My car is approaching an age where I want to inspect the cam belt.

I can see how to remove the cover from the end of the cam shafts, can I then rotate the engine by putting a socket on the crankshaft pulley holding nut?  Or is there a cover to remove first.  Also, as the cam belt cover is only a dust cover, can I reuse the same gasket?

Thank you

Stewart

Edited 11 February, 20197 yr by Stewart7
Clarification

I have no idea what you’re talking about but I am genuinely interested in finding out whether you can assertain if you’re cambelt needs changing. 

 

Ive got a 2014 vrs and I’ve been told it’s 5 years or 140000 miles before cambelt needs changing. Currently done 73000

 

Look forward to replies 

 

 

Open it and you will see that the cambelt is in a very good state.

Edited 12 February, 20197 yr by Alunakis

Regardless of the belts condition I would have it changed along with the tensioner and water pump. For the sake of a few hundred quid I would get it done. Just changed mine at 45k miles on Sep 2013 vrs tdi so I now have peace of mind.

48 minutes ago, donny1972 said:

Regardless of the belts condition I would have it changed along with the tensioner and water pump. For the sake of a few hundred quid I would get it done. Just changed mine at 45k miles on Sep 2013 vrs tdi so I now have peace of mind.

My car is due in for MOT and service in October and that would be 5 yrs eg looking at getting cambelt/pump done. 

 

I got a 2 yr mot and service plan from Arnold Clark when I bought the car so am thinking about getting them to carry out the cambelt also. They quoted £380 to complete job

 

I also rang TLS and was quoted £280 for genuine parts only to do the job. Still need to add price of labour (4 hrs approx)

 

Carrying out this work, is it a straightforward task eg getting your average local garage to do it and or maybe buy the parts from TLS and ask whoever to fit them?

 

Cheers 

Edited 12 February, 20197 yr by Upthepool

I would check the Arnold Clark pricing, the official Skoda pricing is £399 or £499 with the water pump which really is essential.

 

It's also worth noting that dealer prices include a warranty for parts and labour. I once took genuine parts to a 3rd party, the water pump failed immediately on startup. The part was covered but the 4 hours labour wasn't!

18 minutes ago, MeteorOcty said:

I would check the Arnold Clark pricing, the official Skoda pricing is £399 or £499 with the water pump which really is essential.

My thoughts exactly - sounds like Upthepool may have been quoted for cambelt without waterpump.

 

I bought my car from Arnie but have many years of experience to know not to have their maintenance go near the car.  If you spoke to them on the phone, chances are you were put thru to a central helpdesk rather than a VWgroup dealer. Even they don't know what they're talking about. 3 different Arnold clark SEAT dealers gave me 3 different pieces of information about the servicing for my SEAT - and they were all wrong! 

 

PS - Upthepool?   I hope that's not referring to Liverpool?

Edited 12 February, 20197 yr by Guest

1 hour ago, Scot5 said:

My thoughts exactly - sounds like Upthepool may have been quoted for cambelt without waterpump.

 

I bought my car from Arnie but have many years of experience to know not to have their maintenance go near the car.  If you spoke to them on the phone, chances are you were put thru to a central helpdesk rather than a VWgroup dealer. Even they don't know what they're talking about. 3 different Arnold clark SEAT dealers gave me 3 different pieces of information about the servicing for my SEAT - and they were all wrong! 

 

PS - Upthepool?   I hope that's not referring to Liverpool?

No it’s Blackpool actually although I’ve not been for over 4 yrs and won’t return until the Oyston family have gone! But that’s another story lol.

 

Back on topic and I’m pretty sure the  quote I got from Arnold Clark in Edinburgh for £380 inc pump also. I asked for both and the sales guy who I eventually bought the car from gave me that price himself 

 

Just out of interest if the parts are not genuine Skoda parts would that much difference? I appreciate genuine parts come with a warranty for how long? 

 

All in all are are you saying that £499 fitted direct is not a bad deal then?

 

Cheers 

If your car is out of warranty then non-genuine wouldn't make a difference. In saying that, the only time I'd fit a non-genuine part is if it comes highly recommended ( generally costing more thean the genuine part). I'd be very uncomfortable using a non-genuine part just because it's cheaper.

 

Don't non-genuine parts come with a warranty too?

 

£499 for a cambelt and waterpump change is the fixed price at any main dealership - some may offer a better deal, others may price-match if you can have the same work done using the same parts at a local 3rd party garage.  Personally I'd get a price from a trustworthy local indi garage who has excellent reviews.

 

Arnold Clark - put it this way, if Arnie was offering to change both belt and water pump for £299, I still wouldn't use them because I don't trust them to do the job correctly. Had too many bad experiences with Arnie's mechanics to give them my car again. And as for their service receptions - they've told blatent lies. ( not receptions fault, they don't know one end of a car from the other, they're just repeating what they've been told to say).

Edited 12 February, 20197 yr by Guest

Skoda dealers using genuine parts give a full 2 year unlimited mileage parts and labour warranty on their work backed by Skoda. They will know how to do this job properly working day in day out on these engines and not having to work on many other manufacturers cars. Independents like AC are likely to have mechanics relatively inexperienced on Skoda engines, using third party tools and could take short cuts, and highly unlikely to offer an equivalent warranty.

Thanks all. Thought I’d contact my local Volkservice garage who quoted me £425 all in using genuine parts. Something to bear in mind anyway for later on

 

Sime great feedback thanks again