Hi, I'm looking at get a 2.0 CR 170 TDi Superb2, with my budget im looking at a car with around the 60K mark, Could someone please let when the cambelt change is due on this engine if it has one as I have also read elsewhere that they have timing chains but have not been able to confirm either detail,

Cheers all

I believe the CRs have timiing belts whereas the TSI is chain.

'Recommended' belt change is every 4 years - but the cambelt scenario will open up a can of worms as to when to have it done, but it is each to their own.

Hope that helps.

- but the cambelt scenario will open up a can of worms as to when to have it done, but it is each to their own.

What's "the cam belt scenario" and why will it "open up a can of worms as to when to have it done," please?

Ray

I believe the CRs have timiing belts whereas the TSI is chain.

'Recommended' belt change is every 4 years - but the cambelt scenario will open up a can of worms as to when to have it done, but it is each to their own.

Hope that helps.

Cheers, Theres normally a recommended milage if reached before the 4 year period, anyone any idea what that might be,

Cheers again

I was told it is 120K miles or 4 years, whichever comes 1st.

Funny that Audi specify 5 years and everywhere else other than the UK has no time period, just mileage.

Reading back through old posts throughout all forums Ray, some people will stick with the 4 years (100k ish) others won't have it done at all (if it's not broke don't fix it).

It's the old debate of spending out £££'s or taking the risk.

@Gizmo68 - it is a strange one. No idead why Audi vary to Skoda, and at a guess if I looked at the Seat or VW recommendation it would probably be different as well. I'm not too technically minded, but with regards to distance/time, it is only a guess (again) but if a car had only covered maybe 20k over 4/5 years would the belt still perish due to (albeit minor) wear/tear and any weather damage? Maybe that is the advisory for the 4 years? I don't know but it's a thought.

Yes belts can and do fail due to age rather than just mileage - just like tyres and other rubber items perish over time.

The BIG gamble is do you wait until the mileage is nearing or get it done on age??

If I was doing 20K+ miles per year then the belt will probably be OK until the recommended 120K, however if I was doing the average of 10 - 12K a year then I certainly would not be leaving it 10+ years without a change.

It is all really a bit of a lottery, which is why VAG change the intervals from time to time (this is why it is no longer in the owners handbook, as it can go out of date quickly), because all VAG can do is make an educated guess, no two cars will be driven the same in the same conditions - but surely the same engine across the various marques should at least have the same recommended intervals :think:

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

My thoughts exactly Gizmo.

As mentioned it is a lottery and depends on your annual mileage.

Hope this helps bryanp.

`my wifes feista is ten years old but has only done 42.000 miles .

it says in the hand book 100.000 miles or 10 years we changed

bill it after 10.years.

the car has been serviced every year when i asked the garage what to do they said change it to be on the safe side.

£170 to change the belt or £1000 to repair engine if it broke.

Funny that Audi specify 5 years and everywhere else other than the UK has no time period, just mileage.

Almost every manufacturer has a time and mileage based service interval now

It is all really a bit of a lottery, which is why VAG change the intervals from time to time (this is why it is no longer in the owners handbook, as it can go out of date quickly), because all VAG can do is make an educated guess, no two cars will be driven the same in the same conditions - but surely the same engine across the various marques should at least have the same recommended intervals :think:

It's not really a lottery, extensive testing is done on all of the items in the belt drive and used along with the experience of the car manufacturer from similar previous models, as you pointed out no two cars will be driven in the same conditions but the manufacturer does expect a certain demographic of driver which is why different brands will have different intervals, also although the engine is the same the design of the car can affect some of the factors which determine belt drive life such as air flow and heat. Also they are very reactive to service feedback from the dealer network to make revisions if they see a potential problem.

Edited 29 March, 201214 yr by doug.r

It's the old debate of spending out £££'s or taking the risk.

Your explanation makes it clearer as to what you originally meant, but I don't see either statement as a "can of worms," or a "debate." If an owner doesn't follow the manufacturer's recommendations and things go wrong, that's their decision and their fault entirely, but I'm surprised that a dealer would introduce/suggest an element of implied choice into probably the most important service replacement on the vehicle. Simple economics make the change an essential one in my view and - having had the change carried out on my previous, low-mileage Octavia - I accepted it as part of the overall cost of ownership.

Ray

Reading back through old posts throughout all forums Ray, some people will stick with the 4 years (100k ish) others won't have it done at all (if it's not broke don't fix it).

It's the old debate of spending out £££'s or taking the risk.

@Gizmo68 - it is a strange one. No idead why Audi vary to Skoda, and at a guess if I looked at the Seat or VW recommendation it would probably be different as well. I'm not too technically minded, but with regards to distance/time, it is only a guess (again) but if a car had only covered maybe 20k over 4/5 years would the belt still perish due to (albeit minor) wear/tear and any weather damage? Maybe that is the advisory for the 4 years? I don't know but it's a thought.

Re " (if it's not broke don't fix it).

as far as cambelts are concerned, I would say that to be a very unwise policy., as it soon will break with disastrous consequences. As far as Skoda diesel engines are concerned I think you will find the recommendation is 60,000 miles or 4 years, whichever comes sooner. My previous car was an Octavia 130pd which supposedly started life with the belt requirement at 5 years, or 60,000 miles but at the 4th annual service, despite the car only having done 17,000, the main agents said the time limit had been reduced to 4 years by VW due to belts having broken before the 5 year period and which I checked with Skoda who said it to be so. I had it changed, NOT by Skodas dealers all who wanted amounts varying from £670 to £850, including the annual service. I had it done for £380, using genuine VAG parts, including the rollers and tensioners? by an independent garage of good repute and service and who use staff more experienced than those by main agents used for service tasks only. And that does not apply only to the V A G empire. I have known many a car being scrapped due to the cambelt breaking and ruining the engine, the cost of repair exceeding the car's value. Plus the fact one would be on tenderhooks all the time wondering when it was going to break, especially in cold weather start-ups.