so rather than them send a simple letter, I'm expected to phone the dealer everyday just in case they've changed the regime?

No, just once a year should suffice.

Because they aren't obliged to.

And neither am I but they are obliged to honour the warranty if you comply with the instructions they provide at time of purchase.

As I already said, no they aren't - there is a disclaimer in the service book.

At four years you'd be out of standard warranty anyway.

The poor lad that started this thread, proud as punch with his new Octy, and theres more arguing about Cam belt changing here than anywhere else in the forum (my disclaimer: i havnt looked through the entire forum's topics, so there could be more, i just havnt seen them ;-) )

DBT85, I hope you're loving the new wheels :-)

correct

maybe the other lads need to start a seperate thread about the cam belt

No need, there are already several other cam belt threads with the same few who insist that Skoda's 4 year recommendation is make-believe.

Oh, and nice wheels too!

As I already said, no they aren't - there is a disclaimer in the service book.

At four years you'd be out of standard warranty anyway.

Nah, not having that. Your talking *******s.

True but if you bought approved used it may still be.

Nah, not having that. Your talking *******s.

No, that'll be you not willing to accept the fact that Skoda won't be calling you to tell you that you should change your cambelt at 4 years.

For everyone's sanity please let us put this one to bed. Here is the relevant section of the service booklet...

No, that'll be you not willing to accept the fact that Skoda won't be calling you to tell you that you should change your cambelt at 4 years.

For everyone's sanity please let us put this one to bed. Here is the relevant section of the service booklet...

Thanks for clearing that up!

'Your Skoda Service Partner has up-to-date information on the Inspection Service and will also TELL YOU whether any further work on your car is necessary'

Also, this isn't really a disclaimer. I suggest you have a browse of contract law and the sales of goods act if you think that your 'warranty' cuts off after 3 years.

Unless the dealer tells you about this at handover, sends you an official letter referencing the technical change or SUK contact you to state a change then any disclaimer is worthless and wouldn't stand up in any legal proceedings whatsoever as the onus is on the supplier to tell you this information.

The 'disclaimer' as you are calling it is more aimed at minor changes such as a pollen filter at 20k instead of 40k or a added brake pad check etc etc. A major change such as a cambelt time regime introduction which is 'critical' to the function of the car should be officially notified.

You can argue until you are blue in the face but UK law is UK law and it is there to protect the consumer.

You can argue until you are blue in the face but UK law is UK law and it is there to protect the consumer.

What planet are you on?

Skoda say 4 years!

4

Four

FOUR

F O U R

I'm not sure how much clearer I can make it!

What planet are you on?

Skoda say 4 years!

4

Four

FOUR

F O U R

I'm not sure how much clearer I can make it!

No, no they don't. If i wasn't a member on here and not a 'car fan' i wouldn't have a clue it was 4 years pretty much like 99% of all Skoda owners who just look in the book.

If it was 4 years, it would have been included in the book a long time ago.....but instead in 2007, IT WAS TAKEN OUT....That isn't a mistake, someone has had to go in an delete that entry.....possibly, just possibly because in 2007 they changed their cambelts to Continental LIFETIME belts.

Edited 2 April, 201214 yr by jrw

jrw, there are posts and posts from people on here claiming that their dealers and phone calls to Skoda UK have resulted in them being told it is four years, one as recently as last week - I even linked it earlier in this thread.

Why would they make it up?

My local dealer also has a laminted sheet on their service desk from Skoda labelled 2012 also saying the same thing. Have they done it to wind you up? No of course they haven't.

jrw, there are posts and posts from people on here claiming that their dealers and phone calls to Skoda UK have resulted in them being told it is four years, one as recently as last week - I even linked it earlier in this thread.

Why would they make it up?

My local dealer also has a laminted sheet on their service desk from Skoda labelled 2012 also saying the same thing. Have they done it to wind you up? No of course they haven't.

The point i am making is that they haven't told me as per the scan of the service book you have posted.

I have been to Malbrorough Skoda, Autosales in both Bilston and Cannock, and finally Trust in Stourbridge. None of these garages mention anything about a 4 year interval.

I am not disputing what you are saying, i am simply stating that they aren't within the remit of the law should a failure were to happy at say 6 years.....they can't just turn round and say, 'you should have changed it at 4 years'. I don't have to go to a Skoda dealer for servicing, nor do i have to phone them every year to check if anything had changed (particularly a major part such as a cambelt). They should contact me.

Take for example a DSG Oil change which has to be done at 40k. What if they changed that to 20k at the beginning of this year. I had a service at 18k and will not go back to a dealer until 36-40k.......What if then my DSG box fails at 30k? Would they refuse the work because i didn't get the oil changed at 20k? They could certainly try but the small claims court would laugh them out of the place.......

