Hi all,

I'm in the process of buying a 2012 Octavia vRS 2.0 Diesel. The timing belt on it is still the original one and I can't find much info on the changing intervals for them in years. The milage is low so it's nowhere near needing to be changed based on that. The link at the top of this forum suggests between 120,000 to 180,000km depending on which vRS diesel engine it is.

 

The dealer I'm buying from says they recommend 10 years between changes if the mileage isn't above the limits. Is this correct? 10 years seems a very long time between changes for a timing belt. Or have timing belts (and the pulleys/pumps) just become that good?

 

Thanks.

4/5 years would be the correct time based on age.

Depends on engine code and model year.

I'd say mileage or time interval which comes first. I'd have a look in the hand book to conferm that. It's good practise to get the water pump and ancilerys changed at the same time.

I'd walk away just based on the BS he gave you about the 'time' interval. He obviously has no idea about what he's selling.

I'd say mileage or time interval which comes first. I'd have a look in the hand book to conferm that. It's good practise to get the water pump and ancilerys changed at the same time.

 

Ancillaries,such as? Agree on the water pump because they're in there anyway doing the timing belt.

Edited 1 February, 201610 yr by hatchy

Thanks for the responses.

 

Anyone know what Skodas official line is on the changes? I downloaded the user manual from the skoda site but there's nothing in it about servicing.

Cars registered before September 2010 have a blanket interval of 4 years.

 

This increased to 5 years for cars registered after this date, so your 2012 Octavia is 5 years. With it's low mileage it doesn't need doing until next year.

 

It shouldn't come as a surprise that the dealers get it wrong.

 

Some will argue that the only reason Skoda UK implement the time intervals (no other EU market does, it is all mileage based outside the UK) is down to the rip-off Britain analogy, the cambelts used are the same. Only you can make your mind up on this one.

 

If the car is a keeper then get the water pump changed at the same time, it is only normally an extra £100 maximum.

 

As for mileage the only definitive answer is to contact Skoda UK direct quoting the VIN off the windscreen. Use this form, they got back to me after only a few days...

 

http://www.skoda.co.uk/about-us/contact-us

Edited 1 February, 201610 yr by silver1011

Probably should have mentioned I'm in Ireland, not the UK so maybe the 5 years isn't recommended over here.

 

I emailed skoda Ireland but haven't heard back from them yet.

 

Car is very good so will complete the sale even if they won't do the timing belt before it and get an indie garage to do the belt next year regardless.

 

Second-hand car salesmen wouldn't lie about something like this would they?

Hi guys

Sorry to hijack the thread...

I had my cambelt changed last year on my 57 plate PD vRS, so is it still every 4 yours or do I fall in line with the new time interval of 5 years ?

That would still be four years.

Oops

Edited 1 February, 201610 yr by MicMac

On 01/02/2016 at 19:30, Macks said:

Probably should have mentioned I'm in Ireland, not the UK so maybe the 5 years isn't recommended over here.

 

I emailed skoda Ireland but haven't heard back from them yet.

 

Car is very good so will complete the sale even if they won't do the timing belt before it and get an indie garage to do the belt next year regardless.

 

Second-hand car salesmen wouldn't lie about something like this would they?

I find myself hoping to be able to confirm the same information at present with www.skoda.ie ,   If they doe confirm this I will come back and port the answer here.

One Skoda main dealer  confirmed in an email, but in an email that did not include any Skoda logos nor did the reply include mention of the specific car my question was about , their replay was as follows.
 

"I consulted with our Service Department and we replace the Timing Belt here at 190k kms or 10 years whichever comes first."

 

The above style of writing could infer, an independent garage operating inside a Skoda main dealership, as at no times does it state that this is Skoda recommended timing interval, but their web site does state that many of their technical shop staff have been trained by Skoda in Dublin.

 

But I also have another question, I have a  deposit on a Skoda Car for sale from this  Skoda dealership & garage and it comes with  a 12 month manufacturers defect warrantee,

and I need some form of explanation as to what this could mean ? To date I have only ever received a "parts and lobor warrantee" on a car for 6 months. So I have no idea what a warantee for 12 months against manufacturer defect might mean ?

 

I hope I am paranoid

 

 

 

15 hours ago, colmmcg said:

But I also have another question, I have a  deposit on a Skoda Car for sale from this  Skoda dealership & garage and it comes with  a 12 month manufacturers defect warrantee,

and I need some form of explanation as to what this could mean ? To date I have only ever received a "parts and labour warrantee" on a car for 6 months. So I have no idea what a warrantee for 12 months against manufacturer defect might mean ?

 

I hope I am paranoid

When we replaced my wife's car with a Skoda Fabia last February, I asked the same question of the Skoda garage and he gave me a small explanatory booklet which answers everything. It is the same one you get when you pick up a Skoda approved vehicle.

Ask them for the warranty booklet.

I have now done 108 k with three cambelt pump changes , I do not go by mileage so have it done by years. Mine being 61 reg.

Thanks for your reply, do u known if the time interval for the timing belt is written on any Skoda published documents. As mentioned by another here, it is not mentioned on the owners manual.

On 24/01/2021 at 13:02, pastiche said:

I have now done 108 k with three cambelt pump changes , I do not go by mileage so have it done by years. Mine being 61 reg.

Why have you done three changes?

 

If yours is a 61 (late 2011) it should have had a change in late 2016 and be due another change late this year (2021).

 

Ours is a 2011, we did the first change in 2016 and it's due another in April this year (only on 82k miles so purely time-based).

On 30/01/2021 at 10:04, Stevoraith said:

Why have you done three changes?

 

If yours is a 61 (late 2011) it should have had a change in late 2016 and be due another change late this year (2021).

 

Ours is a 2011, we did the first change in 2016 and it's due another in April this year (only on 82k miles so purely time-based).

Hi, the first was at 4yrs next done earlier than expected as mechanic said it has got contaminated, last one couple of weeks ago although it was not due until October 21 but as the covid is around thought why not get it done now .

I queried the replacement interval with my garage, and they pointed out that the cam drive was a chain . . .

 

Mind you, I have a 1.8 TSI, so it might be different for the diesels.