Hi all, new member. Timing belt change is 80k miles, my father in law is harping on about not leaving it that long. Is there anything in that or should I not worry and just change as stated?

...or 4 years afaik. So if it's been 4 years even if you're under the mileage, still do it.

Welcome to the forum. Many VAG cambelts go on 80, 000 miles or 4 years which ever comes first, though I'm not sure if this applies to the 170 CR engine. No doubt someone will let us know.

Welcome to Briskoda!

 

You've unknowingly opened up a can of worms here though! The cambelt interval is a hotly debated topic on here.

 

There are those that feel Skoda UK's blanket four year interval is purely a money-making scheme, then there are those that will argue their cambelt interval is 40,000+ miles longer than someone elses with the same engine.

 

Cambelts are undoubtedly more durable than they used to be but they are still reinforced rubber belts with a limited working life. We all know the implications of a failure. Personally Skoda's national pricing policy of £349 for a belt change once every four years isn't a deal breaker for me. 

 

The only way to know for sure is to ring Skoda UK with your reg or VIN number.

Here in Finland the timing belt change interval for 04-12 Octavia vrs is 180k km or 6 years.

Just got mine changed at 120k km and 7 years. 

Well I'm happy with 80k or 4 years but don't see the point of going sooner. My car was registered 08/09 so means its due then. Here's the kicker though its under 12 month warranty! Can't see them wanting to do it, it's a main dealer I bought it from too which should hopefully make a difference. However, on looking through the service book it's hasn't had even an air or fuel filter change and has now done and its done 73k. I have now changed the air filter but don't trust myself with the fuel filter.

Thanks to all who have posted.

My car is just under 3 years old.

And just ticked over 80k.

I have booked my car in for cam belt change nx week.

Skoda has confirmed it is due one.

would you change a cambelt if the car had only covered 12k after 4 years? going by the Finland comments it would appear a waste of money??

Mark.

would you change a cambelt if the car had only covered 12k after 4 years? going by the Finland comments it would appear a waste of money??Mark.

Do you buy a lottery ticket each week?

The odds of the cam belt going are a lot shorter than the odds on winning the jackpot.

I would change it, materials decompose with time in as much as they weaken with wear.

Regards all

Juan

Sent from my iPhone using my thumbs

I understand the risks but why would one country say 6 years and another 4 years? how does that belt know how old it is? OK, I know materials break down and such but this is just another example of rip off Britain. I would be happy to change my belt at 40k to be honest if going by miles alone. £349 is less than £90 a year for piece of mind and I dare say an indy would be even cheaper.

When we bought our car it only had 20k miles on.

 

It was due one time wise so the Skoda dealer we bought it off serviced it and changed it for us.

 

It can vary on the engine and the specific belt that is fitted.

 

Phil

My belt & water pump was replaced at 4 years & had covered around 38,000 miles,to be honest i couldnt see any visual wear on the belt or tensioners at all but the water pump showed signs of slight coolant staining.For me its a no brainer to get it replaced as £300 or so (less for me as i will do the next one myself) every 4 years is nothing compared to the damage & big bill should the belt or tensioners or idler wheels or water pump fail. 

It's preventative maintenance.

 

The reason Skoda UK choose 4 years compared to other markets is suspicious, but as I live in the UK I changed mine at four years.

 

I'll change it again in another four years, and if I'm lucky the car might see a third cambelt in it's life but it won't see a fourth!

 

Three cambelt changes over the life of the car, no issue for me.

So.....In March, when my car is 4 years old and around 36,000 miles....I will need a full service (2 year servicing intervals) with longlife oil  AND a cambelt change!!

How much is all this likely to cost?

PS...I'm from Yorkshire

So.....In March, when my car is 4 years old and around 36,000 miles....I will need a full service (2 year servicing intervals) with longlife oil  AND a cambelt change!!

How much is all this likely to cost?

PS...I'm from Yorkshire

I doubt you would get much change from £700 at a dealer......why are you on 2 yearly intervals when your car is covering such a low annual mileage? mine gets its oil changed once a year & i cover around 11,000miles a year. 

I had a proper look at my log book today and it said "toothed belt change every 180k kilometres". That's 111k (and change) miles. My father in law said that was far too long and offered to pay for one, I'm assuming before the 80k mark. I'd rather he saved his money. I suppose we should have faith in the manufacturers guide but I'm not sure I'm comfortable with that long. I don't know?!

