Hi all! Our mk3 1.2tsi monte carlo is 5 years old and Skoda have just sent out an email asking for it to be booked in for a new cambelt. It's covered 35k miles and is a 2016 plate. Now is this normal or are they just fishing?? 

Sound about right, belts are a 5 years or X Miles, which ever comes first.

 

You won't need the pump doing though, they are on the opposite side of the engine.

3 minutes ago, MATT0693 said:

Sound about right, belts are a 5 years or X Miles, which ever comes first.

 

You won't need the pump doing though, they are on the opposite side of the engine.

Thanks Matt, once the shock subsided I managed to get some stuff done done search.

 

I think its a bit of a joke really, seems the rest of the world disagree with skoda uk. Another reason we won't be having another VW car 🤣

DON'T fall for this outrageous CON. 

 

The manufacturer of the belt states 100,000 miles (160,000 km). VAG in most of the World recommends INSPECTION at 50,000 mile or 5 years. 

 

So just maybe ask for an inspection when it is serviced. But IF they replace it, demand they retain it for you to see it. 

 

I've no intention of replacing mine until it is 10 years old. 

2 hours ago, TerFar said:

DON'T fall for this outrageous CON. 

 

The manufacturer of the belt states 100,000 miles (160,000 km). VAG in most of the World recommends INSPECTION at 50,000 mile or 5 years. 

 

So just maybe ask for an inspection when it is serviced. But IF they replace it, demand they retain it for you to see it. 

 

I've no intention of replacing mine until it is 10 years old. 

Thats where I am at the moment. I sold my 2018 VRS a few months ago as I wasn't using it, the dealer wanted to do a air con service, brake fluid change and front diff service at the next interval. To think they would so the belt potentially a couple of years later on a car with less than (projected) 20k miles on it is shocking. But that's cars I guess. 

 

The mk3 fab owes me very little, I'd not want to jeopardise future value but we don't have a specialist nearby and the dealer is 50 miles away. I dont trust this particular dealer, I used to drive another 70 miles past them to the next one because I hated them!

 

I wouldnt trust them to inspect it and not come back with 'definitely needs changed' regardless of the condition. I have such a low opinion of the dealership network as a whole.

No matter what car you buy unfortunately in this country you often end up dealing with the English dealerships and they often have decades and generations of poor service attitude built into them, some places treat their customers like something they trod in. Even the best cars, proper Japanese cars, have English dealerships in England.

 

Yes I too generally have a very low regard for English dealerships from decades of personal experience of the motor trade generally..

 

I'm old enough to have bought Skoda cars before VW took over (when VW initially did the quality actually dropped) and the Skoda Dealerships were small and much more friendly and honest as they really did want and need your business.

 

48 minutes ago, nta16 said:

end up dealing with the English dealerships

Er. some of us have never been to a stealership in Englandshire.

12 minutes ago, KenONeill said:

Er. some of us have never been to a stealership in Englandshire.

 

Tend to avoid the ones up here as well if I can help it, Ken.

@KenONeill @AnnoyingPentium I live on the borders, in Cumbria. I used to take my octavia to border motors in Dumfries. They were much better than the idiots in Carlisle and helped me out with a long standing issue but they were still a dealer at the end of the day. My local dealer went pop 3 months after I bought my brand new car, which was helpful! 

7 minutes ago, ExSEAT said:

I used to take my octavia to border motors in Dumfries.

 

I've got a distant relative who works for Border Skoda IIRC.

2 hours ago, ExSEAT said:

I used to take my octavia to border motors in Dumfries. They were much better than the idiots in Carlisle

Given the distance on the A75, that says it all!!

1 minute ago, KenONeill said:

Given the distance on the A75, that says it all!!

 

Good views on that bit of road, overtaking lanes make it a bit more fun given the volume of lorries. Travelled it quite a lot saying "we'll only go to Stranraer" and ending up in the Robert the Bruce in Dumfries for our tea.

18 hours ago, KenONeill said:

Er. some of us have never been to a stealership in Englandshire.

No and I've never dealt with even garages, or mechanics IIRC, in Wales or Scotland that's why I put England, I've dealt with a dealerships in the countries of Yorkshire and Lundun but as far as I know they're still officially England so far.  🙂

20 hours ago, ExSEAT said:

I wouldnt trust them to inspect it

 

Inspect it yourself, Instructions and photos in this post on the second page:-

 

 

Thanks. AG Falco

Had mine done on my 2016 1.4tdi mainly through the fear factor of destroying the engine. Expensive at £400. I was reading that on the same engine in the Polo they only recommend an inspection at 60000. Unfortunately I don't know enough about cars to make a well enough informed decision but suspect I have waisted lots of £££££££.

Edited 26 December, 20214 yr by Silverbirch

Well you have gained peace of mind! But it is annoying that VAG cannot make a definitive statement and show genuine figures for Cambelt failures to back it up. 

Personally, I didn't worry too much because with my MC almost 7 years old, I didn't expect it to be worth a lot by now. But covid and shortage of chips has brought it value back up to £10k: quite a shock! 

4 hours ago, Silverbirch said:

Had mine done on my 2016 1.4tdi mainly through the fear factor of destroying the engine. Expensive at £400. I was reading that on the same engine in the Polo they only recommend an inspection at 60000. Unfortunately I don't know enough about cars to make a well enough informed decision but suspect I have waisted lots of £££££££.

It could well be that that 1.4TDI engine does not have a cambelt that is expected to last for a very long time, the EA211 engine family of 1.0TSI, 1.2TSI and 1,4TSI do claim to have a cambelt that is not a service item in normal use, so you have been maybe been wise to stick with the 5 year XK,000 mile advice.