I have been advised by Skoda UK customer services that the (original)cambelt/timing belt (same thing?) on my Y reg 2001 Fabia SDI does not need changing until 60,000 miles minimum but that the belt could last 70,000 miles.

Replacemenent belts are said to be of a superior quality such that they will last for a further 120,000 miles ie change at 180,000/190,000 recorded total mileage.

I feel I should be able to take the advice at face value, but given the cost of reparing an engine damaged by a snapped belt (the warranty expired in 2004), I would welcome comments from BRISKODA members on the advice given

Many thanks

Martyn

personally I would change the belt at 60k miles - I never, ever trust those high figures and you're quite right, if it snaps you're gonna damage your engine.

I used to have 2nd hand (or more ) cars and I always changed the belt on those things due to the high-revving way I used to drive those things. Last thing you want is a belt snapping at 5k rpm as it would destroy the car from a 'worth repairing' perspective.

If the service schedule is like the TDI and says 60k then get it done at 60k Better to spend a few hundred quid now than a few thousand later!

Chris

Well I don't know if it's the same belt as our 2001 TDi but... ours was supposed to be changed at 60,000mls according to the schedule but thanks to the dealer "forgetting" to do it it's only just been changed at 80,000mls!

So they DO last but I wouldn't chance it and, had I realised I would have done it sooner.

Many thanks to you all for your advice and for replying so quickly.

I think I will err on the side of caution and change it slightly before 60,000.

I rang Skoda because I did not want to leave changing it until 60,000 miles if the risk of it snapping increases rapidly between say 50,000 and 60,000 and then is ready to snap as it hits 60,001 miles. My interpretation from your comments is that the risk increases significantly as 60,000 miles heads towards 70,000 miles

Martyn

Every 60k miles is pretty much standard for most cars. Good quality running gear certainly helps keep it going but the risk is too great imho.

If you had your car remapped it's even more crucial to get the belt changed, I'd probably change it at way lower miles with that. Fortunately that does not apply to you

The other thing that goes into the equation is time of course... usually 5 years as a maximum between changes regardless of whether the mileage is lower than specified... to allow for deterioration of the cambelt materials!

The other thing that goes into the equation is time of course... usually 5 years as a maximum between changes regardless of whether the mileage is lower than specified... to allow for deterioration of the cambelt materials!

Some manufacturers only quote a mileage limit

@skomaz - you're very right there, if you leave the car parked for a long time between starts I'd get it changed sooner too

I have been advised by Skoda UK customer services that the (original)cambelt/timing belt (same thing?) on my Y reg 2001 Fabia SDI does not need changing until 60' date='000 miles minimum but that the belt could last 70,000 miles.

Replacemenent belts are said to be of a superior quality such that they will last for a further 120,000 miles ie change at 180,000/190,000 recorded total mileage.

[/quote']As seems to be usual for Skoda the servicing book is very confusing - this appears to be a summary of practice as relevant when my car was made in Autumn 2004:

At 60,000 miles then every 20,000 miles - inspect cambelt

Every 80,000 miles - replace cambelt - ATD petrol engine only

Every 100,000 miles - replace cambelt - diesel engines except ATD petrol engine

Every 120,000 miles - replace cambelt - 1.8l petrol engines only

None of these actions are time limited...

Personally, I'm going to get it replaced at 60k miles max.

It is not free by any means but I dont like taking those kind of chances.

How many manufacturers start off with these massive numbers only to reduce them down later as they've had too many of the belts fail? Oh yeah, and then you as the consumer will end up paying for it generally speaking as well

Trouble is, to inspect the cambelt properly, you have to take all the covers off anyway, so for the extra few quid a belt costs, you might as well change it then. Mine will always be done at 60k intervals, assuming the car survives the next 40k miles to 120k!!!

Chris

@ScoobyChris - exactly. You're already paying for the labour, which tends to be the biggest cost of most car-related jobs anyway.

Trouble is, to inspect the cambelt properly, you have to take all the covers off anyway, so for the extra few quid a belt costs, you might as well change it then. Mine will always be done at 60k intervals, assuming the car survives the next 40k miles to 120k!!!

So taking that to its logical conclusion you'll be replacing the belt every 20,000 miles after 60,000 is reached...

Devonutopia posted some pictures on here a while back of his cambelt which was very near to its end and he said when it should be changed.

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/showthread.php?t=23894&highlight=cambelt

60k miles / 100k km seems like a good standard replacement strategy.

With a remap I'd drop that down by whatever percentage power increase you've got, roughly. Again, you've spent a lot of dosh on the remap and/or other tweaks and it's just not worth risking it. You are taking away from the safety margins by remaps already anyway (in principle)

So taking that to its logical conclusion you'll be replacing the belt every 20,000 miles after 60,000 is reached...

I don't believe when they do the inspection they take the cambelt cover off - they look at it through an "inspection window" in the cover (sure Lummox can correct me if I'm wrong), so the cover won't come off until the belt's changed at 120k

Chris

I don't believe when they do the inspection they take the cambelt cover off - they look at it through an "inspection window" in the cover (sure Lummox can correct me if I'm wrong), so the cover won't come off until the belt's changed at 120k

120k? - according to current servicing schedules (as I posted above) it's every 100,000 miles... Yet again the confusing Skoda servicing schedules strike!!!

120k? - according to current servicing schedules (as I posted above) it's every 100,000 miles... Yet again the confusing Skoda servicing schedules strike!!!

According to my service schedule (ATD) it is next due a change at 120k. Maybe the PD130 is different? :confused:

Chris

According to my service schedule (ATD) it is next due a change at 120k. Maybe the PD130 is different?

The periods I quoted earlier in this thread apply to all Skodas as at 09/2004 when my car was made. I think the problem may be that manufacturers change their servicing schedules and sometimes retro apply them - certainly happens with Citroen from experience.

So... whats the cambelt change milage for a Fabia vRS? :confused:

Also, don't forget that it's very unlikely a tech would be able to spot an impending problem - if it goes it goes pretty damn quick :thumbdwn:

I'd treat them as a paranoia job - mine'll be done at 50k all being well.

So... whats the cambelt change milage for a Fabia vRS? :confused:

I assume you've read your handbook?

Reading mine gives exactly the same response as I posted previously:

As seems to be usual for Skoda the servicing book is very confusing - this appears to be a summary of practice as relevant when my car was made in Autumn 2004:

At 60,000 miles then every 20,000 miles - inspect cambelt

Every 80,000 miles - replace cambelt - ATD petrol engine only

Every 100,000 miles - replace cambelt - diesel engines except ATD petrol engine

Every 120,000 miles - replace cambelt - 1.8l petrol engines only

None of these actions are time limited...

Hence because the vRS is a diesel, the handbelt gets changed at 100,000 miles - unless your handbook says ifferently

I assume you've read your handbook?

Reading mine gives exactly the same response as I posted previously:

As seems to be usual for Skoda the servicing book is very confusing - this appears to be a summary of practice as relevant when my car was made in Autumn 2004:

At 60' date='000 miles then every 20,000 miles - inspect cambelt[/i']

Every 80,000 miles - replace cambelt - ATD petrol engine only

Every 100,000 miles - replace cambelt - diesel engines except ATD petrol engine

Every 120,000 miles - replace cambelt - 1.8l petrol engines only

None of these actions are time limited...

Hence because the vRS is a diesel, the handbelt gets changed at 100,000 miles - unless your handbook says ifferently

Ok... just checking

I'm definitely not risking that - 60k it will be on mine (miles). Considering it will be remapped and quite a lot more powerful than standard, it just kinda makes sense.