Hello All,

Just bought myself a VRS on Friday and rather enjoying the experience, other than it making me feel a bit of a numpty! Got a nice low miler (70,000 miles) with full dealer history, cambelt done at 58,000 and not due a service (on mileage) for another 10,000 miles. Great, I thought, don't need to spend anything on it for a while. Have since realised that it's had very little use over the last few years and so service is due based on being 2 years ago, and cambelt is due soon as was 4 years ago in April (not the years away I assumed when I looked at the history). Feeling a bit of a chump for not picking this up when looking at the history, but my question is - is the 4 year cambelt rule hard and fast or is it low risk to leave it for say 5 years? Think I know the answer (don't risk it), but thought I'd canvass opinion before forking out a load of cash I now don't really have!

All opinions welcome, would be good to hear what the consensus is.....

Cheers,

Henry.

Yeah I don't think I'd risk it mate. Your choice though. You could just get the condition of it checked?

When I bought mine it had its first belt change at 79,000 miles in 2007 and by late 2010 I had just over 120k on the clock so it was still 20k away from needing it on the mileage, but was coming up to 4 years so I had it done just for the peace of mind.

They're not majorly expensive, I saw someone on here the other day had a quote for £285 for cambelt, waterpump, tensioner and labour inc. VAT. That was what mine cost at an independent VAG spcialist in 2010.

Its just worth the worry mate. Change it.

Skoda have the lowest mileage & time intervals for cambelt change of all the VAG cars, which is odd as they share the same engines? :wonder:

5yrs or 60k seems to be about the average from most manufacturers.

Forgot to ask - does the waterpump need doing every time - thinking that as it was done last tome round not long ago it shouldn't need doing again?

Cheers!

Skoda have the lowest mileage & time intervals for cambelt change of all the VAG cars, which is odd as they share the same engines? :wonder:

5yrs or 60k seems to be about the average from most manufacturers.

There are pictures in the one of the forums of a MK1 1.8T engine with a cambelt that had failed at below mileage but over age and it was not nice to look at. Owner ended up needing a whole new engine, and all for the sake of trying to save a few quid. When the MK1 first came out it had a recommended change of 110K miles or 5 years, which was revised downwards due to failure rates.

Righty ho, will be changing the belt then by the sounds of it (darn), but what to do about the water pump..... hmmm....

Righty ho, will be changing the belt then by the sounds of it (darn), but what to do about the water pump..... hmmm....

Most garages will assume you're having the whole lot done and quote you for that.

The problem is if the pump fails 6 months down the line you have to pay the same labour prices as you would for a belt change just to have a garage fit a new pump (same things have to be taken off/moved to do both jobs)... so it makes sense to do them at the same time.

If the pump goes its not usually as serious as a cambelt failure, the engine will start to overheat but assuming you notice it in time you can get it towed to a garage and its repairable unlike a cambelt failure where the damage is done instantly and you'll most likely need a new engine or head.

The pumps do go quite frequently though, the plastic impellors have a habit of breaking up (see pics in this thread):

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/227010-cam-belt-water-pump-service-tomorrow/

On the upside if you get these things done now and have to sell the car in a year or so's time you can get a better price for it.

My belt is 3 years old and 54.000 km,and I'll change it after another 50.000km.The cambelt looks like new,is OEM Gates and the writing on it it's still allmost intact.I must be insane to change it at next year when will be 4 years old.

Look at this videos ,these are some worn timing belts who need replacement,not ours wich looks perfect.

min 3:28 there is a half of the belt remained

min 2:55

i was in the exact same postion cambelt fine mileage wise but due time wise, i couldn't take the risk with mine being 70k mileage!! just had it done for £235 all in using gen vag parts including pump.

I'm in the same situation mine was done at 44 k it's now on 70 k but belt was done 4 years ago. So it's booked in for belt,water pump and tensioner. As previous posts I wouldn't want to be the one posting on here stating belt failed !