So, i'd been deliberating for a while whether to change the belt or not as the car has just flicked over 38k and 4 years old. I was inclined to wait until 60k but decided yesterday to do it.

Very happy that i did it now.

Although looking at the belt it looked in good condition, however turning it over and bending it back on itself only to find loads of cracks and the rubber perishing .

Also, after taking the water pump out, on inspecting that there was a extremely tiny 'nick' out of the 'o ring' which had been allowing a very small amount of water to leak out for who knows how long.

All sorted now anyway and peace of mind for another 80k or 4 years.

If in doubt........GET IT CHANGED

if it breaks while driving, will it damage the engine?

Mine was changed with a new water pump after 4 years but there seems to be conflicting advice regarding the Hand book. No where in the book does it say after 4years the belt must be changed although most people say after 4 years/60k miles

Good call by yourself

Auric

Nige400: Yes, it has the potential to destroy your engine.

Auric: Exactly, i was intending to leave it, but a friend works for VW and he strongly recommended i do it now as VW say 4 years or 80k. Turns out he was right.

All the previous ones I've done have been mostly on Evo's. Every one I've changed at 60k has been mint.

Cheap ass VAG rubber parts lol

Let's clear this up, Skoda recommend on a vrs pd to be changed at 120k km or 75k Miles, there is no where in the book that states anything about years!

Also they use continental belts so great quality .

Also vw engines do not break belts in general.

The every 4 year thing is to create garage revenue.

Let's clear this up, Skoda recommend on a vrs pd to be changed at 120k km or 75k Miles, there is no where in the book that states anything about years!

Not VAG UK!

Hence the point of my post. I'd planned to wait another 20k before doing it, but i doubt it wouldn't of lasted that long seeing the condition of yesterday.

I'm saying to people to do it, but it is peace of mind. Also my water pump would of **** itself in about 6 months too.

I'm a mechanic / vehicle inspector by trade and every timing belt u take off any car will be perished if u bend it the other way, this is very normal, I couldn't see ur car ****ting it self to be honest as iv seen passats with 160 k km on belts and were still not near breaking, also water pump is not recommended to be changed till 240k km by Skoda even tho we do change them every belt interval,

My point is I just don't believe the every 4 year thing it's bull.

I'm a mechanic / vehicle inspector by trade and every timing belt u take off any car will be perished if u bend it the other way, this is very normal, I couldn't see ur car ****ting it self to be honest as iv seen passats with 160 k km on belts and were still not near breaking, also water pump is not recommended to be changed till 240k km by Skoda even tho we do change them every belt interval,

My point is I just don't believe the every 4 year thing it's bull.

I agree with Davidsr20 I'm a VW master tech/ tester, the "4 year" cambelt change is VAG uk only after a couple of early 1.4/1.6 engine belt tensioners/idlers going bang!! And Volkswagen group uk getting twitchy. The cracking/perishing appears not long after new belts are fitted people just dont see it outside of a workshop. Some of the change points for the new CR engines are 150k & tensioners @ 200k....... As for the water pump that would have just leaked a lot more it wouldn't have detonated your belt...... BUT peace of mind is the best policy if that's how the individual feels.

I agree with Davidsr20 I'm a VW master tech/ tester, the "4 year" cambelt change is VAG uk only after a couple of early 1.4/1.6 engine belt tensioners/idlers going bang!! And Volkswagen group uk getting twitchy. The cracking/perishing appears not long after new belts are fitted people just dont see it outside of a workshop. Some of the change points for the new CR engines are 150k & tensioners @ 200k....... As for the water pump that would have just leaked a lot more it wouldn't have detonated your belt...... BUT peace of mind is the best policy if that's how the individual feels.

So is it safe to say a cambelt on a CR engine could last the lifetime of the car (unless it's been used as a taxi doing huge miles) ?

Edited 11 March, 201214 yr by Ultima

So is it safe to say a cambelt on a CR engine could last the lifetime of the car (unless it's been used as a taxi doing huge miles) ?

Well..... You would think so BUT Volkswagen group uk still insist on "4 year" change point or whatever (mileage) comes first....

& Just to add I'm not saying every engine peeps..... Skoda uk is the FIRST point to check when thinking about a cambelt change.

