Hi Guys

I have eventually booked my car in for a full service (Very long overdue) I have gone Independent as was £100 cheaper the Winchester Skoda but they are VW technicians and use genuine Skoda parts. When I rang Winchester Skoda they said I am due a cambelt change (4 years old or 80 thousand) My car is a March 07 plate but only done 48k. I have not booked in for the cambelt change yet as I need to save up for that. Is there any advice you can give me on if I need this done urgently? I will look at the cambelt tonight to inspect it for any obvious wear what do I need to look out for?

Cheers

Shane

Edited 19 September, 201114 yr by shane_saintsfc

if its 4 years old it needs doing.

Surely in this day in age cambelts last longer than 47k!

Anyway, As I will go a couple of months before I get this done, What do I need to look out for for any obvious signs of wear?

Surely in this day in age cambelts last longer than 47k!

Anyway, As I will go a couple of months before I get this done, What do I need to look out for for any obvious signs of wear?

A sudden loss of power followed by lots of bits of engine on the road and a mass of twisted pistens and valves

Not again!!

This is an Email I sent to Skoda HQ in Mlada Bolaslav

"My car is 4 years old. It has travelled 40,000 Km. I took it to a big local VAG dealer and asked them to change the cam-belt.

They could not understand what I was talking about. They said they would never change a cam-belt until 60,000 km.

I said in UK it is four years. They seemed amazed and 4 different people including a Director of the Company all told me not to worry about years only about distance travelled.

Please can you tell me---Should the cam-belt be changed now the car is 4 years old or not?

Or should I wait till the car has done 60,000 km?"

This is the reply

"Concerning your question I would like to confirm the statement given to you by our Spanish representative – the replacement of the cam belt depends on the mileage.

In your case – Octavia II 1.9 TDI PD BJB – the interval for the cambelt replacement is on 120.000 km so you still have many kilometres to run...

Best regards,

Customer care"

There seems to be no other country where the four year time is used. I've heard it said the idea was dreamed up to give dealers some work and money when they lost work and money when variable service intervals were introduced.

But I'm sure your friendly local dealer will be happy to see you.

if its 4 years old it needs doing.

No it doesn't. No mention of age now in the service book since 2007 and it is 100k miles afaik.

No it doesn't. No mention of age now in the service book since 2007 and it is 100k miles afaik.

I started a thread on this awhile back and was told 4 years or 60k milage. I did point out that it doesn't say that in the service book.

Only milage related

Surely in this day in age cambelts last longer than 47k!

They are rubber and will perish with age as well as wear. When I had belt driven Fords it was always around 5 years/50k or so. BUT, people tended to get it done sooner than later. If the belt breaks, its a written off engine. Luckly my TSI is chain driven!

My dealer says 4 years or 95k miles .Mine will be 4 years old december so decided to have it done even though only 42k on the clock .The dealer is offering 100 pounds off the usual price if booked by end of october .My previous mark 1 octy was fine and changed the belt at 80k miles even though over 6 years old .Confusing I agree but if the belt snaps its a very big expensive job !

They are rubber and will perish with age as well as wear. When I had belt driven Fords it was always around 5 years/50k or so. BUT, people tended to get it done sooner than later. If the belt breaks, its a written off engine. Luckly my TSI is chain driven!

yes but will last longer than 4 yrs and since 2009 will last forever (age wise)

http://www.atzonline.com/index.php;do=show/site=a4e/alloc=1/id=9123/sid=1288654004e787b79adb09932505303

Just a lot of scaremongering by dealers and forums in this country.

Most of the latest fords now are 10 years or 150k. My own octy will be 4 years old next year & will have around 35k on the clock,as im fitting my own timing belt i will replace it at the 4 year interval for peace of mind as a failure will be a lot more than the £150 for the timing belt parts.

I replaced mine this year at 45k miles - AND at 7 years. Yes, late I know and a gamble if it had snapped. But, hey, 45k miles is nothing.

