Cam belt or chain?

[Frames]

My Superb 280 is due a 40000 mile service. The Skoda Leeds garage says it needs a cam belt change (£500) but I thought it was a chain??

 

Help please!

[nicknorman]

It’s a chain. Other engine variants have belt (diesel) but not your one. If this is a main dealer, it’s a bit worrying that they don’t know this basic thing. Maybe you should take it to a competent garage? Of course at 40k miles, it does need a DSG gearbox oil and filter change.

[Frames]

Thanks nicknorman. I've just spoken to an independent, IVC in Leeds. They confirm it's a chain. Main dealer's lack of knowledge is worrying, I'll avoid them in the future.

DSG oil has been changed recently but thanks for the info.

[numskull]

9 hours ago, Frames said:

The Skoda Leeds garage says it needs a cam belt change

Hilarious. I had the same conversation with the “Service Advisor” at Lookers, Guildford. When I asked what the cost was of a major service, she quoted xxx plus £550 for a cambelt change as the car would be 6 years old.
When I said it had chain not a belt, she argued I was wrong and I had no idea what I was talking about and called me a w&*#er under he breath as she walked away. Needless to say, they haven’t had my business since. 

[Ootohere]

@Frames

Was your Haldex serviced @ 30,000 miles and did that place do it?

 

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/505226-haldex-filter-and-oil-change

 

 

 

Edited 30 June, 2022 by roottoot

[Frames]

Thanks everyone for your help and advice.

roottoot After some ridiculous quote for DSG and Haldex oil changes at the main dealer I went to IVC in Leeds for both. I am now using them for all my servicing work. They are knowledgeable (unlike the main dealer!), polite and reasonably priced.

 

 

[100andthirty]

Mine 220TSI was due for a new belt at 5 years and was duly booked in for the work. Fortunately they didn't change the chain and I saved £550. The apologised for their ignorance which I do believe was on the booking side and clearly not with the technicians!

[Ootohere]

The thing is that the Service desk & Parts Desk Staff and their Service Manager even Workshop Manager might be clueless and employed because they know nothing about cars, even ones they get from the dealership to drive.  The Salespeople are the same.

(Any ability, keen to learn  and they are off working someplace else, maybe the AUDI dealership but then that means not much for those Audi customers that expect better.)

 

The real FAIL is the Dealer Principal, the Dealership Owners & Directors that allow this nonsense but mostly VW Group / Skoda UK that have these Franchised / Approved Dealerships and repairers. 

Edited 1 July, 2022 by roottoot

[100andthirty]

Interestingly I bought my car from a salesman who'd come to Skoda from Audi. When I test drove the SIII that led me to buy mine I wondered aloud "why would anyone bother with an Audi". He privately agreed with me. A year or so later I had a long journey in an Audi A6. I didn't change my view!

[ApertureS]

Another case of dealer doesn’t actually know what they are doing and just reading words off a screen.

 

all the 1.6,1.9,2.0 tdi have a belt,

all the 1.0-1.4 petrols have a belt

all the larger 1.8-2.0 tsi engines have a chain.

[Ootohere]

^^^ That applies to engines of a certain ages and since in the Octavia Mk3 section maybe these.

 

But for other models / generations 1.2 & 1.4 TSI's certainly had chains up to Euro 5's and chain tensioners were an issue. 

They might well have gone to belts. 

[Sandgroper]

Waiting for my (successful) MOT I overheard a comment to another customer that 'all VW diesels require a new timing belt at 4years or 140,000miles.' The price quoted was 'about £600 because they automatically change the water pump as it has to be removed anyway!' 

 

Due to Covid and other family issues my 2017 Superb 3 has a ridiculously low mileage but if they deteriorate over years I will get it done.

 

Is this general VW coverage well known?

[Ootohere]

@Sandgroper What TDI engine do you have? 

 

How many miles now done?  

Have you had it from new?       You could well put off having this work / expense for a while if you are just doing local trips and driving easy. 

Edited 11 November, 2022 by roottoot

[numskull]

On 30/06/2022 at 10:04, nicknorman said:

It’s a chain. Other engine variants have belt (diesel) but not your one. If this is a main dealer, it’s a bit worrying that they don’t know this basic thing. Maybe you should take it to a competent garage? Of course at 40k miles, it does need a DSG gearbox oil and filter change.

I had a discussion with the Senior Service Receptionist at Lookers Guildford who, in spite of my protest, insisted the 280 had a belt after she’d asked if I wanted a quote to change it. I suggested she check with a Tech and when she had to come back to tell me I was correct, as she walked away, called me a w@nk@r under her breath. Nice eh? 

[Warrior193]

2 hours ago, numskull said:

I had a discussion with the Senior Service Receptionist at Lookers Guildford who, in spite of my protest, insisted the 280 had a belt after she’d asked if I wanted a quote to change it. I suggested she check with a Tech and when she had to come back to tell me I was correct, as she walked away, called me a w@nk@r under her breath. Nice eh? 

I think you should make a complaint to the MD - and look for a better provider.

[numskull]

12 hours ago, Warrior193 said:

I think you should make a complaint to the MD - and look for a better provider.

This was a couple of years ago. Never been back since; my business now goes to a local very well respected indy VAG specialist. 

[Sandgroper]

My car is a 2litre diesel (150), I've not had it from new, it was an ex-motability car, but it has 22,500 miles on the clock!

 

On the face of it,  it could wait a while I guess, only lightly used but it takes a wheelchair easily!

[ApertureS]

On 11/11/2022 at 13:11, toot said:

@Sandgroper What TDI engine do you have? 

 

How many miles now done?  

Have you had it from new?       You could well put off having this work / expense for a while if you are just doing local trips and driving easy. 

Timing belt failure is nearly never related to 'local trips' or taking it easy... Not something id at all recommend. 

Personally I never like to comment on whether someone should or shouldnt change a timing belt as i cant see the car in front of me and dont know if there are any other factors that might cause early failure.

 

Thats just my thoughts, Stick to the service intervals and change early if the belt is damaged or contaminated. Belts can wear from mileage and also from age and perishing.

 

 

2 hours ago, Sandgroper said:

My car is a 2litre diesel (150), I've not had it from new, it was an ex-motability car, but it has 22,500 miles on the clock!

 

On the face of it,  it could wait a while I guess, only lightly used but it takes a wheelchair easily!

Same as ive said above, just cause a car is lightly used doesnt mean a rubber belt cant perish with age, just something to be aware of.

 

 

Im not saying any of these belts need changing, nor that they dont need changing, just that its hard to judge a yes/no over the internet.