There are always alot of different answers when anyone asks the question - when do I change my timing belt ?

Skoda technical have advised me that for a mark 1 vrs it is 4 years or 80k miles.

So, fingers crossed !!

A few months ago I rang up a Skoda dealer in the North East and they said every 4 years or 75000 miles, whichever comes first.

Your skoda technician would be correct..

As said many many times

80k or 4 years

With fellys, I've never gone beyond 4 years or 60k.

I've said this before, but;

If the car hasn't got a cambelt, water pump and tensioner/pully change recorded in the service book, and backed up by detailed bill, I'd change it anyway. End of.

But that's me...

I've always thought it's 60k miles or 4 years. At the same time it is advisable, but not essential, that the water pump is changed at the same time, as they are known to break. If you don't change it every time, I'd suggest every replace water pump other time.

Your skoda technician would be correct..

As said many many times

80k or 4 years

Spot on for the PD Fabias

Are the belts made of liquorice these days? Both my Mk 2 Golf GTi's had belts that were 'fitted for life', subject to periodical inspections. My '85 BRM GTi still had the original belt (and clutch) at 134k miles when I sold it.

Is this just a scam to get the punters to spend their hard earned cash, or is there scientific evidence that proves the belt is well past it's best after 4 years/60k?

A Golf GTi cambelt isn't running a high compression diesel engine with four pd injectors.

Are the belts made of liquorice these days? Both my Mk 2 Golf GTi's had belts that were 'fitted for life', subject to periodical inspections. My '85 BRM GTi still had the original belt (and clutch) at 134k miles when I sold it.

Is this just a scam to get the punters to spend their hard earned cash, or is there scientific evidence that proves the belt is well past it's best after 4 years/60k?

I agree. I want to know if there is any difference in materials used in a VAG timing belt and tensioners (60k/4 years) to say a Ford Belt and tensioners (100k/10 years)?

In saying that, for piece of mind, I'd always stick to manufactures guidelines.

If you think changing your timing belt is a scam, more fool you!

I've changed plenty now and some of our customers have came very close to needing a new engine!

If you think changing your timing belt is a scam, more fool you!

I've changed plenty now and some of our customers have came very close to needing a new engine!

If its not a scam, perhaps it points to the possibility of the belt materials not being as robust these days. Of course I always try to follow the manufacturer's guide lines, but I'm curious as to why there's been a change in the belt life over the years. Just me being cynical....

As explained before, a cambelt does a lot more these days than just drive a camshaft.

My aux belt is 8 years old on 108k miles and it is perished to buggery!

On my 2nd cam belt! Will get both done very shortly!

Toothed fibre cam belts were meant to provide more flexible engine layout and reduce noise, good ideals! Ford CVH engines started wrecking engines at relatively short service periods, in my case being smart and getting the belt replaced on a Ford CVH engine meant ending up with a very angry/noisy water pump due to the belt being over tightened - followed by a water pump replacement! A neighbour, who knew nothing about cars ignored my advice and believed his Ford garage would keep him right, a few months later he needed an engine rebuild! Their answer to his question "why?" was "you should have known that Ford had changed the belt replacement time"! To the end user/owner, especially one with belt driven VAG petrol engines, it does seem that VAG wants to avoid any confusion and gives the PD engine belt change period out for all engines. The only problem about that seems to be that on some small petrol engines, the belt and then the engine, are the victims of cheap nasty belt ancillaries, and some of these are not included in the VAG supplied cam belt kit for the 1.4 engines - just not good enough - but typical of what to expect from VAG. Don't get me wrong, VAG cars are good enough, but you need to know a bit of the background to potential problems to keep ownership costs down.