Yes had my 2Ltr TDi 4x4 cambelt done in March at 32,100 miles with water pump and tensioners for £779.

Done at recommended 5 year. Now feel I have been had, 

Any theories as to why Skoda has changed this cambelt recommendation so dramatically ?

9 minutes ago, DBSurrey said:

Any theories as to why Skoda has changed this cambelt recommendation so dramatically ?

Could it be because it brings them in line with other markets?

 

I recall falling foul of Skoda UK guidance when buying a Mark 1 Octavia vRS from a franchised dealer.

 

The handbook for the car made no recommendation for cambelt change, although when I inquired of Skoda UK they told me it was due, which became a big bone of contention as I had just bought the car and not factored in the cost of the cambelt.

 

I did contact the Skoda factory and they confirmed there was no specific time-related recommendation for cambelt change.

 

Fortunately my local main dealer and I were able to come to a mutually agreeable arrangement

31 minutes ago, Gomezz said:

Yes had my 2Ltr TDi 4x4 cambelt done in March at 32,100 miles with water pump and tensioners for £779.

Done at recommended 5 year. Now feel I have been had, 

Suspect I would feel the same, although I guess on the flip-side at least you know it has been done and is now unlikely to fail 

27 minutes ago, DBSurrey said:

Any theories as to why Skoda has changed this cambelt recommendation so dramatically ?

Probably because it's a complicated job and caused real problems, instead of fixing imaginary ones as was intended.

That was my feeling also, they make far more money scamming people on oil & filter changes, aircon (not) services and the obligatory "brakes 75% worn" game without having to use any skilled labour and with very little risk, they cant even forget to refit the oil drain plug because they dont even remove it but of course continue to bill the customer for a new one.

 

I suppose the "technician" could forget to refill the oil and wreck the engine like when they drain the diff instead of the Haldex, is it any surprise that they deny the Haldex unit has a filter?

 

As sure as eggs is eggs they will drop the requirement for Haldex oil changes when they count the cost to them of the vehicles they have screwed up and had to pay for which is a small minority of those they did.

13 hours ago, ethereum said:

"the right thing" I wouldn't go far that. They fell for a fear based pitch. 

Not a fear-based pitch, more following the manufacturer's recommendations at the time. Nevertheless, I feel 'had' as I had it done before the July change of heart.

Just now, GladysFriday said:

Not a fear-based pitch, more following the manufacturer's recommendations at the time. Nevertheless, I feel 'had' as I had it done before the July change of heart.

The Skoda manual was posted here showing it's essentially a lifetime belt. I knew there was something daft about it when they tried to book me in for it. So I did a bit of due diligence and thanks to the original poster who published that info I knew it was one to avoid.

 

I would advise most people to avoid main dealer servicing and find a decent independent that specialises in VAG group.  I got a service and MOT done at an independent and very happy. As soon as I got in, I could see the door hinges had been freshly lubricated, never been done at main dealer, so just makes me think half of what they claim to service is probably not done. 

   If  the  oil drain plug is not removed how is the accumulation of " sludge "  removed  over the years?

Do you think they care?

 

I like them drain my oil with a suction pump although certainly more diligently, I have never encountered sludge build up when dropping the sump on a modern engine using modern detergent oils with regular oil changes.

Thank you, just shows how long ago I did an oil change!

Well, this is the reply I received today;

 

Thank you for your contact, Andrew. We confirm that the cambelt interval has changed for your Skoda Karoq. Your Skoda Karoq cambelt interval is 15 years or 180 000 miles, whichever comes first.

 

Just a slight extension and thank goodness mine wasn't due until next year!

 

 

 

 

 

 

7 hours ago, ethereum said:

The Skoda manual was posted here showing it's essentially a lifetime belt. I knew there was something daft about it when they tried to book me in for it. So I did a bit of due diligence and thanks to the original poster who published that info I knew it was one to avoid.

 

I would advise most people to avoid main dealer servicing and find a decent independent that specialises in VAG group.

 

Talk about looking thru rose tinted specs !

 

I asked for evidence and Breezy_Pete kindly posted the following:

 

On 21/02/2023 at 10:55, Breezy_Pete said:

Here, thoroughly emphasised for you:

 

 

21 hours ago, ethereum said:

"the right thing" I wouldn't go far that. They fell for a fear based pitch. 

 

Fear based pitch...  Yes whatever.

 

Before we all get carried away with ourselves feeling snug and cosy. why not be an awkward burger like me and start asking questions?

 

1: The idea that all dealers are bad and bettered by indi specialists is just ludicrous. With hardly any effort, a google search of UK specialists brings up similar results to:

 

https://audivwsc.co.uk/vw-audi-cambelt-change/

 

Nearly all the VAG specialists who advertise online quote cambelt change every 4/5 year or 60/80k miles.  So please don't kid ourselves that indi's are more clued up, or aren't ripping you off or whatever other accusation we may apply. Their information mirrored that of franchised dealers.

 

2:  People were falling over themselves talking about owners should adhere to the workshop manual rather than Skoda UK advice.  Maths and English aren't exactly my forte, but where on those workshop manuals people published ( see above ) does it mention 15year  or 180,000 miles?

 

3: People were falling over themselves talking about owners should adhere to the rest of the world intervals and to ignore Skoda UK advice.  Where is the reference in any other country their interval is 15yr or 180,000 miles?

 

Would you adam and eve it, one second people are saying listen to workshop manuals and the rest of the world, now they're saying listen to Skoda UK and ignore the workshop manual and the rest of the world.  🤪     It falls in line with my theory that people only see what they want to see and believe what they want to believe.

