CAMBELT CHANGE

[hoot]

Morning all..

my Fabia 1.2 TSI 6 speed is 5 years old in December, cambelt..i have had varying quotes.. I initially asked for Cambelt and water pump ..the first quote from an independent garage  with excellent reputation, came back with a very keen price saying that the cambelt only and the pump was not cambelt driven .Skoda in Plymouth want £550 for this where the independant is £300 less..

 

Thanks all

 

[Ootohere]

[hoot]

E rootoot

thanks for the above.., do i still require a waterpump at the same time

 

thanks

[TerFar]

8 hours ago, hoot said:

E rootoot

thanks for the above.., do i still require a waterpump at the same time

 

thanks

No. The water pump has been relocated well away from the Cam belt path, so it can be replaced independently when needed. 

[hoot]

morning TerFar..

thanks for that..

 

 

[rum4mo]

1 hour ago, hoot said:

morning TerFar..

thanks for that..

 

 

 

Also, to put your mind to rest, the water pump is at the over end of the engine and is belt driven by its own small belt, if that belt breaks the worst that will happen is that the engine temperature will increase, so not a big problem and that small belt probably has a longer service life as it only drives the water pump.

 

I don't mean to alter your way of thinking, but the cambelt in this family of engines is not considered by VW Group to have a defined service life - like most previous cambelts in other engines, it should be examined at every service after maybe year 5, and action taken as and when it shows signs of wear.

I have been examining this belt on my wife's 2015 VW Polo 1.2TSI 110PS at every service since year 2 and it still looks "like new", my original reason for checking things in that area stems from some few people having issues with the inlet camshaft assembly securing screws slackening off,  I plan to leave off changing that belt until 7 > 8 years and so 50K miles have passed, and not waiting until that belt shows signs of aging/wear.  The listed 5 years/**K miles change period stems from improvements that upped the previous cambelt change from 4 years/##K miles, VW Group marques will argue that it makes more sense to hand out one set of instructions covering all models, instead of handing out engine type/version bespoke servicing advice/instructions.

 

Changing that belt at 5 years could be the safest option but quite a bit of overkill for that exact family of petrol engines, VW Group should be monitoring what advice their approved workshops world wide is handing out to customers and not just allowing them to be taking as much cash in as possible.

[TerFar]

35 minutes ago, rum4mo said:

 

Also, to put your mind to rest, the water pump is at the over end of the engine and is belt driven by its own small belt, if that belt breaks the worst that will happen is that the engine temperature will increase, so not a big problem and that small belt probably has a longer service life as it only drives the water pump.

 

I don't mean to alter your way of thinking, but the cambelt in this family of engines is not considered by VW Group to have a defined service life - like most previous cambelts in other engines, it should be examined at every service after maybe year 5, and action taken as and when it shows signs of wear.

I have been examining this belt on my wife's 2015 VW Polo 1.2TSI 110PS at every service since year 2 and it still looks "like new", my original reason for checking things in that area stems from some few people having issues with the inlet camshaft assembly securing screws slackening off,  I plan to leave off changing that belt until 7 > 8 years and so 50K miles have passed, and not waiting until that belt shows signs of aging/wear.  The listed 5 years/**K miles change period stems from improvements that upped the previous cambelt change from 4 years/##K miles, VW Group marques will argue that it makes more sense to hand out one set of instructions covering all models, instead of handing out engine type/version bespoke servicing advice/instructions.

 

Changing that belt at 5 years could be the safest option but quite a bit of overkill for that exact family of petrol engines, VW Group should be monitoring what advice their approved workshops world wide is handing out to customers and not just allowing them to be taking as much cash in as possible.

 

I agree. The belt manufacturer quotes a much longer life for their belts. I can't remember exactly what they quote, but it is something like 10 years, 150km. VAG say that it is the tensioners, which are always changed with the belts, that are the problem.

My Fabia will be 5 years old in January; I'm more concerned that they didn't change the DSG fluid at 4 years, although my Fabia has only done 18k miles. I'll get them to change it in January rather than replace the cam belt! 

[hoot]

thanks to all on this, i will go with 5 years..but it will be going to an indepedant garage..SKODA/VW are taking advantage

 

Hoot in Plymouth

[rum4mo]

7 hours ago, hoot said:

thanks to all on this, i will go with 5 years..but it will be going to an indepedant garage..SKODA/VW are taking advantage

 

Hoot in Plymouth

 

Fair enough, be sure to come back with what the cost was and in general what that indie's thoughts were on replacing the belt etc at this age/mileage.

[CRASH67]

On 18/09/2020 at 16:04, hoot said:

thanks to all on this, i will go with 5 years..but it will be going to an indepedant garage..SKODA/VW are taking advantage

 

Hoot in Plymouth

Skoda/VW taking advantage in what way? More costly labour? 

Well most cost involved in a dealership operation.

 

Cambelts have always been a funny one generaly rule if thumb seems to be year 4/5 60/70k miles maybe a bit more despite as stated above belt manufactuers claiming longer. 

Probley an arse covering move if one should fail earlier then stated!

