I have an Octavia Mk3 (2014), it's only done 43Kmiles, been annually serviced (until last year always at a Skoda dealer) but kept on the road. It has a few dents and a dodgy parking sensor where a low bollard took issue with the bumper, but runs beautifully and with a low mpg. Two years ago I moved to Edinburgh from London, had a service done at the nearest dealer but it was a bit sloppy (things left undone) so went this year to a local garage that has a good reputation for keeping Skodas on the road for ever.

A year or so ago I started having coolant problems. My garage couldn't find an obvious leak and put an additive in the system that kept it problem-free until the latest hot spell when I had to replace coolant twice in a fortnight (the water temperature was always constant so I don't think any damage was caused). Now they have found the leak and recommend the system be replaced. They also said that the timing belt (chain?) might need replacing. I cannot find any record in the dealers' service reports that indicates it was ever replaced in ten years. So presumably if I want to keep this car on the road I need to replace both timing belt and water pump.

Can anyone confirm that this would be worth it? I don't want to buy a new car for a while yet but obviously don't want to spend too much on keeping this going if more bits are going to collapse soon. I won't get much for it second-hand because of the dents. On the other hand I'd like to know what the going rates are for this kind of replacement, and how much the process is likely to cost me. I'd value any advice you can give me.

Kate

@ElviraKate Best say what engine the car has.

If getting a water pump and the cam belt has no record of being changed then getting it done seems simply cleaver.

Even if a TSI and not a TDI.

Did they not give a price for the work?

I can recommend

Autohaus Edinburgh.

Edited 22 July, 202522 Jul by Ootohere

From the context, is the coolant leak from the water pump? - If engine is a Mk3 TSI, there's no need to replace the timing belt when replacing the water pump. This is only required with a TDI.

Timing belt replacement is now on mileage intervals only - recommend inspection if engine fitted with one.

It's petrol, not diesel - is that TSI? Sorry to be so ignorant.

The coolant leak appears to be from the water pump. I haven't had a quote for it yet. You say 'if the engine is fitted with one' does that mean some models don't have a timing belt?

Model is EST 1.4 TSI 140ps

Depending on engine year, capacity and fuel type, some engines are fitted with timing chain instead of belt. Your TSI will be fitted with a timing belt.

It is not necessary to replace a TSI timing belt when replacing the water pump (unlike the TDI (diesel)) - but it would be advisable to have the belt inspected for condition.

IIRC, timing belt replacement interval for TSI is something around 120 - 140K miles now.

Thank you for all your advice. I have just now rung the service people at Skoda Dartford where we originally bought the car. They looked up the chassis number in the VW database and it turns out it is a chain, not a belt, and it doesn't need to be changed unless it's stretched. If it becomes stretched then lights would be flashing and the engine wouldn't be running as smoothly as it does. In a TDI the belt runs round the water pump and can be affected by a water system issue but in a TSI it's all separate.

So it looks as if I don't need a chain replacement right now.

Thanks again. Who'd have thought there was so much confusion over belts/chains in what was (still is, as far as I'm concerned) a very popular car that every garage must have seen?

Kate

12 hours ago, ElviraKate said:

Model is EST 1.4 TSI 140ps

2 minutes ago, ElviraKate said:

I have just now rung the service people at Skoda Dartford where we originally bought the car. They looked up the chassis number in the VW database and it turns out it is a chain, not a belt

Are you 100% sure you have a 1.4TSI? IF you do have a 1.4TSI (petrol) then Skoda Dartford are WRONG!

The EA211 engine (1.4TSI and 1.5TSI) all have a timing BELT, and (for information) the water pump and timing belt are on opposite ends of the engine so they do NOT need the water pump replacing when the timing belt is replaced.

Edited 23 July, 202523 Jul by PetrolDave

1 minute ago, PetrolDave said:

Skoda Dartford are WRONG!

Won't be the first time a main dealer has given incorrect advice.

Just now, Gammyleg said:

Won't be the first time a main dealer has given incorrect advice.

I've lost count of the number of times both Skoda and Audi dealers sent me and the ex letters that the timing belts on our cars needed replacing - despite her 1.2 12V having a chain and my 4.2 32V also having a chain.

Now I'm really confused. The timing thing and the water pump being separate seems to be agreed. But how could they have put my chassis number into the VW database and come up with a chain when you say it's a belt?

I don't have that much faith in main dealers either, which is why my car is at a small independent garage and not at Arnold Clark. But it worried me that there should be so much uncertainty.

Kate

2 hours ago, ElviraKate said:

But how could they have put my chassis number into the VW database and come up with a chain when you say it's a belt?

You'll have to ask them that!

What I know is that, having owned a 1.4TSI Octavia 3 and a 1.8TSI Octavia 3, the 1.4/1.5 is an EA211 engine and has a timing BELT and the 1.8/2.0 is an EA888 engine and has a timing CHAIN.

