I have a 64 plate Octavia that has currently done 80700 miles the majority of which are Motorway commuting.

I had the MOT done earlier this week at Halfords and was chatting generally with the mechanic about the Timing Belt and when

it should be changed etc:

He was saying that they recommend to change the Coolant Pump at the same time?

So my questions are this

 

1) what is the recommended mileage or age of car to change the T/B

2) is the Coolant Pump change required

3) Is £635 complete a lot for a job like that.

 

Any help appreciated

Considering that Skoda will do a cam belt and water pump change for £529, 

so £635 seems expensive and surely you could find an independent VAG specialist that will do it a lot cheaper.

https://www.skoda.co.uk/owners/servicing-maintenance-fixed-price

Oh, And I wouldn’t let Halfords service my grandsons bike never mind anywhere near my car

Edited 14 September, 20196 yr by Kenny R

47 minutes ago, rafc1968 said:

I have a 64 plate Octavia that has currently done 80700 miles the majority of which are Motorway commuting.

I had the MOT done earlier this week at Halfords and was chatting generally with the mechanic about the Timing Belt and when

it should be changed etc:

He was saying that they recommend to change the Coolant Pump at the same time?

So my questions are this

 

1) what is the recommended mileage or age of car to change the T/B

2) is the Coolant Pump change required

3) Is £635 complete a lot for a job like that.

 

Any help appreciated

 

Water pump change is only required to be changed if its fault, technically, but it's common practice to change it at the same time as the belt.

 

Reason being you have to remove the belt to fit it anyway, and if it fails, it can mean cheerio to the engine.

 

You'll definitely get it done cheaper than that.

As Kenny R says £529 at Skoda, which I think for the diesel is a good price as many vag specialists actually quote £600-£700 for the cambelt and water pump on that engine.

 

6 hours ago, rafc1968 said:

2) is the Coolant Pump change required

The water pump isn't supposed to need changing, however they have proved to be very unreliable on the early diesels, so if the pump hasn't failed by the time the belt needs changing you may as well replace it then anyway, for the reasons described above. See the sticky thread at the top of the forum for more details.

3 hours ago, Rodge said:

The water pump isn't supposed to need changing, however they have proved to be very unreliable on the early diesels, so if the pump hasn't failed by the time the belt needs changing you may as well replace it then anyway, for the reasons described above. See the sticky thread at the top of the forum for more details.

 

+1 on this. On an out of warranty model you'd be best replacing the water pump as part of the same job, as there's a chance it will fail anyway and would cost you considerably more to replace as a separate job.

Thanks guys main dealer for both it is...

Does any one know at what mileage or time the timeing belt and water pump should be changed?

Ive got the mk3 facelifted 2 liter diesel.

140,000 miles or 5 years (which ever comes first) for belt in UK on EA288 2.0 tdis. Mileage only in other markets. Make sure belt and tensioners are replaced (these come as a kit), but bearings collapsing on the tensioners is just as bad a damage to belt.

 

The water pump is condition based, but as stated previously, previous modification states were prone to failure.

 

The parts used are relatively cheap (belt kit, water pump); it’s the labour charges that are c.2/3 of the cost, hence, the economics of replacing the pump at the same time as the belt

51 minutes ago, Black_Sheep said:

140,000 miles or 5 years (which ever comes first) for belt in UK on EA288 2.0 tdis. Mileage only in other markets.

 

I hesitate to reopen this can of worms....but....do you know why this is ?

On 14/09/2019 at 09:11, rafc1968 said:

I have a 64 plate Octavia that has currently done 80700 miles the majority of which are Motorway commuting.

I had the MOT done earlier this week at Halfords and was chatting generally with the mechanic about the Timing Belt and when

it should be changed etc:

He was saying that they recommend to change the Coolant Pump at the same time?

So my questions are this

 

1) what is the recommended mileage or age of car to change the T/B

2) is the Coolant Pump change required

3) Is £635 complete a lot for a job like that.

 

Any help appreciated

I had my 2015 1.6 CR Tdi timing belt, water pump and alternator belt changed at 133k. (Got into trouble from the mechanic who said that as mine is a taxi it should have been done between 90 and 100k - there was a noise coming from it and the belt was elongated apparently)

 

Local garage took £370 for the job which seems to be the going rate. Was a Gates kit which is what the original belt is.  

22 minutes ago, classic said:

 

I hesitate to reopen this can of worms....but....do you know why this is ?

 

Skoda UK decision

The cost breakdown for my

timing belt change is as follows;

 

Gates timing belt kit @ £130

Drive belt @ £20

Waterpump @ £40

4.5 hours labour @ £40 an hour

10 hours ago, gm73 said:

Was a Gates kit which is what the original belt is.  

 

Gates are an OE supplier, but not the only supplier. It changes year on year depending on who is currently in favour and doing the best deals.

12 hours ago, classic said:

 

I hesitate to reopen this can of worms....but....do you know why this is ?

 

11 hours ago, Tech1e said:

 

Skoda UK decision

 

I would guess it's to do with the high labour cost in the UK making warranty claims expensive.  If SUK said 140k only then even if the car was 10 years old they would be in conversations about paying for any damage that may occur on failure.  Put a time limit on it as well and you get fewer failures meaning a saving on claim costs.

Is gates the supplier of the original T/B for a mk3 vrs diesel? Getting my timing belt done next Wednesday and front disks and pads in a skoda dealer costing me 1200 euro including minor service . Are you better to stick with skoda or does it matter . Only 78 k miles . Thanks all

Gates is an OE supplier, but not the only one. Group will use whoever is approved and can deliver what they need, when they need it a the best price.

Possibly not relevant but I had the cam belt and water pump done in January this year by my local Skoda dealer, car only had 45K but it's 5 years old and I intend to keep it as long as possible. It was £499 for my petrol 1.4TSi

Edited 27 September, 20196 yr by Lingnoi