Car has only done 43k and it's 4 years old at the end of the month.

It's a lot of money to spunk on a new belt. What would Jesus do?

Jesus would go by the book...and we all should follow.

Go by the book and it will make no mention of age, just distance......I would leave it.

Im in the same si****ion but with 37K miles

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The book does state that it needs to be inspected at 60k then every 20k until the renewal interval of 120k or 4 years, I changed mine at 4 years old and at 45k for peice of mind.

If you get it done it will cost you about £300. If you don't get it done it may cost you nothing or it may cost you £000s.

Leave it till its due milage. In ireland there's no time limit just miles. I think it's 75k miles on Vrs pd. also vag engine don't usually brake belts.

Leave it till its due milage. In ireland there's no time limit just miles. I think it's 75k miles on Vrs pd. also vag engine don't usually brake belts.

this.

I had mine changed at 7years on the bora and 70k and mechanic said it was still fine.

The pd belts are very strong toughest ive seen , usually its the roller that fails or waterpump

I'm leaving my belt til 5 yrs and even then I think it could wait at least another year considering the car has only covered 35k in 4 and a half years. My local indy checked the belt and said it was fine. I personally think the 4 year rule is a cash cow for VAG UK

People forget these cars are used in all different climates and conditions. Sea air, dust, high temps, dampness etc all affect how the belt wil perish and how long that will take, and I'd rather be on the safe side than have it snap and spend a lot of money on getting it fixed! Personally I think the mileage is less of an an issue than age.

I'm at 105k km(65k miles) and 5 years old 07 Vrs. I'll change it at 120k km like the book says.

I think it's a stupid risk. It's 4 years or 60k which ever comes first.

For the sake of £300 or what ever you get charged, I think it's money well spent.

G

I think it's a stupid risk. It's 4 years or 60k which ever comes first.

G

Where abouts in the Handbook does it state this

My book has no mention of 4 years or 60k.

Got mine done at 4 years old and 41K. Just playing it safe.

The book does state that it needs to be inspected at 60k then every 20k until the renewal interval of 120k or 4 years, I changed mine at 4 years old and at 45k for peice of mind.

This is what Skoda or autodata will tell you, the risk is yours to take.

Edited 17 June, 201214 yr by 07 vRS Taxi

Leave it till its mileage,if you bought a brand new car and only for example did 1000 miles in four years,would you still change the belt,if its four years and near the mileage then change it..

I rang Skoda UK to ask to them for a list of the cambelt times/mileages for their engines a few months ago.

The guy said there wasn't one as the same engine fitted to an Octavia in one year could have a different interval to the same engine fitted to the same car but in a different production year!?

My 2008 PD140 is 95,000 miles or four years.

My 2007 PD170 is 80,000 miles or four years.

He did however confirm that they all require their cambelts to be replaced at four years irrespective of mileage.

The best thing to do is ring Skoda (08457 745745).

The decision on whether to change your cambelt is similar to a lot of insurances. Pay the premium for the protection or don't pay it and take your chances. Its all about your individual assessment of risk!

Skoda's National Pricing guarantees you won't pay more than £299 for a cambelt change (£369 inc. the waterpump).

That's £75 a year if you are changing at four years or £6 / 2 pints of beer per month.

Edited 17 June, 201214 yr by silver1011

I full understand what your saying Silver about the 4 year/milage thing but the Handbook is unclear about the actual time/milage that the cam belt needs changing.

Many motorists rely on the Handbook for information will stick to what it says because thats what the handbook recommends

I know, you know but others may not

Yep, there is certainly a disconnect somewhere.

If Skoda are saying four years over the phone and are telling their dealers to instruct their customers that it is four years then why haven't they updated the owners manual?

There have been many threads on this. Printed material becomes out-of-date so for the latest information its always best to consult your local dealer, or directly with Skoda UK.

If Skoda can put the mileage limit in the manual why can't/won't they put in the time limit? All it does is cause confusion on an issue you really don't want to get wrong.

Leave it till its mileage,if you bought a brand new car and only for example did 1000 miles in four years,would you still change the belt,if its four years and near the mileage then change it..

If you did 1000 miles in four years would you leave it 480 years before changing the belt?

If you only did 1000 miles in four years, why would you have a car?

31k on clock And mine is booked in next week, not a hope in hell I would go against what the book says. They make the car, they know the risks and believe me they do and will snap without warning. It's rubber it's exposed to elements and becomes brittle over time with AGE as well as usage. 369for a cambelt and waterpump or new engine/car? No brainer really.

Also if you have warranty and a component fails which links to the belt then it's nil and void there also.

Something to ponder on....

VW & Skoda say every 4 years, Audi say 5, but both are just for the UK, everywhere else is just on mileage alone.

It's your car, your money and your 'gamble' (or VAG's scare tactics if you like), some will go for the life of the car without a change, yet others fail early.....

I heard sometime ago through my dealer that VW have been having premature belt failures at low mileages so they revised the timescale/mileage for changing but obviously haven't updated owners handbooks.