Hi there. Very first post on here.

There's lots of information on many forums regarding overheating and belt timing but I thought I'd post here to see if anyone has had anywhere near a similar experience.

My 2017 Superb 150 gave me a fright a few weeks back by throwing up a chime and warning about an overheat. Thankfully, I could pull in and stop the car immediately. After calling the garage down the hill about a mile away, I started it up to find the needle was back on 90 degrees. I drove down to the garage and handed the keys over for a water pump change and timing belt.

I had to wait a week before they could get it in so did some research on the pump. After reading about the electrically controlled shroud, I understood the why the temp was back to 90 degrees after restarting (assuming the shroud popped back in to its normal position). I decided to keep the appointment but took the car home for local driving. The temp never went over 90 degrees again but I had no faith and went ahead with the pump and belt change.

After the belt and pump was replaced, the garage tech asked me if the car was misfiring before I took it in. The car was smooth to drive, loads of power and no misfiring before I took it in and I told the tech so.

They decided to recheck the timing.

The next day, I was told the car was ready. Nice.

I asked if the timing was out but was told that the mech didn't bleed the fuel system and that was all it was.

I took the car to the local shops and was sure I could feel what felt like a very faint misfire but put it down to being overly sensitive to what I was asked by the tech.

Came back home and got to the road to my house which is quite steep. The car was not happy and was stuttering. Any effort to accelerate up the hill caused lurching and sudden gear changes. I did a U turn and went back to the garage. On the way, the car seemed smooth and okay at low speed but I thought I'd give it a bit of oomf to see if was okay. As soon as I put the foot down (as if to overtake), the car would lurch violently forward as if the brakes had been slammed on. The engine stalled at one point and things certainly were not right.

I handed the keys back and said the car was undriveable and not road worthy.

The cost involved was just shy of £1000 so clearly, I'm not a happy chap at the moment.

I suppose my question is, given that there isn't much to disturb during the water pump and belt change, could the symptoms described above cause the car to behave in this way?

The tech informed me that the timing fork behind the hp pump sprocket was damaged but that they were sure it was timed to where it should be (I have a feeling someone has tried to manually or electrically crank the engine whilst the lock pin was still fitted, which may have caused damage to the timing fork).

I'm just not convinced about the timing in that the car starts easily, idles fine and will drive at low throttle commands but will throw a major tantrum when trying to accelerate with any gusto.

Currently waiting on a new hp pump sprocket complete with the backing section that has the timing fork. I'm not convinced this is the issue so I'm sorting of hoping for reassurance that it could well be the issue.

I've also read about camshaft and crankshaft sensors causing issues like this but that would be a crazy coincidence to happen right after the belt change.

I'm clutching at straws that there is a bubble of air in the fuel system that hasn't worked its way out, but it's a long shot.

Any thoughts? (Reassuring ones very welcome).

Good afternoon, welcome to the forum.

It may help others if you clarify whether your engine is TDI or TSI?

I've assumed from your comments that you have a 2.0 TDI, DSG - is that correct?

Edited 19 October, 202519 Oct by Warrior193
Add welcome

Sorry, yes. 2.0tdi DSG. I believe 6spd

I should probably add that there are no warnings on the display and the garage could not find any errors logged.

To add insult to injury, the timing belt that was removed was in perfect condition. Me being cautious and having the water pump replaced had now led on to what may turn out to be an absolute headache 🤣

I am aware of the advice to change the water pump on a TDI when the cambelt is being replaced - but is replacement of the belt actually necessary when working on a pump problem only? (I.e. vice-versa)

I think it's a case of the water pump comes as part of the timing kit and there is no history of the belt being replaced. I see you can buy the water pump itself but it would appear most garages just do the belt at the same time as the labour cost is the same. Makes sense if you know you have 70k on the belt or if it's 5 yrs old but it's a gamble what condition it's in if it hasn't been recorded.

I'm hoping for a call tomorrow saying the car is ready to collect but I've lost a lot of faith in the garage tbh as I'm unsure what they've done to cause the car to be un-driveable after what should be a routine process.

Fingers crossed.

I guess there's technically no need to do them together.

But if you have to change the pump you might as well replace the belt at the same time as it's an expensive job that you don't want to pay for twice.

Unless you do relatively low miles so a belt change would be in 5 years times, you might as well save yourself £800 and get it done together knowing that you don't need to pay again for another X thousand miles

42 minutes ago, tomocr said:

I think it's a case of the water pump comes as part of the timing kit and there is no history of the belt being replaced. I see you can buy the water pump itself but it would appear most garages just do the belt at the same time as the labour cost is the same. Makes sense if you know you have 70k on the belt or if it's 5 yrs old but it's a gamble what condition it's in if it hasn't been recorded.

I'm hoping for a call tomorrow saying the car is ready to collect but I've lost a lot of faith in the garage tbh as I'm unsure what they've done to cause the car to be un-driveable after what should be a routine process.

Fingers crossed.

Are you aware that the previous 5-year cambelt change interval, mandated by Skoda UK alone, is no longer applicable?

3 hours ago, Warrior193 said:

Are you aware that the previous 5-year cambelt change interval, mandated by Skoda UK alone, is no longer applicable?

Even so if you are changing the water pump on a TDi it makes absolute sense to change the cambelt as the water pump is cambelt driven so it's little extra cost.

On the TSi's the 2.0 camshafts are chain driven and the water pump on the 1.5tsi is not driven from the cambelt so waterpump change on the TSi's doesn't interact with the cambelt.

Edited 19 October, 202519 Oct by logiclee

1 minute ago, logiclee said:

Even so if you are changing the water pump on a TDi it makes absolute sense to change the cambelt as the water pump is cambelt driven so it's little extra cost.

On the TSi's the 2.0 camshafts are chain driven and the water pump on the 1.5tsi is not driven from the cambelt so waterpumo change on the TSi's doesn't interact with the cambelt.

My post was a reply to a post that appeared to suggest that cambelt replacement interval was still 5 years regardless of other issues with water pump.

So just out of interest, what is the recommended replacement time for a timing belt now? Is it on mileage or time?

No stated time interval, 120 or 140k miles I believe.

That seems rather high. I wonder what manufacturers (Gates etc.) say to that suggestion from Skoda?

Skoda UK cambelt replacement schedule was changed to match other VAG manufacturers recommendations in (I think) 2023.