Hello, i'm hoping to view an Octavia VRS at a dealership later this week. It's a 2008 car that's done just over 43000 miles. I'd like clarification regarding when to change the cambelt please.

 

Am i correct in thinking that it should be after 4 years or 60000 miles (whichever comes first)? If this is correct then presumably this car should be due a second belt change next year, when it will be 8 years old? The advert for this car shows pictures of the service book stamps. Each page has a list of checks to be made, with ticks indicating what work has been done. One of these tasks is a 'toothed belt change' - is this the same as a cambelt? If so then as yet it hasn't been changed since new, as there are no 'yes' ticks next to Toothed Belt Change in it's service history.

 

Am i right in thinking that when the original service schedules were written by VAG, that they misjudged when the cambelts on these engines should be changed? - did they state 120,000 miles? If i'm right about the belt not yet having been changed then i'm just wondering if the dealer would accept that as something that i could negotiate over, or would they just quote the service schedule's recommended 120k figure at me? 

 

Any thoughts/opinions will very much appreciated.

Hello,

 

So yes. At that mileage it should have had one change in 2012 and then due another in 2016.

 

Toothed belt is indeed the cambelt.

 

If it's been done by a dealer you can ring the dealer and ask if it was changed as they should have a record of it. If you/the seller can't guarantee it has been changed then you need to haggle the cost of a new belt and water pump into the price and get it done straight away or get them to do it before you buy it.

 

You can also give the VIN to Skoda and fire an email off to them to confirm the particular age/model's interval.

 

The 120k interval (think it's actually 100k) is for cars after September 2010 which also have a 5 year time interval too. But at this age it's 4 years or 60k miles.

Edited 2 September, 201510 yr by Phil-E

Factor in a water pump too. It's the norm to change the pump at the same time as a preventative measure it's driven by the cam belt as well and if it ever needs changed it necessitates a cam belt change at the same time. It's only about £35 plus new coolant so worth doing.

 

Also the 4yr service on a VRS is a bigger one so bear that in mind when haggling. If they offer a service it's almost certainly just be an oil change and not everything else that needs done at 4yr (oil, filters, plugs, brake fluid can't remember the rest).

Also bear in mind that if you get it done with the waterpump, make sure you have some coolant in the car to top it up a couple of days later.

 

When I had mine done, the garage didn't say anything and I was driving around a couple of days later and the coolant light came on the dash - checked the level and it was at the minimum!  Topped it up to the top line and it was fine after that, but it drinks some coolant after a change.

New Continental cambelt, replacement at 120k together with water pump. I was check with Skoda dealer two weeks ago when servece my VRS 2011.

My previous Octy cambelt was replaced at 120k also, no problem.

So what's the mileage then as mine had belt and pulleys done at 40k now on 74k .....

The cambelt intervals are shown in the engine info PDF in this post:

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/320854-octavia-mk2-engines-dpfs-cambelts-oils-brakes-and-servicing-info/

Thanks a lot for all of your helpful replies. If Skoda themselves state that the belt should be changed 4 yearly regardless of mileage, then there shouldn't be any argument when it comes to negotiating with the dealer. The car that's for sale comes with an AA approved warranty, is it likely that the cambelt change could be done under the warranty, or do warranties just tend to cover unexpected mechanical failures?

A third party warranty won't pay for an overdue cambelt.

 

If the car was purchased from a main dealer and they are unable to prove the cambelt was changed on the cars fourth birthday then they should be doing it now for free, or for a significantly reduced price.

 

This should really have been part of the initial purchase negotiations?

 

For what it's worth my car has had a cambelt change but the dealer didn't tick the toothed belt box in the service book. This is why it is important to keep the invoices in the Skoda wallet alongside the service book.

A third party warranty won't pay for an overdue cambelt.

 

If the car was purchased from a main dealer and they are unable to prove the cambelt was changed on the cars fourth birthday then they should be doing it now for free, or for a significantly reduced price.

