Hi all,

This is for a 2.0TSI VRS 230.

Has anyone replaced thier serpentine\aux\fan belt by themselves without having to go in through the wheel arch?

It looks 'fairly' simple and some of the quotes ive been given by garages are quite high considering how long 'it appears' to take.

Just after guidance really and if it is an easy 5 mins job as some people make out.

I haven't done it but it looks pretty straightforward from this video:

 

Do you know if there's an interval for replacement?

Not seen any published interval, when I spoke to Skoda they just told me if it looks cracked or split. I've done it anyway as the car is 8 years old with 86k on the clock, just for peace of mind.

I used a local garage (as my back is shot) and they charged £50 all in. They said they managed doing it through the engine bay and only took them around 10 minutes.

Edited 30 August, 20241 yr by s88urd

Yes. Done it myself. Use the bolt on the tensioner to release. A second pair of hands can make life easier but can be done on your own. 

The tensioner has a hole in the mount that a lock bar goes through, onto the block, to lock the tensioner in the released position.

I have the correct bar but I'm sure an appropriate drill bit would work too.

Just means both hands are free.

Yes that is the key to success, took me years to learn of it.

 

If you are working from the top then an Allen Key works well to block the tensioner as you dont have to try and turn your hands sideways.

 

Hand singular as the other one will be releasing the tension with a long 19mm open ended spanner.

 

Make a note of the belt route before removing, once its off it is anything but obvious.

Edited 1 September, 20241 yr by J.R.