Looking at the old belt compared next to the new one one would be hard pressed to tell the difference between the two for wear and tear. Virtually new. I'd have been happy to use it for another 45k miles and 4 or 5 more years. Same on my 16V Golf. 65K miles and 6 years. Almost as new.

(NOTE: I'm not condoning leaving recommended belt intervals. Just relating my experience)

I did do the change for the peace of mind and also to ensure the work was done to keep servicing up to date for warranty cover.

Most of the latest fords now are 10 years or 150k. My own octy will be 4 years old next year & will have around 35k on the clock,as im fitting my own timing belt i will replace it at the 4 year interval for peace of mind as a failure will be a lot more than the £150 for the timing belt parts.

But there is no time limit on yours. Check with SUK if you like. It is 100k miles.

No it doesn't. No mention of age now in the service book since 2007 and it is 100k miles afaik.

Page 8 of the service book states every 180000km.....112500miles

Page 14 and subsequent Service Proof pages states every 60000km or 4years

Which is right?

Page 8 of the service book states every 180000km.....112500miles

Page 14 and subsequent Service Proof pages states every 60000km or 4years

Which is right?

Will check mine but is it something to do with either the V6 diesel cambelt or maybe an inspection of toothed belt every 4 years?

I would point out that service books are not reliable information. They are out of date as soon as they are printed and subject to change. The only current and up to date information is on the ELSAPro system that dealers have. Its chassis specific so any dealer can check what is required and when.

Will check mine but is it something to do with either the V6 diesel cambelt or maybe an inspection of toothed belt every 4 years?

Since when has there been a V6 diesel in a Superb, Octavia or Yeti to which the Service Book relates?

I would point out that service books are not reliable information. They are out of date as soon as they are printed and subject to change. The only current and up to date information is on the ELSAPro system that dealers have. Its chassis specific so any dealer can check what is required and when.

Also specific to the UK then as the rest of the world doesn't appear to have timed change intervals.

Since when has there been a V6 diesel in a Superb, Octavia or Yeti to which the Service Book relates?

Right page 7 - 60000km or 4 years - No mention of toothed belt

Page 7 - At 90000km then every 30000km inspect toothed belt (4 cyl petrol only)

Page 7 - In Addition every 150000km - Replace Toothed Belt (PD engines)

Page 7 - Every 180000km - Replace Toothed Belt (Diesel Engines TDI CR- Common Rail)

Page 8 - Every 300000km - Change Toothed Belt Pulley (PD)

Page 8 - Every 4 years - NO mention of any sort of belts again.

Page 14 is a standard template for each service record. No mention of times. just a tick box for Additional work and toothed belt is one option.

But then again why do they bother putting all that info in the service book if it is not relevant as soon as you drive off :wonder:

Ask yourselves this question - If you only did 2,000 miles per annum would you wait till the cambelt was 30 years old before replacement ? ( 60K miles total). I'm not saying that 4 years is correct but it is obvious that cambelts do deteriorate over time . The manufacturers have invariably give wrong advice in the past & keep ammending the replacement criteria. It's very confusing for the average motorist. It doesn't help when the Skoda replacement interval ia appreciably different than the VW interval for the same engine ! Some Italian manufacturers ammended their interval from 60K to 36K as a result of early failures !

My MK6 Golf 1.6 CR TDI handbook says cambelt replacement at 300,000Km ( approx 200,000 miles !) with no time limit ! What's the betting that this is ammended in the near future ? Will I replace the belt earlier than this - You betcha !

Edited 20 September, 201114 yr by vwcabriolet1971

On 20/09/2011 at 12:23, m0bov said:

They are rubber and will perish with age as well as wear. When I had belt driven Fords it was always around 5 years/50k or so. BUT, people tended to get it done sooner than later. If the belt breaks, its a written off engine. Luckly my TSI is chain driven!

What happens if a timing chain or tensioner breaks? Are they less likely to suffer catastrophique engine damage

 

Wow, old thread but still here.....its a new engine. In fact my vrs threw its timing chain and needed a new engine.

Oh wow, Bad luck. I didn't know that had happened. I thought you said luckily your TSI is chain driven, or was that meant to be super dry?