This is my nineth year of owning a Skoda, (this is my 3rd), and I remember being told right from the outset, that the cambelt has to be changed every 60,000 miles or 4 years, whichever the sooner.

 

Today I received a card from my dealer telling me the cambelt is due for change. (not for the Yeti but for my last car, a 2010 Fabia Scout.)

 

The interesting thing about this card is, and I quote, "We recommend a change around every five years............."

 

So when did this policy change?  I could have saved the cost of two cambelt changes if I known it was five years as both my previous Fabia's were traded in between 4 & 5 years of age.  Ever so slightly miffed.

It depends on the engine and the year of manufacture.

 

It can vary between 40,000 miles / 3 years up to 140,000 miles / 5 years

I rang my local dealer 18months ago cor cambelt and pump change quote as it was every 50k or 4yrs. It was done at 98 for first one, so i had 150k service eyed up for the next. She rang me bavk 30 mins later and said it had been revised for the 1.9tdi in my car to 60k or 5 yrs...

Skoda have a blanket 4 year interval on all cambelts. Mileage varies by engine.

 

In September 2010 they announced that any car registered from this date forwards would have a 5 year interval.

 

So your dealer is being honest and assuming your previous two Fabia's were both registered before September 2010 you were right to get the belts changed at 4 years.

The Irish Skoda official site http://www.skoda.ie/owners/service-offers/timing-belt says:

 

"Timing belts should be replaced after 120,000km for diesel vehicles and 90,000km for petrol vehicles."

 

I can't imagine that when I drive over the border from South to North the cambelt will suddenly fail, so 75,000 miles would be the equivalent for a diesel engine.  Driving in the UK tends to be on better roads and longer motorway stretches so I can't imagine that the load on the engine would be worse - quite the reverse.  Seems like a bit of a scam from the UK Dealership, who repeatedly send out a "Come in cambelt your time is up" notices to generate some extra income.

Policies change all the time as time passes and the Manufacturers, Dealers and Warranty & Extended Warranty Companies gather 

Experience and knowledge from vehicles being driven in the real world.

 

Then the Service & Maintenance Schedules and Guidelines can be different for Private / Lease Vehicles 

& Fleet Vehicles.

 

So buyers of Ex Fleet Vehicles should maybe be aware they have not had the same or frequent services that 

Private Customers have, since Dealers chase work from Customers paying,

where Service Plan Vehicles will often not get Items changed.

*Replaced When Required* being a common point of Servicing & Maintenance.

The Irish Skoda official site http://www.skoda.ie/owners/service-offers/timing-belt says:

 

I can't get the link to work, is there only distance interval in Ireland then, no time limit?

This is the correct link.

http://www.skoda.ie/owners/service-offers/timing-belt

No time limit by the looks of it, I wonder what Skoda UK would say to that. Absolutely nothing I imagine.

 

Still it's nice to see the usual caveats still in play!

 

*Mileage may vary depending on model

Chains where its at. Hate cambelt changes they come around too quick

Policies change all the time as time passes and the Manufacturers, Dealers and Warranty & Extended Warranty Companies gather 

Experience and knowledge from vehicles being driven in the real world.

 

Then the Service & Maintenance Schedules and Guidelines can be different for Private / Lease Vehicles 

& Fleet Vehicles.

 

So buyers of Ex Fleet Vehicles should maybe be aware they have not had the same or frequent services that 

Private Customers have, since Dealers chase work from Customers paying,

where Service Plan Vehicles will often not get Items changed.

*Replaced When Required* being a common point of Servicing & Maintenance.

I'd suggest ( from experience ) that lease and hire ( i.e FLEET) vehicles get a sort of second hand service experience. Years ago, I had a company car, badly damaged in a rear end motorway shunt. Over the months it took to return it to me, I had a procession of hire vehicles. I took one vehicle in to the operator to have the brake fluid topped up ,as the vehicle had exceeded the makers service interval. I did ask about a service/replacement ,to be admonished by our fleet & my line manager .In essence I had a choice- drive it ,or reject it on safety grounds. In the following few months I had a string of vehicles, some NOT to the companies  idea of a company car. ( Ford XR2i, in place of a Sireea, told you it was years ago).

My present car came via a resale place, with a warranty . Checking out the service interval, I found that the car was way over FIRST service data. Further checking showed first owner to be Lease Company.

SO BE AWARE- VERY AWARE, THAT IT'S NOT JUST THE ASIDE STREET PLACES THAT ARE DODGY- IT COULD BE THOSE PLACES TAKE IN SUPPOSEDLY WELL MAINTAINED CARS.

Our work fleet is leased. One of the lads went in with a van to get tyres - not completely gone but close enough that you coukd tell driving it the grip was shagged. He was told "theure not to marks yet, youll get another couple weeks out them"..

I brought my usual van in for doe and service - knowing wiper blades are past their best, but they didnt even change them but power washed the engine bay??!!