What's the current understanding on when a cambelt requires replacement? At the last service min-year, the dealer told  me my Dec 2018 TDI 190 4X4 would need the cam belt doing at 5 years old - next month. However, I've see posts somewhere else that says there's a new policy and verified by a call to Skoda customer services, of at 100,000 miles with no time-based element. As the dealer was quoting me in the £800 region, I'd rather avoid the spend if not necessary.

 

 

Replying to my own post - bad form - but Skoda Customer Services have just confirmed to me that as of July 1st 2023 VAG group wide has removed the time-based requirement on all cars completely and for my car the mileage interval is 140K!

Not strictly true, there is still a time limit, but it’s now 15 years.

On 06/11/2023 at 11:41, ChazzyB said:

Replying to my own post - bad form - but Skoda Customer Services have just confirmed to me that as of July 1st 2023 VAG group wide has removed the time-based requirement on all cars completely and for my car the mileage interval is 140K!

This post and one other that stated that there was a time limit of 15 years, seems to have left this thread largely unanswered with no definitive solution confirmed as to when when a cambelt of a TDI Kodiaq should be routinely replaced along with the water pump.

Does anyone have documented evidence from Skoda/VW that either confirms the alleged 1st July 2023 claim of 140,000 miles? I'm about to finalise a deal on a 6 year old car with 95,000 miles on it and I currently cannot confirm the cambelt status, so naturally I'm concerned.

13 minutes ago, Graham Butcher said:

Does anyone have documented evidence from Skoda/VW that either confirms the alleged 1st July 2023 claim of 140,000 miles? I'm about to finalise a deal on a 6 year old car with 95,000 miles on it and I currently cannot confirm the cambelt status, so naturally I'm concerned.

Don't worry the alternator with deal with it all! That's yer payment now 'ere's the goods, o mighty one your wish is my command. 😄

Lighten up Graham you'll give yourself an 'eart attack. 😁

One more ... no 'ere is (15 years, 180,00 miles, inspect every year)

CamBeltchangechange.pdf

No, it really was my pleasure darling.

Edited 13 July, 202513 Jul by nta16

11 minutes ago, nta16 said:

Don't worry the alternator with deal with it all! That's yer payment now 'ere's the goods, o mighty one your wish is my command. 😄

Lighten up Graham you'll give yourself an 'eart attack. 😁

One more ... no 'ere is (15 years, 180,00 miles, inspect every year)

CamBeltchangechange.pdf

No, it really was my pleasure darling.

🤣🤣What is with the alternator then, wizard of Oz?🤣🤣🤣

I had the cam belt (and water pump) replaced recently - 2016 Octavia 1.6 Turbo Diesel, 115,000 miles - because of an oil leak. The cam belt change was was recorded on the Skoda database according to the documents I was given on completion.

Edited 13 July, 202513 Jul by BionicJohn

Find out about a TDI & do not assume because Skoda / VW say 'all' that is not just TSI,s.

The Real issue was DEALERSHIP being landed with Used 1.5 TSI ACT,s with 50,000 miles and not Serviced to the Manufacturers Guidelines because not paying £850-£1,200 so trading them in.

A Skoda Approved Used car would not have a FMDSH and servicing to Schedule & Dealerships would be paying their employees and parts & that was just not on after decades of taking the p!th in the UK.

5 years / 50,000 miles.

Edited 13 July, 202513 Jul by Ootohere

4 hours ago, Ootohere said:

Find out about a TDI & do not assume because Skoda / VW say 'all' that is not just TSI,s.

The Real issue was DEALERSHIP being landed with Used 1.5 TSI ACT,s with 50,000 miles and not Serviced to the Manufacturers Guidelines because not paying £850-£1,200 so trading them in.

A Skoda Approved Used car would not have a FMDSH and servicing to Schedule & Dealerships would be paying their employees and parts & that was just not on after decades of taking the p!th in the UK.

5 years / 50,000 miles.

I'll wait and see if there are any online records and what is the recommendation of the local official repair agents about going forwards. I might just have to bite the bullet and go ahead with the replacement for my own peace of mind.

15 minutes ago, Graham Butcher said:

I'll wait and see if there are any online records and what is the recommendation of the local official repair agents about going forwards. I might just have to bite the bullet and go ahead with the replacement for my own peace of mind.

