Hi All

When should i replace the camelt. The fisrt time it was changed at 80 k miles therefore I was thinking of replacing it again at 160k miles.

Is this the right time to chage or is it at 60k

Says 60k in my book

60k or 4 years, whichever comes first.

Ours was changed nearly 4 years ago just under 60K. Due for another change very soon. Have been told by Skoda dealer that they recomend the water pump is changed too. Car has done just over 100K. Hasn't been changed while we've had it( 8 years). Are there any know problems with these pumps? Part of me is thinking for the sake of an extra £70 to have it done too. Last time belt was changed it wasn't at a Skoda dealer. After ringing round lots of garages for quotes, only a few knew that the job involved taking the front end off!! It's a 1.9tdi 52 plate.

Belt interval is whatever is stated in the service book, likely to be 60k. 4 years is VW UK money-making invention, ignore it completely.

Front end slides off on guide bolts that are part of timing belt kit, if the garage feels they need to completely take it off they have no clue. Putting the car into service mode position with front carrier put forward takes under 15mins if you know what you are doing. Other than underbody covers, bumper cover, intercooler pipe connections and a few bolts on each side, nothing else needs to go off the front.

I did the timing belt change on my 2.5TDI V6, and apart from knowing about the service mode position of the front carrier and getting the correct set of timing tools, I foud the access considerably easier than on transverse engine cars (Octavia 1.9TDI). Though it was overall a lot of fuss with the V6s total of 4 belts (2 timing, 2 aux) . Superb 1.9PD would be even easier, as you only have 1 timing belt and not 2 to deal with.

I recommend to replace also V-belt(s), they seem to wear out faster than the timing belt, at least on the V6 it is the case, and you have to remove them to get to TB anyway.

Water pump on transverse 1.9TDIs did need to be replaced, but who knows for longitudinal engines, could be different.

I honestly state that I do not know if water pump ever was a problem on longitudinal TDIs, perhaps someone else can advise.

I can only tell you that I bought a new water pump for my V6 TDI, then after inspecting old pump I decided not to replace it as the play in old pump bearings was exactly the same as the play in the new pump bearings, and there were no leaks.

30k miles later, I am still driving, and throughout the life of my car the engine frequently works at 3800rpm - 4100rpm for hours at a time (autobahn night runs) so I'd say it was correct decision.

On all of the VAG diesel engines, the water pump bearings are insanely highly loaded because they are positioned on the tight side of the cambelt. PSA have more sense. Failure of the pump bearings on any of these engines will wreck it.

For its trivial extra cost, it's false economy not to change the pump whilst the front is pulled. The front guide bolts are not part of the belt kit - the actual VAG tool is a pair of threaded shanks with a plastic ball on the end. If you buy 2 x M8 bolts about 120mm long from B&Q, these will do the job perfectly.

rotodiesel.

Edited 20 June, 201213 yr by rotodiesel

iirc it's 75k or 4 years, I'd ignore the 4 year bit as I always check the belt condition from time to time and all have looked good to do another 4 years at the time, water pump can be a gamble though.

My dealer told me that it was 80k or 4 years, whatever came first.

So it was done at 5 years and 47k miles!

It was my car but I sold it to my eldest son when I got my Superb 2..

4 years is VW UK con, again. You could've waited another 3...

In fact, looking at wear of belts on my Superb, the V belts would wear out faster than timing belts,'I'd still say 6-7 years plus you would hear them. but the V-belts cost peanuts to change...not much profit for the dealer.