1.4 tsi (140) Belt Or Chain - Replacement?

[peugeot_205_gti]

Morning all,

 

My wife just received a call from main dealer to say the Cambelt is due for replacement soon. 

 

We have 13 plate, MK3 Octavia, 1.4tsi Manual (140) and it has covered 32k.

 

From what i can see the car in chain driven and its life long? But reading lots of different stuff online. Also spoke to a Skoda specialist who said its life-long on the Petrol engines.

 

Can anyone clarify?

 

Cheers

[uchuff]

There was some discussion on this recently. Pretty sure belt, 5 years or 140k. 

[peugeot_205_gti]

I found someone who posted the following, so it appears its belt but life-long?

 

riches is right, its a long life belt, supposedly lasts the lifetime of the vehicle/engine. I don't recall seeing any change interval mentioned in the Handbook, I think it gets checked at major services for wear.

 

Seems to be a belt reinforced with glass fibre cords, so very strong.

 

http://www.ngfeurope.com/~/media/NGF%20Europe/Site%20Content/News/Automotive%20Design%20Europe%20Feature.ashx

 

The EA211 engine family is still quite new so we don't have much experience of any problems with it yet. Hopefully its a lot better than the older TSi engines with the rattling and breaking timing chains!

 

 

[Alunakis]

From WORKSHOP MANUAL SKODA OCTAVIA III:

If someone has other official document from VAG who specifies when the timing belt must be changed, please post it here.

Edited 2 May, 2018 by Alunakis

[peugeot_205_gti]

28 minutes ago, Alunakis said:

From WORKSHOP MANUAL SKODA OCTAVIA III:

If someone has other official document from VAG who specifies when the timing belt must be changed, please post it here.

 

 

Thanks,

 

So, correct me if i am wrong but every 210 000km - Replace tooth belt for camshaft drive and tensioning pulley...

 

Is this all i need to be concerned about? Not a certain number of years?

 

Thanks

[uchuff]

Worth double checking we are working with the latest info. For my Astra the supplier of the belt halved their recommendation from something like 80K / 8 years when the car was first released to 40K / 4 years a couple of years later. 

 

I'll have a dig for the last thread. 240k km is about 150k miles, rounded down to 140k -  from what I gathered taking things apart to where it can be properly checked was a more or less "might as well just put a new one on" job.

Edited 2 May, 2018 by uchuff

[uchuff]

 

[mrgf]

Relating this to other vehicles, I have often heard of halving the specced limit, possibly due to a few faults that occur resulting in quite serious damage. 

 

Also, reading that schedule, I think the very first line set the standard... Every 60,000km OR  4 years.  Reading that in context with the other mileage related info. So, every 120,000km would be 8 years, 240,000km, every 16 years.

 

Having said that, I suspect most vehicles won't be still on the road after 16 years and the actual degradation of the belts might have rendered it necessary to change anyway. (Quite likely why the halving effect is used... Rotten belts damage engines). I would contact at least another two, unrelated main dealers and ask them. They can offer advice based on Skoda's recommendations but remember, a main dealer will most likely err to the side of caution, whilst users often let things go too long!  There will always be a middle ground but if under warranty, go by the official requirement! (Doesn't HAVE to be undertaken by main dealer, just at the recommended interval and undertaken to manufacturers spec's).

[Alunakis]

@peugeot_205_gti At 210 000 km is for DIESEL engines;

 

The table I posted is from SKODA.CZ MAINTENANCE MANUAL 2013( not Workshop, sorry). I didn't know that Skoda UK build Skoda cars so they can give the real and correct time to change the timing belt, but they must have something to work it. I think that, in time, the problem will be the coolant pump, not the timing belt, even if it's driven by another belt. I have the impression this will be a discussion like " which is best, 95 RON or 98 RON". So do what you think it's best for your car. 

PS. I search in Maintenance Manual from: 10.2013/ 12.2014/ 01.2017/ 03.2017/ 05.2017/ 10.2017. The same thing, nothing changed. 

[Rodge]

The figure which is usually quoted here is four or five years, which seems a bit crap when the one in my ancient Focus lasted more than ten.