I doubt you would get much change from £700 at a dealer......why are you on 2 yearly intervals when your car is covering such a low annual mileage? mine gets its oil changed once a year & i cover around 11,000miles a year. 

Because Skoda says that the Diesel and DSG combination has that service schedule

How can everyone be on different schedules? Some consistency would be nice and settle the confusion. My car is '09 tdi cr vrs. If that helps.

Pass

I had a proper look at my log book today and it said "toothed belt change every 180k kilometres". That's 111k (and change) miles. My father in law said that was far too long and offered to pay for one, I'm assuming before the 80k mark. I'd rather he saved his money. I suppose we should have faith in the manufacturers guide but I'm not sure I'm comfortable with that long. I don't know?!

Your car is 4 years old so skoda uk recommend its replaced now,id just get it done & stop worrying rather than play the will it/wont it fail on me game. 

How can everyone be on different schedules? Some consistency would be nice and settle the confusion. My car is '09 tdi cr vrs. If that helps.

 

You can choose your service intervals...

 

1) Fixed / annual servicing - 10,000 miles or 12 months, whichever is reached first. Ideal for those with low annual mileage / mainly short journey's to ensure fresh oil and a check over once a year.

 

2) Variable servicing. Up to 25,000 miles or 2 years. The car monitors its useage (cold starts, journey times and speeds, oil viscosity etc.) and decides when it wants a service. Ideal for company cars (lower running costs) and higher mileage / motorway drivers.

 

Most of the confusion over the cambelt intervals originates from the service books included with the car at the point of manufacture. The MkII Octavia is 9 years old now and in that time there have been several changes to the recommended cambelt intervals, even on the same engines. As a result members come on here and mention that their interval is XX miles. Another member with the same engine but in an older / newer car quotes their different intervals. The result is confusion. 

 

This is why the only safe way to check is to ring Skoda UK with your VIN number as the service book is potentially out of date the minute the car leaves the factory. Even dealers can't be trusted judging by some of the information shared on here.

Edited 30 December, 201312 yr by silver1011

I didn't

It was chosen for me by Skoda

So.....In March, when my car is 4 years old and around 36,000 miles....I will need a full service (2 year servicing intervals) with longlife oil  AND a cambelt change!!

How much is all this likely to cost?

PS...I'm from Yorkshire

 

This is good as a guide, although these are the max prices you should pay. Most dealers I've dealt with (DM Keith) have managed to beat these prices (not that I'll allow any one from DM Keith to lift my bonnet let alone anything else - but that's a different story!).

 

Cambelt...

 

£349.

 

+ £100 if you want to replace the water pump whilst the belt is off.

 

Servicing...

 

http://www.skoda.co.uk/owners/service-and-maintenance/national-pricing/servicing

 

£129 - Fixed.

£249 - Variable.

 

My car is set to variable but I never pay for a variable service. The extra £120 is no way justified with the extra work over the fixed service. As a result I have them carry out a fixed service plus the fuel filter (and extra £40) and replace the air filter myself (even the wife could do it!)

I didn't

It was chosen for me by Skoda

 

All UK Skoda cars set to variable by default.

 

The dealer is supposed to check which interval you'd like (depending on your personal circumstances / driving style / journey types / annual mileage) before the PDI, but most don't.

 

It is in the dealers interest to set a car to fixed as it guarantee's them that they'll see your car more often, which is a cheeky trick most of them do too!

 

If you follow the instructions in the owners manual and reset the service counter yourself then it defaults out of variable back to fixed. Only a dealer can change it back to variable.

 

We are a two Skoda family. The wife's Octavia covers 8,000 miles per year and is on fixed (fresh oil for the engine and turbo, two years is too long in my opinion - but that's a whole different debate / can of worms!).

 

My Superb does circa 30,000 miles per year and is on variable which still see's it get fresh oil at least once a year.

Edited 30 December, 201312 yr by silver1011

You can also use VCDS to change to variable, or to sort it out when the dealer buggers it up.  Variable has been the default for over 10 years now.

 

I was told be a VW dealer than variable often means things such as brake pads/discs get changed earlier than they need as they may not see the car for another 2 years.