Cam belt change, the truth

[StriderDog]

Hi all,

Now I know I'll get thumped for this but I cannot see a straight or catagorical answer on when the cam belt should be changed. When my car was in a stealership last week having the 'Leave in park.." issue one of the recommendations they made was the cam belt change is due in 4 months.

The car will be four years old in February 2020 and up to date has done 41,000 miles. I've seen 130k/60k, 5 years....

When I get mine done it'll be at an independant garage by a friend that specialises in VAG cars...

 

So, is the truth out there? Thanks in advance!

Edited 16 November, 2019 by StriderDog

[Ju1ian1001]

To be honest i can't remember the mileage interval but the year interval is right, the materials the belt is constructed from can deteriate so 5 years gives a safe margin, although i would not let a cambelt go more the 80k before changing (i'm an MOT tester/technicain and have seen what i snapped belt can do to an engine.) It's best practice to change the water pump at the same time as the can get disturbed and start to leak. 

[System0fAClown]

I believe it’s 50,000 but the water pump will probably go before then as my one did at 40,000.

[MarkyG82]

2 hours ago, System0fAClown said:

I believe it’s 50,000 but the water pump will probably go before then as my one did at 40,000.

 

50k is excessively low in my opinion. 5 years and 100k is closer to the truth. On average more drivers will reach 5 years before the 100k limit.

[Guest]

Good luck trying to get a straight definitive answer because there is none. Two dealers within the same franchise can and often will give differing opinion. It really doesn't matter what anyone says on here, the only people who matter are Skoda UK or your Skoda dealership.  Ask them to put it in writing, that way if anything does go wrong then you have evidence.

 

5yr interval  The time period for SEAT is here in black and white and given it's the exact same parts and engine used by all four brands then it's reasonable to assume it applies to all. But it's quite incredible that neither VW, Skoda, SEAT or Audi have it in writing at what mileage the belt needs changing. That's why it's so confusing because all the armchair experts spout out information which isn't backed up by the manufacturer for the UK market. It's really quite poor by VAG - I'm sure their reluctance to specify a mileage is deliberate.

 

 

Edited 17 November, 2019 by Guest

[Loopylil]

Skoda indie told me 5 years or 100000 as the water pump normally goes first,mine went about 96000 if i remember right.

[classic]

9 hours ago, Scot5 said:

Good luck trying to get a straight definitive answer because there is none. Two dealers within the same franchise can and often will give differing opinion. It really doesn't matter what anyone says on here, the only people who matter are Skoda UK or your Skoda dealership.  Ask them to put it in writing, that way if anything does go wrong then you have evidence.

 

5yr interval  The time period for SEAT is here in black and white and given it's the exact same parts and engine used by all four brands then it's reasonable to assume it applies to all. But it's quite incredible that neither VW, Skoda, SEAT or Audi have it in writing at what mileage the belt needs changing. That's why it's so confusing because all the armchair experts spout out information which isn't backed up by the manufacturer for the UK market. It's really quite poor by VAG - I'm sure their reluctance to specify a mileage is deliberate.

 

 

They do have it in writing in the workshop manuals, and nowhere is 5 years mentioned. To be fair, If I had a Diesel with the water pump driven by the belt then I’d do 5 years just to prevent any problems, as the tdi water pumps are a known weakpoint.

In 5 years time my car will be 10 years old, and either dead from a broken belt, or still ok, then I’ll  know for sure, but by then no one will care 🤔

Edited 17 November, 2019 by classic
grammar

[WayTooTall]

Mine cambelt came up at 5 years on the dealership list of things needing doing. Car was at 80k+ miles but it was age that prompted the change. 

[StriderDog]

A big thanks for all the answers guys, 👍

it still looks like the jury's out on the actual change but I'll stick with the 5 years but to get things into perspective I'll speak to my Son's mate as he's a big fan of VAG cars..

Thanks again,

Mark

[SuperbTWM]

With that mileage I don't think 5 years would be a stretch.

 

Usually the water pump leaks way before you get to 4 or 5 years anyway.

