change? Or should I add on the extras, ie waterpump and/or alternator belt change, for peace of mind?

Ta

Statto

I'm not sure about the alternator belt, but I think near enough everyone recommends replacing the water pump at the same time

I had my cambelt changed at 4 years and was told by the dealer that the pump wasn't necessary and he'd not heard or seen any problems with them going. I'd heard different on here, but opted not to get it done. It's been fine, and is due the next change (8 yrs) in September - but I probably will change the pump at that one.

Not heard of the alternator belt though, and was never advised that. Mines been fine for 8 years if that's any help?

I had the waterpump changed at the same time as my cambelt. It was done as standard at the garage I took it to. When I was thinking about having the cambelt I had a look on the forums here and they recommended it was changed at the same time. Something to do with the fins being plastic on the old ones and metal on the new ones.

Good Luck

If I remember correctly, the first type of plastic one was a bit rubbish, and could fail, resulting in no coolant being pumped around the system.

There is a revised plastic one which is apparently much better. When they started fitting this to cars in the factory, I'm not sure.

The general consensus is if you had a plastic one fitted, fit another plastic one, as metal impellors can do some serious damage...

I'm not sure about the alternator belt, but I think near enough everyone recommends replacing the water pump at the same time

I asked about this at the time I had mine done. There's nowhere near the rates of water pump failure on 1.9TDIs as 1.8Ts. Therefore replacing the pump - at least on the first cambelt change, isn't necessary.

J.

As above, it was the 1.8t's that had the water pump issues. I'd just get the belt done personally. Mines about to have it's second change so think I might do it this time

Matt

The reason most get it done is that it requires the same labour so if a pump did need replacing it would cost quite a bit of labour as everything has to come off to get to it. I changed mine with belt and mine had the plastic pump it's a September 2006 car so one of the later ones. I was happy to get it replaced with a metal impeller one.

I changed mine seeing as it was all off, silly not too.

Id get it changed, i did on mine. As said above while its all stripped down it would be silly not to. Also, if you've ever had a water pump fail you'd see why its worth getting it changed.

If West End Skoda say pump isn't needed, then it isn't needed, excellent garage with great mechanics and service manager. Aux belt worth doing, as after 4 years it will be a bit tired. New bolts are for the engine mounting (one shot bolts).