[Stewart7]

In connection with this topic, I can see its quite easy to remove a small cover to be able to inspect the belt but would you go by just the small part seen through the opening or would you somehow nudge the engine around to inspect all of the belt.  If so, how would you do this?

 

[classic]

8 hours ago, Alunakis said:

@peugeot_205_gti At 210 000 km is for DIESEL engines;

 

The table I posted is from SKODA.CZ MAINTENANCE MANUAL 2013( not Workshop, sorry). I didn't know that Skoda UK build Skoda cars so they can give the real and correct time to change the timing belt, but they must have something to work it. I think that, in time, the problem will be the coolant pump, not the timing belt, even if it's driven by another belt. I have the impression this will be a discussion like " which is best, 95 RON or 98 RON". So do what you think it's best for your car. 

PS. I search in Maintenance Manual from: 10.2013/ 12.2014/ 01.2017/ 03.2017/ 05.2017/ 10.2017. The same thing, nothing changed. 

 

As you correctly state Skoda CZ make the cars and their recommendation for timing belt maintenance on the chpa 1.4 tsi is to inspect at 240000 km, with no time quoted.

UK dealers and specialists will say every 5 years. They always said 4 years for older models regardless of Skoda cz maintenance manuals. I think it’s because no technician is ever going to remove covers, inspect a belt and say it’s ok for fear of liability if it subsequently breaks. Enough belts have historically failed for Skoda UK to work on a time limit (5 years) to be on the safe side. Also it’s a good money maker for the workshop.

For what it’s worth my last car was a Vauxhall Zafira 1.6 petrol, the service book said replace timing belt at 10 years or 100000 miles, I didn’t get it changed until the 10 year service despite advise from various sources to change it at 40k miles or 4 years. That engine, like the Skoda 1.4, only drives the cams with the timing belt, the water pump has a separate drive. It’s usually water pump issues that damage timing belts.

 

 

Edited 2 May, 2018 by classic

[peugeot_205_gti]

I have just received an Email from Skoda now saying my Cambelt is due!

 

I'm still not sure what i should do? 

 

Is the general feeling here that even though it 'should' be OK its not worth the running the risk so replace it anyway?

 

Cheers

 

 

[fabdavrav]

On ‎02‎/‎05‎/‎2018 at 11:25, Alunakis said:

From WORKSHOP MANUAL SKODA OCTAVIA III:

If someone has other official document from VAG who specifies when the timing belt must be changed, please post it here.

 

look at the edition....October 2013.....not up-to-date!

 

I have the VW version of the same engine & have the June 2017 ERWIN manuals (official VW)

which states:-

 

Toothed Belt.

¨       Air conditioning & traffic conditions usual for passenger vehicles:-

- Every 210,000km (140,000miles).

¨       Countries/Regions with High Levels of Dust (see Table 4):-

- Every 120,000km (80,000miles).

¨   Toothed belt & camshaft drive tensioning roller:- renew.

§  Applies to all diesel engines with toothed belt.

 

¨       Countries/Regions with High Levels of Dust (see Table 4):-

- Every 120,000km (80,000miles).

¨   Toothed belt & camshaft drive tensioning roller:- renew.

§  Applies to all petrol engines with toothed belt.

 

¨       Countries/Regions with High Levels of Dust (see Table 4):-

- Every 120,000km (80,000miles). 

¨   Toothed belt drive for cooling pump:- renew.

§  Applies to all petrol engines with toothed belt for coolant pump.

 

 

UK isn't on the list of "high levels of dust" so there is NO service interval as its "for life"...

Edited 16 May, 2018 by fabdavrav

[Alunakis]

Yes, that's correct. But, Skoda Octavia MK3, 1.4 TSI 103kw/140HP was made until May 2015. So, I think this table is good enough(12.2014):

 

[Stewart7]

In connection with this topic, I can see its quite easy to remove a small cover to be able to inspect the belt but would you go by just the small part seen through the opening or would you somehow nudge the engine around to inspect all of the belt.  If so, how would you do this?

Thanks

Stewart