[MarkyG82]

To add to my comment above, my water pump went at about 40k and 3 ½ years. I chose to get the belt done at the same time to save the grief of taking it back in 18 months later. I plan to have the pump done at every belt change just in case. Car is up to 65k and 5 years now so I'd be getting it done now had the pump not gone the first time. If I keep going with the mileage I do now I'll be at about 115k miles and 8 ½ years at next change.

[J.R.]

What fails on the water pump if and when they fail? Seal, impellor breaking up, what exactly?

 

Does this affect all 2.0Tdi common rail engines or just some engine codes and years.

 

I ask because my new Yeti at 85K miles and 5 years old will benefit from a precautionary belt change, normally if there is no known or inherent weakness in the water pump, pulleys tensioners etc I dont change them, in the absence of known faults I consider the "kit of parts" to do the job as nothing more than an excuse to make money and if you are very lucky the best that you can hope for is that the replacement parts will be as good a quality os what was factory fitted and I include buying the parts from the main dealers or TPS in that statement.

 

My 2001 Octavia had one belt change done at 225OOO miles, at that time I could start to see a degradation in the original, it was still running fine at 325000 miles and 17 years old and the belt not degraded, the original water pump, belt tensioner and idler pulleys were still as good as the day it left the factory.

 

If there is a known weakness in the water pump expecially if its a sudden and catastrophic failure then I will change it and the belt ASAP, otherwise I would carry on with my usual belt inspection regime but there is lots of emissions crap in the way preventing easy removal of the upper belt cover.

[GaryL]

I looked at the Maintenance Manual that I downloaded from Skoda Erwin last month.  For diesels, it specifies 210,000 km (130,000 miles), except for "dusty countries" which have 120,000 km (75,000 miles).  The UK is not in the list of  "dusty countries".   No time intervals are specified.  Must say, I think those intervals are optimistic and I certainly wouldn't leave it that long.  My TSI has a chain cam so luckily I don't have the same issue.  I guess you'l just have to take a consensus of opinion.

[Kenai]

If you want the definitive answer, email Skoda UK customer services with your registration, they'll get back to you within a couple of days. 

 

I did this recently to confirm the DSG service interval had changed on the newer DQ380 boxes.

 

If you ever had trouble after that, you have it in writing from Skoda themselves, not just a dealer. 

 

 

[SuperbTWM]

1 hour ago, J.R. said:

What fails on the water pump if and when they fail? Seal, impellor breaking up, what exactly?

 

 

 

Mine started leaking on my Superb II at just over 3 years old and 30k. 2.0 CFFB (common rail)

 

A bit disappointing really

[MarkyG82]

1 hour ago, J.R. said:

What fails on the water pump if and when they fail? Seal, impellor breaking up, what exactly?

 

Does this affect all 2.0Tdi common rail engines or just some engine codes and years.

 

 

It affects many of the 2.0tdi cr engines. All? Maybe not but many. The most common failure is the thermostatic valve sleeve. It stays shut when the engine is cool (just started) to aid in warm up. It then opens when the water temp rises. What happens when it fails is the plastic sleeve sticks not allowing it to divert water to the radiator. It's built into the pump assembly so a complete change is easier than reworking the pump.

[System0fAClown]

2 hours ago, J.R. said:

What fails on the water pump if and when they fail? Seal, impellor breaking up, what exactly?

 

Does this affect all 2.0Tdi common rail engines or just some engine codes and years.

this thread 

 

[JamesETheFirst]

I’m rather glad you started this topic, my Octavia  is 4 years old in January so is due the cambelt change , when I rang an independent VW/Skoda specialist they told me the waterpump wasn’t driven by the belt and didn’t need replacement. Is this true? Who do I believe , the dealer or the independent?  It’s the 1.4 petrol with the 7 speed DSG.  

 

 

Edited 17 November, 2019 by JamesETheFirst
Additional information

[hatchy]

4 hours ago, GaryL said:

I looked at the Maintenance Manual that I downloaded from Skoda Erwin last month.  For diesels, it specifies 210,000 km (130,000 miles), except for "dusty countries" which have 120,000 km (75,000 miles).  The UK is not in the list of  "dusty countries".   No time intervals are specified.  Must say, I think those intervals are optimistic and I certainly wouldn't leave it that long.  My TSI has a chain cam so luckily I don't have the same issue.  I guess you'l just have to take a consensus of opinion.