[Eccles]

Yes, VAG being ultra careful as I have written before. Last yr I got in touch with VAG technical and had a chat with a nice man as they say, because I am not a boy racer and only do about 4k miles per annum. I quote "Well the 5 year advice is not mandatory and is only a recommendation. We recommend because we know that some people abuse their cars and do a lot more miles than you do." I then suggested doing it at 7 years:- "Your suggestion makes sense to me but it is you decision and I cannot officially comment." I have subsequently discovered that the quality of belts has improved significantly in recent years and they rarely actually break being more likely to start losing the teeth which of course can be equally disastrous. Also they come under the most stress when the car is started from cold in cold winters so stay out of Norway, Sweden  Russia and possibly northern Scotland LOL. BTW may man says he will do it for about £250 so main dealer price of £450 has to be a rip off, just had an A/C regas done for £45 by local garage and main dealer wants over £100!, there is something wrong here.

Edited 24 September, 2020 by Eccles
omission

[Lord_Danny]

On 15/09/2020 at 10:04, hoot said:

Morning all..

my Fabia 1.2 TSI 6 speed is 5 years old in December, cambelt..i have had varying quotes.. I initially asked for Cambelt and water pump ..the first quote from an independent garage  with excellent reputation, came back with a very keen price saying that the cambelt only and the pump was not cambelt driven .Skoda in Plymouth want £550 for this where the independant is £300 less..

 

Thanks all

 

Thank you for posting this. They passed my MOT today, yet put Cam belt change "urgent" on my service health check. Confused why they'd pass the MOT if it was a serious problem. I was quoted £479 for the Cam belt replacement. 5 year anniversary today and 61,000 miles done.

 

Which independent garage did you use? I'm also based in Plymouth.

[Breezy_Pete]

MOT doesn't care whether or not your engine is in peril.  It probably isn't either, as inspection of cambelt is not part of the MOT test, and it may or may not have been even looked at during any service you may have had at the same time. Get it somewhere else for a 2nd opinion.

[rum4mo]

11 hours ago, Lord_Danny said:

Thank you for posting this. They passed my MOT today, yet put Cam belt change "urgent" on my service health check. Confused why they'd pass the MOT if it was a serious problem. I was quoted £479 for the Cam belt replacement. 5 year anniversary today and 61,000 miles done.

 

Which independent garage did you use? I'm also based in Plymouth.

 

I think that maybe you are lucky that your Skoda dealership is handing out this warning, okay it will mainly be to generate revenue for the workshop, but on the other hand, years ago, when cambelts were a newish thing, a neighbour who admitted to knowing nothing about cars - and his local Ford agent knew this, bought a Ford Escort 1.3L with the CVH new from that local Ford agent and always used them for servicing, during maybe year 5 the cambelt or bits "went" and trashed the engine, when he went into that Ford agent to arrange for repairs, all he got was "yes that can happen, it should have been replaced at 4 years" - that was the last car he ever bought from that friendly local small Ford agent, I reckon that they had let him down very badly, similar advice to what you got given should have been handed out to him at the correct time.

[xman]

 You do not need to change the water pump on an EA211 engine, it is driven in an entirely different way to older VAG engines by a seperate belt.

 

Read my post below and if you have time SSP511 which is in there as well to demystify the EA211 design.

 

 

[hoot]

13 hours ago, Lord_Danny said:

Thank you for posting this. They passed my MOT today, yet put Cam belt change "urgent" on my service health check. Confused why they'd pass the MOT if it was a serious problem. I was quoted £479 for the Cam belt replacement. 5 year anniversary today and 61,000 miles done.

 

Which independent garage did you use? I'm also based in Plymouth.

Hi..

I haved used Graham SHEPHERD for years, he  is located off sutton road{ just past the lights going toward Cattedown.} but still waiting for the quote ..I have had another quote from allvolks at Crownhill, they quoted £270 for cambelt, minor service starts from £70 and MOT at £40

 

thanks

 

[Blindman]

Hi

 

My Fabia 2016 Tsi 1.2 has done 58000 miles so according to Skoda (>) it is due a Cambelt change.

 

They quote £500 for Cambet and tensioners

 

I asked for a quote from an Independant and they rang back saying they could not do my vehicle as it needs a Special Skoda tool-(cost £2K) and to be careful with any quotes I get from Independents.

 

So before I go to get other quotes:-

 

1. Anyone got any good Independants in Cambridgeshire I can quote?

 

2. True about this special tool?

 

Thanks

 

 

[TerFar]

My Skoda agent quoted £280 for the cambelt change, but that doesn't include parts and VAT. But I doubt that is going to be £500. My 2016 1.2 Tsi has only done 12,000 miles, so I declined having the work done.

The manufacturer of the cambelt states 10 years, 120,000 miles for the life of the belt, but I've no idea if the cam belt tensioners get knackered. I'll think about changing mine at 7 years or 50k, depending on which comes first.

My mileage is especially low because I bought it at 2 years old with less than 6k on the clock because the first owner had died and the disposal was held up by executors. Then, of course, Covid came along. We're retired, so don't use it for commuting and with holidays off the horizon, it was hardly used since February 2020.