 

VAG have a long history of causing confusion and not for a second do I see that disapearing given the latest info posted by forum members. It's come full circle, now there will be folk in OZ complaining they have to change their cambelts every 210,000km ( 130k miles ) whereas it's every 180k miles in the UK.

 

Edited 24 July, 20232 yr by kodiaqsportline

I want to believe that my 2015 2.0 TDi common rail cam belt is still fine after 125K miles, it looks fine from my visual inspections, I took the MK1 to double that mileage but then it really did need changing.

 

Has their recommendation now changed for vehicles of all ages and engine series both petrol and diesel?

 

I always though that the belts on the PD engines had greater loads than the others, are they also now said to be 15 years and 150K miles?

12 hours ago, J.R. said:

I want to believe that my 2015 2.0 TDi common rail cam belt is still fine after 125K miles, it looks fine from my visual inspections, I took the MK1 to double that mileage but then it really did need changing.

 

Has their recommendation now changed for vehicles of all ages and engine series both petrol and diesel?

 

I always though that the belts on the PD engines had greater loads than the others, are they also now said to be 15 years and 150K miles?

 

Isn't it the water pump, the pulleys and the tensioner arms that are the achilles heel(s) though?  If one of those pulleys breaks or the waterpump fails can't it completely "knacker" the whole thing as the belt will snap in sympathy and the valves etc. will be mashed in turn.  The belt might look fine but don't forget about those pieces as well - much more difficult to visually inspect for imminent failure?? Like your troosers - the belt might be made of a wonderful material but if the little pin in the buckle snaps then your troosers will fall down and bear your airy harse to all 🙂

Edited 25 July, 20232 yr by smipx

Unless they are a known failure like the sliding sleeve waterpump which in any case does not affect the cambelt then I have far more faith in the factory fitted items even after 1/4 million miles than any aftermarket parts even those claiming to be OEM.

 

And I put my money where my mouth is, when I replaced the cambelt at 225000 miles on my MK1 Octavia TDi that was all I changed, the job cost £8

Hi all, we have just joined the numerous owners  here on this cam belt change subject, having received this afternoon a phone call from our dealer ( with whom it was booked for change Monday coming ) to advise Skoda have dramatically revised the   recommended change interval to 15years 140k miles. It may be good news, but why do I feel skeptical….🤔 ours is 1.5 tsi with ACT but the dealer knows this, was going to get an email confirmation but seeing all the info posted here not sure I need to… 

I should add, car is now 5yrs old with 21K miles and only rising slowly…. 

Edited 2 August, 20232 yr by T-O-C

As members have previously quoted. The official Skoda Workshop has no time interval for the cambelt, only max kilometres.

That said, I personally would EMail dealership and confirm their new recommendation.

only cost an EMail and gives you a fig leaf in case thing go wrong in future.

IIRC the workshop manual I have for EA211 engines did specify a cambelt inspection being recommended after x years / y miles and thereafter at every major service until a max interval is reached. I wonder if that has changed too.

 

I had previously written off any notion of buying VAG with a 1.5 tsi engine when this thread started and Skoda UK were demanding £1100 for what turns out now to be BS.

 

But now, it looks as if some common sense has taken over.

I think Skoda UK and the dealers were in an untenable position, there was so much information around that the belt didn't need changing at 5yrs that they were forced to come into line. The fact that the procedure for the 1.5 ACT was so complicated and needed specialist equipment and trained techs probably helped make up their minds! In reality the procedure for the 1.5 ACT was really only designed to be used when the camshaft had been removed e.g head off , probably because the belt was never designed to be routinely replaced!!

All the above is good news for those who were about to have the belt changed and no longer need to. However, it leaves me £600 worse off and with a rather bitter taste in the mouth!

3 minutes ago, GladysFriday said:

All the above is good news for those who were about to have the belt changed and no longer need to. However, it leaves me £600 worse off and with a rather bitter taste in the mouth!

I know the feeling, had it done on my L&K Yeti about a year before trading it in and at around 20,000 miles. Think total bill was around £800 with service. Just relieved my current Karoq has dodged the bullet next year!

7 minutes ago, GladysFriday said:

All the above is good news for those who were about to have the belt changed and no longer need to. However, it leaves me £600 worse off and with a rather bitter taste in the mouth!

All the evidence was in this thread to conclude getting it changed was a no-go, long before Skoda dealers changed schedule.

On 23/07/2023 at 20:24, Gomezz said:

Yes had my 2Ltr TDi 4x4 cambelt done in March at 32,100 miles with water pump and tensioners for £779.

Done at recommended 5 year. Now feel I have been had, 

 

Coming from late mk 1 Tiguan, had ours done at 5yrs / 30K too.   I contacted VW Germany at the time and got the mileage only answer of 130K.  When I asked why VW UK says 5yrs thye stopped responding.

 

It is interesting though, that on the Tiguan forum I use there have been a few failures recently on 2.0 TDi's, all, I think, just at slightly less than 5yrs.   One had an apporved used warranty and there was some uncertaintly about whether they'd cover it as they couldn't determine the cause, but in the end they did.  There's a £5K consequential loss limit on the policy which I thought might be an issue,  but maybe it's just regarded as "the engine" rather than a consequence of the belt failing.

 

If I was in the same position again of having a 5yr old diesel then I think I'd get it done, especially if keeping the car for a few more years.

Rory. what's done is done, I do intend keeping the car as it suits our needs at this time. Dont want an all electric and at 77 I will just bide my time and see what life brings. If we keep our good health for driving and our outdoor hobby we may get a Honda Jazz as a hybrid it looks good and seems to have space and good reviews.

Nothing in the Skoda camp of interest to me as far as hybrid.