 

Edited 17 November, 2019 by hatchy

[hatchy]

Above page from official skoda manual that can be found on here in 'pinned'section. Notice in 'period of time' section there is nothing mentioned. In the UK we must have special belts made out of self destructing materials after 5 years.🤣

 

Went to local Skoda dealer (Heritage Yeovil) on Thursday to book it in for a minor service  (just to keep an official stamp or record as it is now on the electronic history) a brake fluid change and aircon service. They put the details in computer and didn't ask at all if the cambelt had been done or did I want it done as it's coming up for 6 years old (albeit still less than 33,000 miles). Probably 2 years time I'll get it done as it approaches 50,000 but that'll be more of a concern about the waterpump than anything else.

[silver1011]

On 16/11/2019 at 19:31, StriderDog said:

When my car was in a stealership last week having the 'Leave in park.." issue one of the recommendations they made was the cam belt change is due in 4 months.

The car will be four years old in February 2020 and up to date has done 41,000 miles. I've seen 130k/60k, 5 years....

 

Jesus, which dealer was this? Another one to avoid.

 

Skoda have had a 4 year blanket interval for all models registered before September 2010.

 

Any model registered after this date, the interval increased to 5 years.

 

For anyone in a franchised Skoda dealer to still be quoting 4 years on a MkIII Octavia has either been hiding in a cupboard for several years or is deliberately attempting to miss sell.

 

As for mileage, the advice earlier is correct, the only way to know for sure is to catch Skoda UK customer services on their Live Chat feature with your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) from underneath the passenger side wiper blade...

 

 

 

 

[StriderDog]

15 minutes ago, silver1011 said:

 

Jesus, which dealer was this? Another one to avoid.

 

Skoda have had a 4 year blanket interval for all models registered before September 2010.

 

Any model registered after this date, the interval increased to 5 years.

 

For anyone in a franchised Skoda dealer to still be quoting 4 years on a MkIII Octavia has either been hiding in a cupboard for several years or is deliberately attempting to miss sell.

 

As for mileage, the advice earlier is correct, the only way to know for sure is to catch Skoda UK customer services on their Live Chat feature with your Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) from underneath the passenger side wiper blade...

 

 

 

 

Wow, brilliant find, thanks @silver1011

[Gerrycan]

3 hours ago, JamesETheFirst said:

I’m rather glad you started this topic, my Octavia  is 4 years old in January so is due the cambelt change , when I rang an independent VW/Skoda specialist they told me the waterpump wasn’t driven by the belt and didn’t need replacement. Is this true? Who do I believe , the dealer or the independent?  It’s the 1.4 petrol with the 7 speed DSG.  

 

 

Most of the reported water pump failures here are for the diesels. They have the belt and pump on the same side so replacement of both at the same time is often recommended as a precaution and to save on labour costs.

The small petrols including the 1.4tsi are a different design and the belt and water pump are at different ends of the engine so the labour savings ate less.

The 1.4tsi has far lower reported incidents of water pump failure, only two that I can remember including mine at about 50k km. 

It was expensive and took the dealer several days and two visits to resolve completely but I did a massive amount of Kms in their loan car.

The belt in my car is overdue for replacement by the 5 year rule but it MY decision not to and just go by inspections for the time being.

Edited 17 November, 2019 by Gerrycan

[ScoutCJB]

On my old Scout I was told 5 years 130k - I had it done at 123K for convinience as car was already in garage for something else.

This was done at an Audi specilaist who i took my old A4 to.

[MichaelTL]

I have been quoted £1016 by Skoda main agent to replace my cam belt (Octavia 1.5TSI).

I have a service agreement - £32 per month.

Wondering firstly if I can save much money getting someone else to do the belt and secondly who I can use so as to not affect the service plan.

I have read on here that water pumps tend to fail on diesels mainly and that pump location on petrol eng means less money saving having it changed same time.