1 hour ago, AwaoffSki said:

There is no Inspection of a Cam belt @ 20,000, 40,000, 60,000, 80,000 or 100,000.

Which really is the crux of the matter, if you want a Cam Belt inspected you will be paying extra over and above Major Service charges.

Yes; funny how they can waste their time (and ours) filming and sending you a bloody video of your car after a service.... but don’t check the vital components, I know for a fact my wheels didn’t come off during a main service, jokers, I’m very angry on your behalf! Why do we put up,with this stupidity.

Edited 14 March, 20188 yr by andyasjl

No point in "checking" the condition of the cambelt, there's a lot components to remove before taking the cover's off to check, so you might as well change the belt and water pump whilst there.

 

I would not trust a cambelt to do 140,000 miles, i would be changing it around the 80,000 miles mark, better to be safe then sorry as the PD and CR engines tend to bend valves if the belt does snap.

Was it a "Private sale" or did you actually buy it from the dealership?

Bought May 2017 with 79,000 miles and now at 88,000 so unless it has a 12 month warranty what is the difference.

That is why there are Warranties available to buy.

 

As to wheels coming off.

The Skoda Main Dealer Servicing used to say clean brake drums, and that was not being done, 

and new cars could be at the 1st MOT and longer and wheels never off unless you have tyres changed or the brakes serviced, even brake fluid changes 

were no guarantee of the wheels coming off.

The wheel bolts might never ever be checked from the Production line until someone eventually does remove the wheels.

Isn’t 140,000km around about 80,000 Miles? I was under the impression that cambelts were replaced at about 60k or every four years. I know many manufacturers recommend longer intervals but are we as owners of cars prepared to go much longer? I’m not. Not much help I know for the OP but seems that cambelt failures seem quite a rare occurrence on these types of forums? 

1 minute ago, threadbear said:

Isn’t 140,000km around about 80,000 Miles? I was under the impression that cambelts were replaced at about 60k or every four years. I know many manufacturers recommend longer intervals but are we as owners of cars prepared to go much longer? I’m not. Not much help I know for the OP but seems that cambelt failures seem quite a rare occurrence on these types of forums? 

I bought my 64-plate Octavia a couple of weeks ago and wanted to know the cambelt replacement window and two dealerships said 5 years/140k miles, not KM.

The MK2 Focus it replaced was 10 years/125K miles so I didn't think 140K miles was beyond reasonable but I'd never max out this kind of limit.

My Octavia is on 76K miles and due a service in 3800 miles (give or take) and in light of this thread I'm considering getting the cambelt done at the same time for additional peace of mind, especially as Skoda's attitude seems to be "tough luck"

 

threadbear,

That is often the problem, the km to miles thing, there is lots lost in Translation with VW Group including numbers / conversions.

DSG with Skoda Service, 40,000 miles, Audi 38,000.

 

FULL MAIN DEALER SERVICE HISTORY.

Take that as a warning not much done probably.

No guarantee the Brakes have been touched, brake fluid, haldex or DSG fluids changed as per schedule / guidelines.

http://skoda.co.uk/finance-and-offers/service-and-maintenance/simply-fixed 

***'Check / adjust tension of all drive belts'.***

 that is external / visible ones.

Not what is says though...

 

***Remove wheels and check brakes.***

Well that one has been there long enough on different Skoda websites.

Edited 14 March, 20188 yr by AwaoffSki

10 hours ago, Scot5 said:

However I think it's worth taking legal advice.

 

 

Me too.....

I think that if Skoda clearly state in print that the cambelt only requires checking and/or replacing at 140k miles/5 years AND you have complied with the the recommended  service requirements on time (documented), that is clear evidence enough that the cambelt should last at least 140k/5 years.

 

Does the cambelt drive a water pump? That's what used to take out cambelts in older designs when they seized along with poor quality tensioners.

 

Has there been any other evidence of misuse, modification or exposure to extreme environmental conditions?

 

Inform the dealer of your intentions and the submit all this evidence to a small claims court. The cost is not too high and theres a good chance the dealer will not contest it. You will need to obtain a quote for repair/replacement of the engine as part of your claim.

For any legal actions, then best have the Engine dismantled by a Expert Motor Engineer and a report carried out with their opinion on the failure.

Unless the legal action taken is speaking to a solicitor and sending a letter or 3.

 

Best have the ECU checked just to see there is no evidence of a Remap having been done in the first 3 years.

Car never used by a tuner to develop a Remap etc.

Edited 14 March, 20188 yr by AwaoffSki

My observation about km vs miles was purely a comment. I think that 140,000 miles is way too much before a cambelt change and it seems that 80,000 is pushing the boundaries. The manufacturers really need to clarify with the dealers what the recommendation is. This confusion over cambelt changes has been going on as long as I’ve had cars that required a cambelt change. 

There are threads all over this forum where someone comments on Service Schedules, and they are for Continental European Countries, 

or other World Regions, or for engines from before or after a certain year.

If you Ask, VW, Skoda, Audi or SEAT you often get answers that are totally different for the same engines.

59 minutes ago, AwaoffSki said:

 

***Remove wheels and check brakes.***

Well that one has been there long enough on different Skoda websites.

 

On some pages it even said remove drums and clean brakes.

 

But it never happens.

 

My dealer told me they check the drum brakes by removing the rubber bung in the back plate to inspect the shoe thickness. Only problem is there is no rubber bung, and hasn't been for 15 years.