The only extra servicing I've had done is the DSG oil change and that was done by an independent DSG expert company (£90).

[rum4mo]

12 hours ago, Blindman said:

Hi

 

My Fabia 2016 Tsi 1.2 has done 58000 miles so according to Skoda (>) it is due a Cambelt change.

 

They quote £500 for Cambet and tensioners

 

I asked for a quote from an Independant and they rang back saying they could not do my vehicle as it needs a Special Skoda tool-(cost £2K) and to be careful with any quotes I get from Independents.

 

So before I go to get other quotes:-

 

1. Anyone got any good Independants in Cambridgeshire I can quote?

 

2. True about this special tool?

 

Thanks

 

 

 

Something about this rings a bell, but well established VW Group Indies taking on this work, by now will have bought in all the required tooling, as many 12TSI 16V and similar 1.4TSI 16V petrol engined VW Group cars will have passed through their workshops for this work to be done.

 

General all marques workshops might not yet have geared up for this work, so that could have been a fair comment/warning you were given.

[Flopsy]

This debate has reminded me of our last Mark 2 Fabia which we had from new and was very low mileage. IIRC the car came up to its fourth birthday and our local dealer wanted to swap the cambelt when it went in for its service and MOT. I asked him if they checked the date of manufacture on their stock and threw away all belts over four years old. There was one of those silences...

I didn't get the belt replaced.

We now have a 2016 Mk 3 from new at 8500 miles and I'm wondering when to get its cambelt changed. One of the things to take into consideration is what's the recommendation in other European countries. Don't forget that Skoda UK is not Skoda but simply an importer/distributor of cars so it will make recommendations based on keeping main dealers happy.

[Planetse]

VW UK say 5 years regardless of mileage
VW rest of the World say 160000 kms is a check only and replace if necessary.

Read this email.

 

'I am happy to confirm that the information I previously provided is correct, and to confirm, the cambelt replacement intervals
for your vehicle are 160,000 miles'

'Having
your cambelt replaced every 4 years is a UK recommendation on most
Skoda vehicles, but Skoda UK's Technical Departmentmaintain that every
160,000 miles is the interval for a cambelt replacement on your Fabia
based on the engine type and size'

I then received a phone call from VW UK a couple of days later, who replied to my email, asking why Germany recommend check only at 160K miles, but the UK dealership sate that it should be changed either 5 years or 60 k miles. She said , its was just a recommendation (UK only) to be on the safe side and the 160k miles check only is for the European market. She said that the Service Schedule books are all printed with this generic information for all countries.

Edited 24 February, 2021 by Planetse

[Blindman]

What email address did you contact for VW Rest of the World?

 

Not sure why the UK thinks it's any different from Europe in how the Cambelt wear out!

 

 

My previous car were Cambelt changes at around  90,000 IIRC.

 

 

 

[Blindman]

Thanks to all who have replied.

 

I'm not changing the Cambelt, giving it a few more miles yet!

[Eccles]

....and apparently they areimproving cam belts all the time. Ford now says for the B-max,C-max and Fiesta it's 150k miles ot ten years. VW UK are having a laugh with their 5 year "recommendation". My bro (recently retired service manager) reckons it will probably soon be "lifetime" as he has taken off belts which have done 80/90k miles are there is still nothing wrong with them.

[hetty1]

   i thought I should get a quote for replacing the cambelt at my usual independent. I specifically told them that I had read that expensive tools would be needed and they didnt comment on that.  They are quoting £404 inc vat.  Like many independents their labour charge increased when the first lockdown ended.   In this case by 25% so that alone will have jacked up the price. i asked for genuine Skoda parts and that was accepted.  Mention was made of buying a Gates(?) belt which they said was original equipment.  I am still not completely convinced about them having the correct tools but they havent said otherwise.    My car isnt 5 years old until  June next year so I  have got lots of time.  Only one poster specifically mentioned an independent garage maybe having to spend thousands of pounds on equipment to do the job and my independent hasnt specifically confirmed or denied that.    Skoda are currently charging £500 all inc to do the job so  I would be £96 in pocket.

 

      Next year I would guess Skoda will be charging £520/525 and my independent will be charging about £420 so  I would save about £100 .  Thats a fair bit of money to me but  I  have to balance that against the catastrophe if the belt failed, one wrecked engine no less.  My independent is normally brilliant, good prices for good work but  I  had one query a few years ago  involving a clutch cable they bought  for a  Corsa  that used up the spare on the cable really quickly.  I took it to a  Vauxhall dealer who discovered a restraining circlip wasnt present and they fitted one.   Thats just one thing in 16 years but the fault could lie with the part not the independent of course.   I am taking the car into my independent in the next few weeks to have it serviced and I will talk to them in person about the cambelt.  They would give a 12 month guarantee on parts and labour and  I  am pretty sure  the  Skoda garage would give 2 years.

 

             So  I  would welcome advice from posters.   Play it safe and have it done at the  Skoda garage or save £100 and have it done at the independent?