@Brian15 Good answer for a TDI. Not so a TSI / TSI ACT.

Can be Chatbots / AI answering these days.

They can get as confused as us when it is not clear what engines people are asking about, or on here posting about.

Edited 22 May, 20251 yr by Ootohere

21 hours ago, Ootohere said:

@Brian15 Good answer for a TDI. Not so a TSI / TSI ACT.

Can be Chatbots / AI answering these days.

They can get as confused as us when it is not clear what engines people are asking about, or on here posting about.

The comment about the water pump being in the same area is only true for some of the engines fitted to the Octavia 3 - it is NOT true for the EA211 1.0, 1.2, 1.4 and 1.5 petrol engines where the water pump is on the other end of the engine!

My local VAG garage has got back to me suggesting , 100k or 5 years , this is after I've told them my car is 5 years old and on 98k, hmm !

£725 Inc VAT, labour and genuine parts

@Brian15 That is a really good price for them doing a 1.5 TSI ACT.

Over 2 years ago.

Edited 27 May, 20251 yr by Ootohere

IMO, it's going to be down to the owner of the car, 2 main skoda dealers laughed when I suggested a cambelt change at 76000,20171.4tsi octavia.... Keeps cropping up alot on here and everybody's opinion differs.

Ps it was 10yrs and 120000 min, actually telling me 140000 was more realistic........

1 hour ago, pwee said:

Ps it was 10yrs and 120000 min, actually telling me 140000 was more realistic........

What was 10yrs and 120000, is that when you had it changed or was advised ?

6 hours ago, Brian15 said:

What was 10yrs and 120000, is that when you had it changed or was advised ?

Advised Brian so not done

Just heard back from another VAG local ish garage and been quoted around £450, seems a bit too cheap 🤔

They recommend 5 years or 80k

Edited 5 June, 20255 Jun by Brian15

16 hours ago, Brian15 said:

Just heard back from another VAG local ish garage and been quoted around £450, seems a bit too cheap 🤔

They recommend 5 years or 80k

For a 1.5ACT engine that's too low, that's the quote for a 1.4 non-ACT engine. The ACT needs special tools and takes longer.

5years/80k miles is the old recommendation by Skoda UK which was "corrected" last year.

Sounds like your "local ish VAG garage" is not 100% trustworthy?

Edited 6 June, 20256 Jun by PetrolDave

The special tool required required , does it have a name, just so I sound like I have a bit of knowledge when querying the price ?

Also how much extra work is involved compared to 1.4 non act to justify a £300 price difference ?

The price of the Electronic alignement Tool kit for doing the Setting up has come done and not the £3,000 or so that they were 2 years ago.

Then the Kit for the car can be purchased cheaper now.

The time taken might be down by a couple of hours with more experience of doing them.

But £450 sounds like a quote for a totally different engine.

Edited 9 June, 20259 Jun by Ootohere

Just spoke to the garage who quoted £450 , it's actually £470 that's for all petrol cars , pointed out its an ACT engine which wasn't an issue

Asked if it was genuine skoda part , it isn't but its to skoda spec and comes with a 2 year warranty

Worth saving £280 or pay the extra for genuine parts ?

2 hours ago, Brian15 said:

Just spoke to the garage who quoted £450 , it's actually £470 that's for all petrol cars , pointed out its an ACT engine which wasn't an issue

Asked if it was genuine skoda part , it isn't but its to skoda spec and comes with a 2 year warranty

Worth saving £280 or pay the extra for genuine parts ?

I wouldn't take an ACT engined car of mine to somewhere that doesn't seem to be fully up to speed with the extra steps and special tools required.

Edited 11 June, 202511 Jun by PetrolDave

On 27/05/2025 at 10:36, Ootohere said:

Over 2 years ago.

A job for a competent fitter. Their diagnostic skills, on the other hand & in my experience, are not so good.

Opted for the pricier £725 option genuine parts so will probably never need doing again

The £470 option didn't sit right with me so £255 extra is worth it for peace of mind

Car is on 100k so being cautious partly because my previous car (1.6tdi) snapped at 93k and my car is my livelihood, private hire driver

Hi , I gave a general enquiry to my Skoda dealer regarding changing the camshaft belt on my Skoda Tsi 1.5 Evo DADA coded engine.

The reply was not necessary but my but my car is 6 years old and only covered 37000 miles.

If I was in your position I would have the work carried out.

@super717 You posted in the thread about DQ200,s that you got a letter saying @ 140,000. So not necessary because of your mileage.

But that 140,000 miles in the letter is not the Skoda / VW Group advice, so was that Customer Services contractors answer?

EDIT, sorry i see it was the Skoda Dealer you asked.

Letter from Skoda UK though.

Edited 13 June, 202513 Jun by Ootohere