 

This should really have been part of the initial purchase negotiations?

 

For what it's worth my car has had a cambelt change but the dealer didn't tick the toothed belt box in the service book. This is why it is important to keep the invoices in the Skoda wallet alongside the service book.

Thanks for that, i've not bought the car yet - hopefully going to view it later this week. i just wondered where i stood in terms of negotiating a price reduction if it turns out that the belt hasn't been changed. It's encouraging to read that yours had a belt change without the box having been ticked, hopefully that will be the same with the one that i'm interested in.

You are in a good position then and this supports why it's worth doing your homework prior to visiting the dealer.

 

You are now armed with the information you need to either get the cambelt changed prior to purchase or see the screen price reduced by the same amount.

 

If the dealer cannot categorically prove that it has been replaced previously then you should have it done for nothing else other than peace of mind.

 

Who pays for it will be down to the dealers ability to sell the car to someone else and your negotiation skills!

 

See here for franchised dealers cambelt prices...

 

http://www.skoda.co.uk/owners/service-and-maintenance/simply-fixed

 

£359 for the cambelt, £459 for the cambelt and waterpump.

When we purchased our car (approved used from a mail dealer) they automatically said they would replace the cambelt before we bought it.

 

I would not buy a car with an overdue belt change unless it was getting done before I drove it away. You could drive 1 mile down the road, belt snaps and you've got no comeback on the garage if you knew it was overdue.

 

Best is to negotiate on getting them to change it before you purchase it.

For what it's worth my car has had a cambelt change but the dealer didn't tick the toothed belt box in the service book. This is why it is important to keep the invoices in the Skoda wallet alongside the service book.

 

Same with my Superb. There was nothing in the service book but I phoned the original dealer and he checked and said it had been done 2 years prior to my buying it. I sent them the service book and they stamped, dated and ticked the box so I was happy with that.

 

I would push for them to do it prior to buying as part of the deal.  

When i had my local dealer replace mine at 4 years old i asked them to stamp the book as they said they didnt normally bother,ive got the original invoice as well. Sub 1917,if the dealer says they have already replaced it then i would ask for written proof or a copy of the original bill if possible.

So what's the mileage then as mine had belt and pulleys done at 40k now on 74k .....

What was the date when it was replaced at 40k,if its over 4 years ago then i recommend you get the belt etc replaced.

Will have to check date!

Does the petrol one differ though? And I thought they were a chain or is that only certain ones?

The petrol facelift & the Limited edition pre facelifts (TSI engine) have a chain,the pre facelift (TFSI engine) has a cambelt. 

Thanks for the additional advice chaps. As i mentioned in my original post, the dealer's advert shows 'photos of each page in the service book, it looks to have always been serviced by Skoda dealers, so i'd be surprised if the belt hasn't yet been changed, despite the fact that the 'toothed belt' replacement box on the service checklist has never been ticked. Anyway i'll certainly ask for some sort of proof if the dealer claims that it has been changed. My only concern about getting the dealer to change it themselves is if they do it on the cheap with inferior parts.

I went to view and test drive the car today. I was able to give it a good run for about twenty minutes over different types of road. For the past nine years i've driven the same BMW 5 Series which has served me well & has been 100% reliable, but it's always lacked soul. However, the VRS was far more engaging and great fun to drive. 

 

There was no evidence of the cambelt having been changed, as the dealer didn't have any old invoices, just the service history book, (which, as i mentioned in an earlier post, doesn't indicate that the belt has been done). The dealer therefore offered to get the cam belt changed, using original parts, and to check the water pump. The car will also come with a new MOT & will be given a major service and also comes with six months warranty.

 

I was offered more than i expected for my car in part exchange so i came away very happy. There's no doubt that i was able to get a better deal as a result of advice given on this forum, so once again thank you very much for your contributions. I can't wait to take delivery and i already feel as though i'm becoming a Skoda enthusiast.