That's very helpful, thanks, even though even more confusing! How do I find out whether the engine is a EA211 and not a EA888? Is this clear from the VIN or engine number?

Kate

@ElviraKate Your engine type ID is listed on your V5 document as 3 or 4 letter code prefix to the engine (not chassis) number - it should also be listed on the drivers side B pillar label.

If you post this code here, I can clarify what engine cam drive you have.

Thank you. On the V5 doc the engine number is this:
CHPA212483

Does that help?

Kate

3 minutes ago, ElviraKate said:

Thank you. On the V5 doc the engine number is this:
CHPA212483

Does that help?

Kate

Give me 5 minutes, I'll look that up.

I can confirm that your CHPA engine is EA211 type and is definitely fitted with a cambelt.

thanks very much indeed for that. So is it likely to need changing now? 43K miles but 11 years old!

Kate

1 minute ago, ElviraKate said:

So is it likely to need changing now? 43K miles but 11 years old!

I think it's more a Mileage thing.

The belt is probably fine for ages. The timing belt tensioner and idler is probably the weak link in these, but again, more a Mileage thing.

If it were me, I'd inspect it and leave it alone. Inspection on CHPA engine is a 10 min job. Just pop the cover off and look closely as you rotate the engine.

I'd replace the water pump though. That will be a problem if it leaks badly.

3 hours ago, ElviraKate said:

But how could they have put my chassis number into the VW database and come up with a chain when you say it's a belt?

The person on the phone probably saw that it is a non serviceable item (regarded as a lifetime of engine belt) and ASSUMED it was a chain.

Probably an easy mistake to make if you don't know engines well, or

Are trying to assure the customer it is fine.

I'd agree with them, at 43K it's probably aok for another 150K.

The belts are pretty good and in alot of markets, the same engine is

Inspection at 240K km and every 30K after.

Have who ever does the water pump (leaking) check visually the Cam belt.

Yes VW / Skoda changed advice on cam belts 9 years after your car was built, but that was because people were not being conned anymore by the 5 year / 50,000 mile guidelines, advice, schedule, spec, con if Not Dust Rich UK.

People were trading in 1.5 TSI ACT,s and not paying the £850- £1,200 they were being quoted and Dealers were not wanting landed doing it to sell with FMDSH.

Edited 23 July, 202523 Jul by Ootohere

That's all very interesting, thank you all. Yes, the coolant is leaking, and as I understand it, quite often a coolant problem and a belt problem can be connected, especially in diesel? So my garage (who do a lot of diesel Skodas) wanted me to check if the belt had ever been replaced. Now I realise from what you all have said it's a mileage thing, and unless there's a visible problem with the belt it should be good for a lot longer.

wish me luck with the garage. Sometimes as a lone woman dealing with garages can be very tricky.

Kate

13 minutes ago, Ootohere said:

Have who ever does the water pump (leaking) check visually the Cam belt.

Yes VW / Skoda changed advice on cam belts 9 years after your car was built, but that was because people were not being conned anymore by the 5 year / 50,000 mile guidelines, advice, schedule, spec, con if Not Dust Rich UK.

People were trading in 1.5 TSI ACT,s and not paying the £850- £1,200 they were being quoted and Dealers were not wanting landed doing it to sell with FMDSH.

This is for a Karoq - is it the same for an old Octavia Mk3? Just being picky but I'll need to be firm with the garage.

Can you not just say who your garage is?

re, TDI,s.

Mostely TDI water pumps were / are crap.

Forget all that, you do not have a TDI,

you said you need a water pump. There is nothing to do between your Water Pump leak and the Cam Belt. Other than you asked about having done. Well you decide, but have it inspected.

It is for Karoq.

But covered 1.0 & 1.4TSI / & ACT 1.5 TSI ACTS,s,

TSI,s in various models of cars are covered by that same changes in 2023.

Red Herring as far as your 2014 engine, have the belt inspected, maybe have a new belt and kit installed.

Not a crazy price. At those that actually know which engine is which. Like Autohaus Edinburgh that i recommend.

As long as you have a good mechanic / tech you should be fine, and guided by them.

(That will not be any Edinburgh Main Dealers obviously... ) Greedy barstewards.

Edited 23 July, 202523 Jul by Ootohere

Thanks again for this. Autohaus Edinburgh is out at Loanhead which is impossible for me to get to via public transport (from Portobello), and waiting for repairs etc is a non-starter. There are a couple of well-recommended more local garages, I go to one which has kept my neighbours' Octavia Mk 2 on the road for twelve years. I'll tell them what Skoda have now said re cambelt changes, and ask them to have a good look. There's definitely a coolant leak and they say it's the pump.

I agree with you about the main dealers!

Kate