Hi guys I'm new to the forum so hello :-)

I've just bought an 2004 Octavia vrs estate and been reading up on cambelt a and alike, few questions. Firstly what is the cambelt interval on these as I'm getting conflicting mileage from various places, my local skoda dealer recommended 120,000 miles or 4 years, personally the 4 years will come up before the 120k miles. From what I've seen in the service book, the cambelt was changed in 2012 at 80,000 miles, and if it was the only one that I can see, was this just a real lucky previous owner?

Also I've been hearing a lot of worrying comments on various blogs of cambelt a snapping even after changing them when required, is this engine just really heavy on the cambelt or am what I'm reading only a small group of cars which are being abused?

Many thanks for looking at my first post.

It's the 1.8 t engine sorry forgot that :-)

I just had the 2nd one for this car done at 70k, previous owners did 1st one at 35k, that or every 4-5 years whichever is 1st is I think what a lot of people follow here. I think the lifespan of the belts is 5 years which includes shelf life as was discussed on here recently iirc.

Oh and hello and welcome by the way.

By the way the chances are the belt will outlast the water pump if it's not a metal one. Either that or a new belt/tension will finish it off. For that reason alone I won't be taking mine past 30 - 35k and will replace the pump regardless.

Skoda recommend every 40,000 miles or 4 years. :wonder: Nice way of generating extra income. VW quote 60k or every 5 years for the same AUQ engine as fitted to the mk1 VRS.

I'm not sure if that's been changed but I hope so, seems like the right thing to do to go through the hassle of getting to the belt and not changing them seems mad! I'm hoping they had it changed at 35k too! Not got the car yes so no paperwork to sift through, was just getting scared at all the horror stories :-) thanks for the reply yellow car

I wonder why mine said 120k! Numpties!! I did think how can I do 120k miles in 4 years :-D

I wonder why mine said 120k! Numpties!! I did think how can I do 120k miles in 4 years :-D

If I remember the user manual you get with the car says something ridiculous like that, not sure if that's in km though but even so! I would hope they did change but I'd make it the first job. Can you do anything with the deal if it hadn't been done?

4-5 years it is then, I only do about 7k a year myself so I'm better following the timetable rather than the mileage.

Deals done and moneys changed hands unfortunately, the cars been looked after well and has a full service history so I'd hope it's been done but I'll sift through all the paper work and see if I can find some bills for it! If it was changed by a main dealer, would they have a record of what was changed?

Is there any way of visually checking? Can you see if it's the uprated one or not?

I'd just get it done personally.

Put your mind at ease because you really wouldn't want it to snap!

As already mentioned, you need to do the water pump and tensioners as well as chances are one of those will fail first causing the belt to go.

I do mine every 4 years. Car does about 4k a year.

Factor in the hydraulic damper too

Hi guys I'm new to the forum so hello :-)

I've just bought an 2004 Octavia vrs estate and been reading up on cambelt a and alike, few questions. Firstly what is the cambelt interval on these as I'm getting conflicting mileage from various places, my local skoda dealer recommended 120,000 miles or 4 years, personally the 4 years will come up before the 120k miles. From what I've seen in the service book, the cambelt was changed in 2012 at 80,000 miles, and if it was the only one that I can see, was this just a real lucky previous owner?

Also I've been hearing a lot of worrying comments on various blogs of cambelt a snapping even after changing them when required, is this engine just really heavy on the cambelt or am what I'm reading only a small group of cars which are being abused?

Many thanks for looking at my first post.

 

Welcome! Different belt manufacturers have different recommended intervals. I would personally change it every 5 years/72k miles whichever comes sooner.

Thanks guys! Got the car delivered today and been through all the paper work, cambelt waterpump and tensioner were changed, thanks for all your responses

If it was changed by a main dealer, would they have a record of what was changed?

If it was done by Fish Brothers Skoda in Swindon then it will be on their computer record but not on the car's service record - only on the bill!

 

Edit: Missed your last post. Glad it's been done

Edited 16 February, 201511 yr by pikpilot

Is that 2 it's had then by the way?

yes had two cambelt and tensioner water pump changes. thank god :-)

yes had two cambelt and tensioner water pump changes. thank god :-)

Result, you can relax for a little while then...