Edited 11 March, 201214 yr by Legend

Well..... You would think so BUT Volkswagen group uk still insist on "4 year" change point or whatever (mileage) comes first....

& Just to add I'm not saying every engine peeps..... Skoda uk is the FIRST point to check when thinking about a cambelt change.

No they don't, not on the newer cars. My 2010 CR has no age limit on the service book, just 100k miles.

My 1.9 (BXE) cambelt and water pump was changed at 4 years 41K.My dealer said it was still like brand new.

You should never take whats stated in the service book as the change interval.

The service book states the change interval at the time the book was printed, the change interval can be revised especially if there are issues with belts or other components failing.

Always consult a dealer for the latest change requirements.

My A8 was considerably overdue a belt change, the first thing I did was get it changed within a couple of weeks of getting the car. As mine is a V8, the belt runs through both halves of the V, and flexes both ways during normal operation.

You should never take whats stated in the service book as the change interval.

The service book states the change interval at the time the book was printed, the change interval can be revised especially if there are issues with belts or other components failing.

Always consult a dealer for the latest change requirements.

My A8 was considerably overdue a belt change, the first thing I did was get it changed within a couple of weeks of getting the car. As mine is a V8, the belt runs through both halves of the V, and flexes both ways during normal operation.

disagree totally. If a change is made the onus should be on the dealer or SUK to notify you.....and not just from a money making point of view.

Is Skoda UK the only country that recommends a change every 4 years?

Is Skoda UK the only country that recommends a change every 4 years?

Yep

disagree totally. If a change is made the onus should be on the dealer or SUK to notify you.....and not just from a money making point of view.

"should be" is one thing, reality is very different. The current manual is full of mistakes. The onus is on you the driver.

I suspect Skoda don't really care when the cambelt is changed as long as they don't have to pay for any repairs due to a failure.

I've just had a call from the dealer saying I should change my cambelt as the car is nearly 4 years old. I wanted to wait a while longer as so far the car only has 64k miles on it (I've had it 9 months and do lots of miles). The handbook seems to say 150,000 KM (approx. 93,000 miles) so given what is said here I think I'll wait until I'm nearing that I think. Thank you.

I've just had a call from the dealer saying I should change my cambelt as the car is nearly 4 years old. I wanted to wait a while longer as so far the car only has 64k miles on it (I've had it 9 months and do lots of miles). The handbook seems to say 150,000 KM (approx. 93,000 miles) so given what is said here I think I'll wait until I'm nearing that I think. Thank you.

The garage is just looking for work that's all, I always go by the book anyway.

No they don't, not on the newer cars. My 2010 CR has no age limit on the service book, just 100k miles.

As Mannyo said it changes constantly.... And it DOES include new cars! Also it is VW group UK not just SUK. They live in a bubble and expect customers not to get their car repaired outside of the network hense they won't notify you cha negs in the service procedures.

...every timing belt u take off any car will be perished if u bend it the other way, this is very normal...

I hate to break it to you, but all toothed belts flex 'the other way' as they go round the tensioner. The tensioner is in contact with the smooth side of the belt.

The garage is just looking for work that's all, I always go by the book anyway.

Don't blame it on the dealer network. It is Skoda UK that are stipulating the 4 year change.

Going by the book is fine but if the cambelt snaps don't expect any contribution towards the repair costs from Skoda or the dealer.

Going by the book is fine but if the cambelt snaps don't expect any contribution towards the repair costs from Skoda or the dealer.

^^this^^

I would'nt want to take the risk to be honest.

From personal experience, I'd rather spend a couple of hundred quid every four years than the price of an engine rebuild.

I've had 2 cambelt breaks in my driving lifetime, way before the mileage recommendation.

Our Renault Megane dTi was the worst....we had the car a month when it happened whilst on the motorway.

It was just outside of the recommendations for the yearly change but 40k off the mileage change.

Completely wrote off the engine and cost nearly £2k in total, as it even managed to damage the fuel pump on the frikin hateful thing (can you still tell i'm bitter!?).

doll, if it was a Megane diesel from around 2000ish (ie before the angular Meganes were launched), I can see why anyone would call it hateful. I drove two for a few weeks for work and they were the worst cars I ever drove - at least you would have got some peace and quiet when the obscenely noisy engine stopped working.