 

Inspection, you are working solely on trust. No evidence, eg measurement, proper written condition report is ever given. Sometimes you'll get a tick box sheet, examine it and ask why all the ticks seem to have been done at the same time (exact same style) or by a computer. Even if it is done, it often is nothing more than a cursory glance and not a proper examination.

 

It the luck of the draw in many cases.

Small claims court is straightforward, the cost is small, there is no risk involved (extra costs etc) a magistrate is not an engineer. He will only look at the evidence presented and listen to any defence that is given. At the very least you have the opportunity to argue with the dealer with a neutral arbiter. And the dealer will lose money and time if they bother defending. 

 

It doesn't matter what anyone thinks is an appropriate lifetime of a cambelt. If Skoda has committed to print 140k miles/5 years AND a dealer or service has never recommended or stated otherwise, its a clear cut case. No need to strip engines or go to mega expense, the dealer has already told what the fault is.

Edited 14 March, 20188 yr by xman

You can not say,  'it never happens'   because wheels and brake drums were removed at some workshops,  ones that care about servicing and maintenance and others safety

  If you never have seen it done,  that is different.  That is where you go. 

Way I see it is the "recommendation" is a "don't go beyond this point" without changing it, it's just poorly worded. 

54 minutes ago, xman said:

Small claims court is straightforward, the cost is small, there is no risk involved (extra costs etc) a magistrate is not an engineer. He will only look at the evidence presented and listen to any defence that is given. At the very least you have the opportunity to argue with the dealer with a neutral arbiter. And the dealer will lose money and time if they bother defending. 

 

It doesn't matter what anyone thinks is an appropriate lifetime of a cambelt. If Skoda has committed to print 140k miles/5 years AND a dealer or service has never recommended or stated otherwise, its a clear cut case. No need to strip engines or go to mega expense, the dealer has already told what the fault is.

Again, who are you going to take to court?

 

Has it been clocked (most likely I think it has, but just try and prove it).

 

Was the sale of the vehicle a dealership purchase (albeit an Aston Martin dealership) or was it a private sale (as in you bought the car from a person who just happens to manage a dealership)? It could very easily be that despite going to a dealers and looking at a vehicle which you then purchased, you actually bought the car from the manager directly so it would be a private sale with much reduced consumer rights.

To be honest, there are so many vague statements and assumptions in this thread that it's not possible to make an informed judgement as to who is to blame or what the cause of the failure actually is.

Was this you? https://www.honestjohn.co.uk/askhj/answer/96971/the-cambelt-broke-in-my-car-long-before-the-recommended-replacement---should-the-manufacturer-offer-a-free-fix

 

Honest John's answer: small claims court over life of belt claim.

 

Seems like a good way to go, but unfortunately sounds like you'll be out of a car for a while.........

2 hours ago, Rustynuts said:

Again, who are you going to take to court?

 

Has it been clocked (most likely I think it has, but just try and prove it).

 

Was the sale of the vehicle a dealership purchase (albeit an Aston Martin dealership) or was it a private sale (as in you bought the car from a person who just happens to manage a dealership)? It could very easily be that despite going to a dealers and looking at a vehicle which you then purchased, you actually bought the car from the manager directly so it would be a private sale with much reduced consumer rights.

To be honest, there are so many vague statements and assumptions in this thread that it's not possible to make an informed judgement as to who is to blame or what the cause of the failure actually is.

 

He bought it from an Aston Martin dealership with full service history. The claim is against the dealer. Whether it was clocked is not the OPs concern. That is the dealership's problem as is any undisclosed history. Straightforward, iirc the cost involved is £100 or so. 

11 minutes ago, xman said:

 

He bought it from an Aston Martin dealership with full service history. The claim is against the dealer. Whether it was clocked is not the OPs concern. That is the dealership's problem as is any undisclosed history. Straightforward, iirc the cost involved is £100 or so. 

That's not the answer to the question I asked though. Was it bought as a dealership purchase, or was it bought as a private sale from the dealership manager. There's a very crucial difference there.

Qustions for the OP,

Did you get a 12 month Warranty?

Or what was the Warranty terms?

 

Who was the First Registered Keeper, Dealership, named person or a Lease Company?

 

What is the Service History, Variable / Flexible Services, so at near 20,000 mile intervals, 

and done by who?

So Oil and filter changes, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th Services.

Pollen Filter, was the Brake Fluid Changed, was the Air Filter changed, oil the hinges, wash and vacuums, top up the washer bottle, 

look and see. 

 

?

Any Warranty History for work done in the first 3 years?

On the Skoda System if done in the VW Group network.

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

Edited 14 March, 20188 yr by AwaoffSki

On 13/03/2018 at 17:50, CWARD said:

That is ****. I only had one taste of Skoda and it was enough to put me off. I hope there is no internal damage and the repair is cheap as possible. 

 

Why are you on here then? 

Edited 15 March, 20188 yr by john999boy

23 hours ago, TDIum said:

 

Why are you on here then? 

 

I had enough experience of fixing problems with mine that I can pass onto to others, hence why I’m on here nobber!  That’s the beauty of forums in that it passes knowledge on. 

Edited 15 March, 20188 yr by john999boy

BMWs probably never go wrong so there is not much to talk about in their forums.

Excluding the indicators issue of course  

9 minutes ago, Gerrycan said:

BMWs probably never go wrong so there is not much to talk about in their forums.

Excluding the indicators issue of course  

 

 Not a single problem yet but like all cars they’re known problems. I do confuse people though by using the indicators in a BMW, it leaves them in a state of shock 

Edited 14 March, 20188 yr by CWARD