Karoq cam belt change - start saving now !

[DBSurrey]

At the end of this year my 2018 Karoq (1.5TSi, DSG) will be due to have the cam belt changed (Skoda recommends 5 year intervals).  The Skoda franchise I use for servicing has quoted me £1100 for this which surprised me as another Skoda franchise quoted £580.  A local independent garage has quoted £880.  When I queried the high price that my servicing garage quoted I was told that Karoqs can have 2 types of cam belt.  One is a standard one while the other is more expensive as it is electronically tensioned by the engine management system.  Apparently mine has the more expensive one.  I wonder if any owner has had a similar experience and heard a similar explanation ?

 

The local independent garage also mentioned a second rubber belt that needs to be removed to get to the cam belt.  They said it would be prudent to renew this at the same time.  Again, I would welcome any comments on others' experience of this.

[KenONeill]

26 minutes ago, DBSurrey said:

The local independent garage also mentioned a second rubber belt that needs to be removed to get to the cam belt.

Not unusual on overhead camshaft (and indeed pushrod cam in head) engines. Also about 10 minutes work.

[CJJE]

Makes me glad my 2.0 TSI has a cam chain instead - or so I'm told! 

[smipx]

I would go back ot the £580 franchise and ask them if this is the price for the more expensive "electronically tensioned" belt as another dealer said you needed the more expensive one. If they say yes then I'd go with them and ask them to guarantee that price. 

[smipx]

My local garage is suggesting £943 for my 2019 1.5TSi another franchise about 2 hours drive away £852

 

Shop around and also try booking online at your chosen garage (especially that cheap quote) and then ask them to price match the cheapest if you select a more local outfit!

 

[Ootohere]

There are all sorts of prices being quoted for 1.5 TSI ACT's. 

So you need to know they can and will do the job, be that the Main Dealers or Independents.

 

Important is, it is a 1.5 ACT.    it has Active Cylinder Technology.   

(So if someone quotes cheap and they think just like a 1.4 / 1.4 ACT / or just 1.5 TSI then they need to go speak to a Technician.)

 

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/505586-cost-of-cambelt-change

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/507544-cam-belt-15-tsi-in-east-kent

 

Edited 24 January, 2023 by toot

[smipx]

is ACT the same as 2x cylinders being switched off and "eco" appearing when being light footed?  If that is the case I have ACT otherwise how does one know for sure?

[Ootohere]

Because they are all 1.5 TSI ACT with the Skoda models,

that is unless it is a 1.5 TSI PHEV. 

 

So the ones that will be getting quoted higher prices because it does take a lot of labour time to do.  

[Gomezz]

My 2018 4x4 2ltrTdi is booked in for the cam belt including tension fittings and I have been quoted £779 at the dealers.

[Ootohere]

A different kettle of fish there, much less labour involved.

Is that not Cam belt and water pump?

Edited 24 January, 2023 by toot

[Gomezz]

1 minute ago, toot said:

A different kettle of fish there, much less labour involved.

Yes guess they are different animals, but I'm sure someone who has a car the same as me is reading this post with interest and may find any info helpful.

[Ootohere]

Sounds over expensive.

Is that what Skoda Main Dealers are quoting in 2023, or the place you go are?

 

The 1.5 TSI ACT does not require a new water pump. 

[DBSurrey]

7 minutes ago, toot said:

Sounds over expensive.

Is that what Skoda Main Dealers are quoting in 2023, or the place you go are?

 

The 1.5 TSI ACT does not require a new water pump. 

Thanks for the info.  They did inform me that the water pump would not need to be involved in the cam belt change but I felt their explanation of the reason for the more expensive cam belt was not convincing.  Is it something to do with the ACT system or is it simply the longer time it takes (they did say the job would take 6.5 hours) ?

[Ootohere]

The ACT makes all the difference. The time required means expensive.

But the Dealers prices are crazy. 

[DBSurrey]

I agree the dealers prices are crazy.  They quoted me £146 for 4 new spark plugs (recommended by Skoda to be changed at 40k miles or 4 years).  Although my car is 4 years old I have only done 13k miles so I declined.  I have a few months to decide how to proceed with the cam belt but I am inclined to get the main dealer to replace the camm belt and use a local independednt garage for routing annual servicing e.g. plugs, brake fluid, coolant replacement, etc, etc.

[DBSurrey]

Just now, DBSurrey said:

I also see that it is recommened I change the DSG fluid at 4 years or 40k miles (cost £215).  Do you know if that needs to be done by a main dealer or something that a local, reliable garage could do ?

