Cambelt.... When can it be changed (safely)

[Hudson1]

So i drive like Miss Daisy, it's a 1.6TDI Elegance which runs perfectly and has done so pretty much since i got it with a few very small niggles which i sorted, i have it serviced by a local garage every year and do look after it, it has NOT had the fix ! So it's done just over 58,000 on the same cambelt, just how far can i push it ? Oh its a 2010.

[YS53]

Should be changed at 5 years regardless of mileage - you have been lucky so far LOL.

A mate of mine went a couple of years past the recommended 5 and his cambelt snapped the day before he had it booked in for replacement (wrecked his engine !)

We have just had  cambelts/water pump/aux belt replaced on our 2002 Polo 1.4 16v at 4 years and 11 months (either an idler/tensioner/water pump started to get a little noisy so no choice really ) but I managed to find a local VW specialist to do it for me in deference to my kernackered knees and lower back.Kerching 450 squid  but engine now nice and quiet again

[spartacus68]

Driving like Miss Daisy or booting it, at the end of the day, it's an interference engine. If it goes, so does your engine. Your 2010 Fabia is probably worth £3k, so a broken timing belt will reduce it to scrap.

 

As a rule, 6 cylinder diesels, certainly VAG ones, then allow 80k miles or 5 years, 4 cylinder diesels, then 60k miles or 5 years. Renew water pump and auxilliary belts as a matter of course.

[Bertie90]

my water pump failed at 66k, the damn thing was gashing water like mad.

[Kgod1991]

2 hours ago, Bertie90 said:

my water pump failed at 66k, the damn thing was gashing water like mad.

Know that feeling mine failed whilst traveling Europe in Slovenia 58k 4yr old 

[SeaGoat]

13 hours ago, YS53 said:

Should be changed at 5 years regardless of mileage - you have been lucky so far LOL. . . .

How much is a Skoda Authorised Main Dealer likely to charge to change the cam belt on a 2013 (CTHE) vRS?

 

Similar query in relation to the water pump?

[Tech1e]

5 minutes ago, SeaGoat said:

How much is a Skoda Authorised Main Dealer likely to charge to change the cam belt on a 2013 (CTHE) vRS?

 

Similar query in relation to the water pump?

 

It doesnt have a cambelt.

[Ootohere]

But the Water pump / magnetic supercharger clutch, 2 rubber belts, seal and coolant might cost from £450-500 on a CTHE Mk2 vRS Fabia 1.4 TSI.

Might need doing at 5-6 years, 50,000 miles plus, or even sooner on some.

Watch for slight loss of coolant, or the car getting the EPC light, maybe going into limp mode, maybe with the Cruise Control engaged.

 

I will bump the thread with part numbers.

here it is.

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/415178-fabia-mk2-vrs-twincharger-water-pump-part-number-supercharger-clutch

 

 

Seagoat you had the Tming Chain measured already did you not, there can be an issue with CTHE with the timing chain / tensioner.

Edited 16 October, 2018 by Offski

[Tech1e]

As the water pump isnt driven by the cambelt or cam chain its not that vital that it is changed. It should give other symptoms before it fails. (on the CTHE)

Edited 16 October, 2018 by Tech1e

[Ootohere]

No not vital that it is changed, but becoming common that they fail, so you need to be aware of that and the possible expense, 

and knowing what it probably is seeing as there are 1,800 CAVE engine cars and 1,100 CTHE with Skoda in the UK it can save a Dealership wanting 1 hour or more Diagnostics over and above the sometimes inflated prices being quoted.

 

?

What other symptoms other than a very slight loss of coolant or misfires or EPC or Exhaust Emission Control light?

Edited 16 October, 2018 by Offski

[Tech1e]

5 minutes ago, Offski said:

What other symptoms other than a very slight loss of coolant or misfires or EPC or Exhaust Emission Control light?

 

A squealing noise on supercharger engagement is fairly common.

 

Agreed on it being a serviceable item. I was thinking more along the lines of comparing it to changing a water pump as a matter of course with a cambelt. Its an individual job kind of thing,

[globalste]

Quote

So i drive like Miss Daisy, it's a 1.6TDI Elegance which runs perfectly and has done so pretty much since i got it with a few very small niggles which i sorted, i have it serviced by a local garage every year and do look after it, it has NOT had the fix ! So it's done just over 58,000 on the same cambelt, just how far can i push it ? Oh its a 2010.

 

2010 model TDi is 4 years.  The 2012+ is 5yrs or 140k which ever is first. 

 

As mentioned, your waterpump is the thing you need to be worried about as they are made of a plastic with a similar property to cheese.  I got my belt and waterpump done for £399 at a main dealer recently but it was a price error that they honoured, its normally £499.  An independent may be able to do it for less than £399, but the continental kits cost quite a bit at the moment (or so I am told by my local indi).

 

I would get the belt and pump done ASAP.

Edited 16 October, 2018 by globalste

[SeaGoat]

6 hours ago, Tech1e said:

It doesnt have a cambelt.

If the CTHE vRS doesn't have a cam belt, does it have a cam chain?

If not, then what?

And whatever, what components are likely to need to be replaced at a five years / 50k miles service and how much is that likely to cost?

[Ootohere]

Chain and tensioner. And when the waterpump goes replace it,  and do both belts that go with that then.  they will have been on as long as the water pump and drive the supercharger. Maybe read about the cthe.  There are clues in the answers already posted. 

Edited 16 October, 2018 by Offski

[SeaGoat]

1 hour ago, Offski said:

Chain and tensioner. And when the waterpump goes replace it,  and do both belts that go with that then.  they will have been on as long as the water pump and drive the supercharger. Maybe read about the cthe.  There are clues in the answers already posted. 

So far as I know, I don't suffer any loss of coolant, the EPC light doesn't come on on my my car nor does it go into limp mode.  At a cost of £450-500 I am happy to wait ;)

[skidpan]

There is a chap on Honest John who claims cam belts never need changing, will last the life of any vehicle. Says is Focus is in its teens and his Audi is as well.

 

But he also says antifreeze never needs changing, oil changes are a con, brake fluid lasts forever and tyres are fine to over 20 years old. Recently he claimed its fine to change one brake pad at a time if the others are OK.

[Hudson1]

Thanks for the info, i know i am pushing my luck, i will speak with the garage and look at getting it booked in, i know that if it ' goes ' then the car is scrap, and it really does run well and has cost us nothing apart from the usual service elements. Ta

[Tech1e]

15 hours ago, skidpan said:

There is a chap on Honest John who claims cam belts never need changing, will last the life of any vehicle. Says is Focus is in its teens and his Audi is as well.

 

 

Seen plenty of busted engines that would disprove that claim.

[Hudson1]

Booked in !!! Let's just hope it stays as it is now until it lands on the forecourt.

[globalste]

If it’s done at a main dealer then you definitely get 2yrs warranty on the belt and the pump which is reasonable piece of mind, I can’t remember if Independents can give the 2yrs or not.  Glad you got it sorted!

[Bertie90]

On 17/10/2018 at 15:46, globalste said:

If it’s done at a main dealer then you definitely get 2yrs warranty on the belt and the pump which is reasonable piece of mind, I can’t remember if Independents can give the 2yrs or not.  Glad you got it sorted!

independent gave me 1 year on parts