If you look in the sticky posts in the Kodiaq section you should be able to find the official Skoda maintenance workshop manuals... It'll say in there

Here you go... Just select the ones you want... There's one in there for the diesel engine.

https://www.briskoda.net/forums/files/file/47-skoda-kodiaq-workshop-manuals/?&do=download

Edited 13 July, 202513 Jul by skomaz

1 hour ago, skomaz said:

If you look in the sticky posts in the Kodiaq section you should be able to find the official Skoda maintenance workshop manuals... It'll say in there

Here you go... Just select the ones you want... There's one in there for the diesel engine.

https://www.briskoda.net/forums/files/file/47-skoda-kodiaq-workshop-manuals/?&do=download

Thanks, I downloaded all of these and it basically says the same as the info that @Ootohere linked to earlier, 210,000km or 130,000 miles. So that means that I don't have to panic just yet, but factor it in the overall scheme within about 15 to 20,000 miles from now.

Update time on the new Kodiaq, my local servicing depot have kindly emailed the digital service history for the car and the last service was carried out at 80,000 miles, details below.

They have also confirmed that the cambelt is due to be replaced at 130,000 miles, so still has 35,000 miles left to go, so deposit has been paid and hopefully I will be collecting the car later in the week.

"Good morning,

The latest timing belt recommendation for that specific engine is every 130,000 miles - I can't see any records of it having been replaced as of yet. I've also attached all the digital service records records to this email for you. 

Kind Regards,

Kasey Nagle

Service & Parts Advisor

Prestons Garages Ltd,

2-4 Lordship Road, Writtle, CM1 3EH

01245 420262"

     

That last service was, what... 15 months and 15k miles ago? I'd be asking them to service it before delivering it as part of the sale (and preferably MOTing it as well so you have the full 12 months before the next one).

Skoda Servicing might say the DSG Oil change does not require a new filter until the 2nd service.

Stuff that for a game of soldiers.

For info, in my personal experience the digital 'Individual record' and 'Complete record' are more accurate than the VWŠkoda UK HQ 'Service History Certificate' - how that could be VWŠkoda HQ were unable to explain.

That of course is not say that the 'Individual record' and 'Complete record' may not have errors and omissions, which may or may not transfer to the VWŠkoda UK HQ 'Service History Certificate'.

As always you need to double-check and cross reference all information from all sources, which is why it's good to also have the paper printed bills/invoices and (Dealership) 'Your Visual Health Check' tick (lie) sheet and 'Maintenance list' tick (lie) sheet.

Edited 14 July, 202514 Jul by nta16
spelling

Relax, the car is fine. Kodiaqs have variable servicing and becomes due when the service due message appears on the screen and it is also covered by the Skoda warranty as long as the car has had the services done by approved dealers and within the conditions required, which it has been. The MOT is fine, I have all the history and there was only 1 advisory, a small stone chip in the windscreen and is well out of the drivers line of vision and can be repaired by a small injection of resin I'm sure.

I'm perfectly happy with the car only having 8 months MOT, most garages only guarantee that their cars come with at least 6 months, so its comfortably with that range, and my current car only has 10 months left with zero advisories.

If I ask them to MOT it for me, they could in turn ask me to reciprocate and getting an MOT done round these parts requires a long waiting list as the test centres are still complaining about the back log of Covid. As I aim to collect the car this week on my way back from RIAT at RAF Fairford, which would make that impossible.

12 minutes ago, nta16 said:

For info, in my personal experience the digital 'Individual record' and 'Complete record' are more accurate than the VWŠkoda UK HQ 'Service History Certificate' - how that could be VWŠkoda HQ were unable to explain.

That of course is not say that the 'Individual record' and 'Complete record' may not have errors and omissions, which may or may not transfer to the VWŠkoda UK HQ 'Service History Certificate'.

As always you need to double-check and cross reference all information from all source, which is why it's good to also have the paper printed bills/invoices and (Dealership) 'Your Visual Health Check' tick (lie) sheet and 'Maintenance list' tick (lie) sheet.

All of that paper trail comes with the car and I have already had a look through it and it is pretty comprehensive and all is approved dealers. All of the errors and omissions can be equally applied to paperwork trails as well, in short the only real way to be 100% certain about anything is to carry out all the work for yourself and even then, if your are not a fully trained mechanic or expert then you can be just as royally screwed. Sometimes you have to place your trust in the hands of others.

Edited 14 July, 202514 Jul by Graham Butcher

25 minutes ago, Graham Butcher said:

All of the errors and omissions can be equally applied to paperwork trails as well,

Yes. It's the comparing and cross referencing that might enable finding the correct details. Some people don't have the experience and knowledge to not fully trust the information given to them - some even seem to believe that if it's on a computer it must be correct.

