Today i changed my Timing belt kit, water pump and coolant. All went very smoothly apart from the STUPID engine mount that took me forever to get in and out. Very easy belt to do (apart from the engine mount) was done and dusted in under 3 hours.

Heres some pics of the mess i made...

The car was on its original belt at 98k, almost 5 years old and was still looking in very good condition.

New bits on....

All done....

Nice one, is that one of those garages you hire by the hour? If so how much is it and is is with or without tools?

Nope, i work for Renault, have done for over 8 years now, that's my black Snap-on box you can see.

Good photo's mate and a good advert for Renault, its mechanics prefer to drive a skoda.

Haha i bought a Renault megane 225 I kept it 6 weeks and got rid. It was riddled with problems and it was brand new. Got rid based on not fit for purpose that's how bad it was. Renault issued full refund with a week. I now drive a Skoda lol

looks good amount of room , compared to some of the renault timingbelts!

Yea, if you can do Renault cambelts then you can do anything lol. Worst belts are Clio 172s/182s.

yeah did a clio sport one it was tight and laguna 2.1diesel lol

Yea, if you can do Renault cambelts then you can do anything lol. Worst belts are Clio 172s/182s.

How often do u change the belt on a petrol vrs mate?

I will be having a go at the belt on a MK 3 Golf GTI, never done one before.

Can anybody explain why people (including me) have such a fear of changing a cam belt yourself? In principal it is quite a simple task, line up to TDC, lock out cam/cams, change water pump and refit the belt, allow for a small amount of twist on the belt and build back up, that is what I have read anyway, so why do I think I can't do it?

Looks like you had a great place to work in to change yours too!

Yea, if you can do Renault cambelts then you can do anything lol. Worst belts are Clio 172s/182s.

We had similar with a 2.2TDI Savanna we had. needed the whole front end taking off to do the timing belt at 70k as the engine wasn't transverse and there was no room between it and the rad so I sold it at 69k to save the (then)huge bill.

Nice garage....

I will be having a go at the belt on a MK 3 Golf GTI, never done one before.

Can anybody explain why people (including me) have such a fear of changing a cam belt yourself?

I changed the cambelt on the 2.0 PD engine in my Octavia last year. In the case of this engine (and all VAG engines really), this involves replacing the belt, tensioner and a couple of rollers as well as the threaded studs that these items bolt onto.

I suppose the fear comes from knowing that if you over or under torque any of these studs/bolts or overlook something and a component works loose or breaks, your engine will be wrecked.......simple as that!

Edited 23 March, 201313 yr by booke23

One issue i did come across is that the timing mark on the crank pulley did not align with the mark on the timing belt cover when the camshaft was lined up with its marks? Couldn't understand why as the belt was original from factory. In the end i ignored the mark on the pulley and just tip-ex the crank shaft sprocket. Runs fine and very smooth so not sure what was going on there.

How often do u change the belt on a petrol vrs mate?

Doesn't the petrol have a timing chain instead of a belt?

Or is this just for the newer petrol engine?

the Tfsi has a belt and Tsi has a chain

Doesn't the petrol have a timing chain instead of a belt?

Or is this just for the newer petrol engine?

One issue i did come across is that the timing mark on the crank pulley did not align with the mark on the timing belt cover when the camshaft was lined up with its marks? Couldn't understand why as the belt was original from factory. In the end i ignored the mark on the pulley and just tip-ex the crank shaft sprocket. Runs fine and very smooth so not sure what was going on there.

I don't know about the Tfsi engine, but on the PD engine the timing marks on the crank shaft sprocket don't really make much sense until you insert the locking tool.....you can't really accurately get it to TDC without the tool.

yeah on the PD you do need the crank tool , but i just used to tipex the crank and think there was a mark on the bottom case and aux pulley. and just pin the cam.

I don't know about the Tfsi engine, but on the PD engine the timing marks on the crank shaft sprocket don't really make much sense until you insert the locking tool.....you can't really accurately get it to TDC without the tool.

you have to remove the engine to change a timing belt.............

it would make it very easy if you take the engine out

you have to remove the engine to change a timing belt.............

Been out in the Octavia tonight, now that i can finally nail it without worrying about the cambelt snapping the thing is a blast. Bags of power and it will effortlessly do 100 donkeys very quickly. Was doing 26mpg, on the way home over 10miles i managed 41.6mpg. Love it!

How often do u change the belt on a petrol vrs mate?

Uk skoda dealers say 60,000miles or 4 years whichever comes first.

Uk skoda dealers say 60,000miles or 4 years whichever comes first.

Ta mate

Had mine done today. Two belts replaced and only 57k on the clock!

Better safe than sorry. Was last replaced in 2009.

Edited 24 March, 201313 yr by Sippo

Thought about getting a 2 post ramp in my garage but the height is just a bit low at just under 10 feet. Could maybe adjust some of the trusses to give me another couple of feet. Is that axle stands your car is on or a small ramp? Cant see clearly on my phone screen.

Uk skoda dealers say 60,000miles or 4 years whichever comes first.

If you look in the user manual it states 180,000km and no time period. I rang Skoda in Bath, and they said yes 180,000km (112,000 miles) or 4 years, whichever comes first. To be honest my original belt looked fine after almost 5 years and 98k.