Hope this gets my point across somewhat, as not all of us are car addicts and on forums 24/7 and in the dealers every week to check this information.......My mother in law for example would not have the faintest idea what the service regime on her car is and looks in the book to check or relies on the spanner on her car telling her when it needs work.

ah jaysus lads, I think yee need to agree to dis agree on this one

Say you didn't buy your Skoda new, you bought it privately. How can Skoda be expected to keep a track of all of their cars throughout their lives? They can't and it is unreasonable to expect them to do so.

If changing the cambelt interval was seen as a safety concern then there would be an increased effort - such as using the DVLA or advertising. For non-safety related changes they cover themselves with the disclaimer in the service book whilst also asking their dealer network to inform their customers when the car is in for routine servicing.

Your vRS isn't four years old yet. If when you take it to be serviced at or around the four year interval I'm pretty sure they'll be telling you then.

Back on topic....any pics ?

You haven't actually read the thread have you? See post #51...

Say you didn't buy your Skoda new, you bought it privately. How can Skoda be expected to keep a track of all of their cars throughout their lives? They can't and it is unreasonable to expect them to do so.

If changing the cambelt interval was seen as a safety concern then there would be an increased effort - such as using the DVLA or advertising. For non-safety related changes they cover themselves with the disclaimer in the service book whilst also asking their dealer network to inform their customers when the car is in for routine servicing.

Your vRS isn't four years old yet. If when you take it to be serviced at or around the four year interval I'm pretty sure they'll be telling you then.

As has been said, they can contact via DVLA, they do it for recalls, they can do it for this, plus it isn't in the new service books as JRW says.

Also as per your last paragraph as I have said there is no obligation whatsoever to take it to a dealership, anyone that does obviously has more money than sense, especially as my local dear TELFORDS CARLISLE insist you insure their courtesy cars and they say this is normal practice for skoda dealerships?

I'm afraid you really are mistaken on this and the warranty is still valid if you don't change the timing belt at 4 years.

The poor lad that started this thread, proud as punch with his new Octy, and theres more arguing about Cam belt changing here than anywhere else in the forum (my disclaimer: i havnt looked through the entire forum's topics, so there could be more, i just havnt seen them ;-) )

DBT85, I hope you're loving the new wheels :-)

What's better is that the car I bought doesn't even have a timing belt lol.

Very pleased with it thanks, nice smooth sedate ride until I let it off the leash. Everyone is very impressed and it's definitely opened a few eyes with regards to Skoda for people in my family who haven't even thought about them in the past.

The only thing I'm still getting to grips with is pulling away sedately. Because the car wants to get out of 1st gear by about 6mph most of the time I'm still sometimes getting some lurching in the first 10mph as the DSG goes from disengaged, to 1st, to 2nd. It's not a problem if I drop into sport mode or manual so it's just something I need to get used to when pulling away sedately in drive.

Fuel consumption wasn't a major part of the thinking process for getting the car but I'm pleased that so far with an average speed of just 18mph over the last 180 miles I've still averaged 32MPG which matches my 1.6 Focus and I've not even done one of the trips to my other work place yet which is typically 40-60 almost all the way with little stopping.

Back on topic....any pics ?

Not yet, I've not had much of a chance with work and stuff. Weather permitting it'll get a wash on Wednesday so I'll try and get some nice pics with my DSLR as well.

As has been said, they can contact via DVLA, they do it for recalls, they can do it for this, plus it isn't in the new service books as JRW says.

You are not reading my posts. I said in the post directly above yours that Skoda aren't going to approach the DVLA and ask permission for access to their database for a change to the cambelt interval.

Manufacturers only do this in conjunction with VOSA for safety recalls.

I'm afraid you really are mistaken on this and the warranty is still valid if you don't change the timing belt at 4 years.

You are as unable to prove this just as much as I am unable to prove they would. If you think Skoda would cover the full cost of repair if your cambelt snapped at 5 years despite them recommending you change it at 4 years then you are also very much mistaken.

You haven't actually read the thread have you? See post #51...

Yes but that was soooo long ago prior to all this warranty discussion and there were only two exterior ones...

You are not reading my posts. I said in the post directly above yours that Skoda aren't going to approach the DVLA and ask permission for access to their database for a change to the cambelt interval.

Manufacturers only do this in conjunction with VOSA for safety recalls.

You are as unable to prove this just as much as I am unable to prove they would. If you think Skoda would cover the full cost of repair if your cambelt snapped at 5 years despite them recommending you change it at 4 years then you are also very much mistaken.

as I said, I suggest you read up on the soga.

Used it many times and with vw for a 6 year old car successfully.

I'm familair with it, as I've told you before I took an independant motor trader to the small claims court a few years ago over an engine failure on a BMW 320d.

The manufacturers service schedule still needs to be adhered to.

I'm familair with it, as I've told you before I took an independant motor trader to the small claims court a few years ago over an engine failure on a BMW 320d.

The manufacturers service schedule still needs to be adhered to.

It is.....120k.

Or four years, which ever you reach first.

Or four years, which ever you reach first.

circles, going round.

Not in my book.