I wasn't so concerned for you, you're big enough, old enough and experienced enough to generally look after yourself. May all your problem be little ones.

43 minutes ago, Graham Butcher said:

Relax, the car is fine. Kodiaqs have variable servicing and becomes due when the service due message appears on the screen and it is also covered by the Skoda warranty as long as the car has had the services done by approved dealers and within the conditions required, which it has been.

Not all Kodiaqs are on long-life / variable servicing regimes - all depends what it was set to at the PDI by the supplying dealer. Mine is on fixed 12 months / 12k miles services, for example, but my first one was on variable (up to 18k miles / 2 years, IIRC). And servicing isn't covered by the warranty - as servicing is all about consumable parts and warranties are all about faults (over-simplification there, but you get the point).

46 minutes ago, Graham Butcher said:

I'm perfectly happy with the car only having 8 months MOT

Your choice, and that's fair enough. I only mentioned it because my eldest just bought her first car (a used Mini), and without even asking the dealer said they would service it, MOT it, and touch up the paint chips on the bonnet before handover. I was quite impressed with that :-)

49 minutes ago, Graham Butcher said:

As I aim to collect the car this week on my way back from RIAT at RAF Fairford

Ooooh, enjoy! I haven't been for years... but then I tend to get to see a lot of the arrivals / departures as they fly over Gloucester - especially the US stuff.

Yeah TBH if it was a Skoda dealer selling the car then I'd expect them to do that but it's just a medium sized family run general car sales place. This was not the first one I'd had a look at, but this spec of car is rare, most are 7 seater, which is not what i need. If a dealer just hands you the keys says take it for a test, on your own, then they are confident about their car. The others have all hovered over me like hawks. That rings bells in my head when you know they are there all the time, what are they trying to hide from you?

MoTs are very overrated especially those done by the selling garage. Even a 100% honestly and to best of knowledge, training (hopefully) and experience applied MoT is only one (hopefully trained) person's opinion, at that only one point in time, the vehicle meets the minimum statutory standards, not that the vehicle is as good as it could or should be.

I'm having my wife's 2015 Fabia MoT'd a couple of months early as I was fed up with having to sort thing in August and September and thought the daylight is longer in June/July and possibly better weather, how wrong I was this year with this hideous (over) heat, Sod's Law finds a way of applying itself.

5 minutes ago, Graham Butcher said:

If a dealer just hands you the keys says take it for a test, on your own, then they are confident about their car.

Great to know such places still exist. Dealing with Dealerships and larger privately owned garages and their salesmen can be a very protracted and annoying experience even for what should be the simplest of sales for them, and if a woman goes in by herself the very worse effluent of them tends to surface.

6 minutes ago, nta16 said:

MoTs are very overrated especially those done by the selling garage. Even a 100% honestly and to best of knowledge, training (hopefully) and experience applied MoT is only one (hopefully trained) person's opinion, at that only one point in time, the vehicle meets the minimum statutory standards, not that the vehicle is as good as it could or should be.

I'm having my wife's 2015 Fabia MoT'd a couple of months early as I was fed up with having to sort thing in August and September and thought the daylight is longer in June/July and possibly better weather, how wrong I was this year with this hideous (over) heat, Sod's Law finds a way of applying itself.

Exactly, it is a snapshot in time, when mine was due in april I it booked with 4 weeks grace incase anything needed to be done. After trying about 8 or 9 centres, the earliest I could get it done was days before it expired. Covid cost us all dearly and I think MOT is is looking at making inspection at 2 yearly intervals to catch up. Even emergency repairs here are taking up to 3 to 4 weeks before they can even look at them. 😳

Edited 14 July, 202514 Jul by Graham Butcher

20 minutes ago, Graham Butcher said:

Even emergency repairs here are taking up to 3 to 4 weeks before they can even look at them. 😳

That has less to do with Covid and more to do with the general attitude of the English motor trade and those that own various parts of it, and of course the attitudes of those of the general public that don't have the knowledge and experience of proper commercial services and/or expect something for nothing and done yesterday.

Living in the county of motorsports and engineering after various recommendations from others I've finally found a local-ish small garage that operates in a decent fashion to their staff, customers and their vehicles. I was very reassured by two things, they don't open at the weekends and "No, we know all about the front dampers that the VW (Škoda) Dealerships use, we don't fit better".

What business do you know that will actively decline to take work on if it means that they don't have to recruit extra staff to do it. This was not the case pre Covid at all. Even driving tests are taking longer get one because of it.