 

[Ootohere]

@DBSurrey

Is your car a Front Wheel Drive, so not AWD & no Haldex and a DQ200 DSG?

 

No DSG oil change by years.

& a DQ381 is @ 80,000 miles. 

 A DQ200 DSG requires no Oil changes.

 

This was the Fixed Price in 2021 @ participating dealers for 4 spark plugs, not exceeding 2 litre engines and not a Citigo.   But still a 3 cylinder 1.0. 

Edited 24 January, 2023 by toot

[DBSurrey]

Car is FWD.

[Ootohere]

Best find a good reputable independent with the licensed equipment and that does the service and maintenance required and knows what actually is needing done.

Often that will be owned or staffed by ex Main Dealer Technicians that give good customer service.

[DBSurrey]

23 minutes ago, toot said:

Best find a good reputable independent with the licensed equipment and that does the service and maintenance required and knows what actually is needing done.

Often that will be owned or staffed by ex Main Dealer Technicians that give good customer service.

Good idea.  I have time to look into that option.

[SurreyJohn]

8 hours ago, toot said:

Important is, it is a 1.5 ACT.    it has Active Cylinder Technology.   

(So if someone quotes cheap and they think just like a 1.4 / 1.4 ACT / or just 1.5 TSI then they need to go speak to a Technician.)

 

I think the 1.5tsi uses the Atkinson / Miller cycle where intake valves are held open longer, which means more of a faff to set it accurately, especially with the helix cams used to switch out (hold open) valves on 2 cylinders.

 

I am guessing very accurate setting up and tensioning is needed.

 

 

[kodiaqsportline]

10 hours ago, smipx said:

I would go back ot the £580 franchise and ask them if this is the price for the more expensive "electronically tensioned" belt as another dealer said you needed the more expensive one. If they say yes then I'd go with them and ask them to guarantee that price. 

 

I'd go back to the £580 garage and simply ask them to confirm they're using the correct VIN number when pricing the job.  If it's a franchise then I'd have thought they've given you the wrong price. must admit when buying our car I thought it'd be a £350 -£500 job, depending on where you have it done. 

 

People saying go independant. Have we all checked the prices of an independent?  The majority of those who can do the job ( many of them I looked at say they can't ) are charging anything between £750 and £900. Also read one story where they'd screwed the engine up because they didn't know what they were doing, apparently treating the belt change just like any other tsi.

 

We'd been planning on keeping the Karoq for many years but decided that as it's just had it's 1st MOT, now is probably the best time to sell.  ( for me that is, certainly not suggesting others do the same ).   

 

 

Edited 24 January, 2023 by kodiaqsportline

[Ootohere]

Plenty owners of 1.5 TSI's are going to be asking about having the timing belt changed on the earliest of the vehicles in the UK so the  Service DEsk staff will need to get up to speed on the Technician being over 6 hours on the job and what the actual cost is going to be to the customer for the job on their vehicle.

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/510188-question-re-cambelt-vw-t-roc

 

There might be independents that accept the job and have no clue, but there will be those that will have the equipment and the skills and be charging less than £85 an hour plus VAT.

There will pretty much need to be or lots of over 5 year old 1.5TSI's will be around in the trade that have not been maintained to the Manufacturers Guidelines, recommendations or even schedule.

 

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/507544-cam-belt-for-15-tsi-in-east-kent

 

[KenONeill]

5 hours ago, kodiaqsportline said:

People saying go independant. Have we all checked the prices of an independent? 

The last time I compared labour rates, my local Indy was half the rate of the nearest Main Stealer. They were happy to let you see the workshop, staff certifications, old parts removed from your car...

[kodiaqsportline]

9 hours ago, KenONeill said:

The last time I compared labour rates, my local Indy was half the rate of the nearest Main Stealer. They were happy to let you see the workshop, staff certifications, old parts removed from your car...

 

From my prospective, I have zero interest in what anyone's labour rate is - they could charge £1 an hour for all I care. I also don't care what price they say or advertise at. What I do care about is the answer to my question -  "In total, how much, including VAT, will the job cost me?"

 

Perhaps I'm getting too old but in my experience there's usually, but not always, some element of robbing Peter to pay Paul about the final pricing.

 

My local VAG specialist doesn't charge that much different than the main dealer for things like servicing. They do if you have an Audi tho 🤣