Just wondered whether anybody could advise what to look out for regarding wearing of the cam belt. I've just had my 01 registered 1.9TDI serviced for 40K miles at an independent garage, as it's now outside its warranty period. I don't have the invoice to hand but I think they replaced oil, oil filter and air filter. I forgot to give them the service schedule, so I dunno whether they checked all the specifics. I am especially concerned about the cam belt, as I don't want to leave it until next year's service if it's dodgy but equally reluctant to fork out to have it checked out unnecessarily (things a bit tight at the moment).

I ask because I've noticed an intermittent noise coming from under the bonnet, in front of the passenger footwell for the last three months. I can't really describe the noise, but it's fairly quiet and only occurs when in gear (i.e. no sign of it when coasting or between gears). It's most noticeable at low speed/gears.

Any guidance would be most appreciated.

You wont generally hear a worn cambelt until it breaks. You may, however hear the tensioning pulley when the engine is at idle but it'd be hard to spot on a diesel.

If you not sure its been done (ie no paperwork for it) then get it done, money might be tight now but wait till it snaps and fooks your engine.

If it's 01 registered and assuming the belt has never been changed, I'd get it done asap if I were you (get the belt tensioners changed too). It might seem expensive to get it changed, but it's nothing like the cost of a new engine when the belt snaps.

I believe the cam belt is due to be changed at 60k miles or 6 years so it should be fine until next year. However, if you're worried, then get it changed.

The cambelt is meant to be inspected, but I've been told you can't see a whole lot of it through the inspection window, so the only way is to take the cover off. If you've gone to the trouble of taking the cover off, then you might as well change the belt

Chris

I believe the cam belt is due to be changed at 60k miles or 6 years so it should be fine until next year.

Has recently changed to 60k/4 years, rather than 6 years...

Rob.

Has recently changed to 60k/4 years, rather than 6 years...

Does that apply to old cars, or just newer manufactured cars? If that is the case, then get it done ASAP!!!

Chris

All cars - as lots were snapping in year 5...

Worth getting it changed.

However, the cam belt is on the drivers side, not the passengers!

Has recently changed to 60k/4 years' date=' rather than 6 years...

Rob.[/quote']

i thought this new timing belt schedule was only for 1.8t engines i.e in the Octavia , could be wrong though , ask Lummox , and as TomVRS says above, the cam belt is on the drivers side and you mentioned a noise on the passenger side . if the engine is a PD diesel , the top timing over just unclips i think for the belt to be viewed , might be wrong though again

4 years applies to all timing belts.

Mileage depends on model but if you stick with 60k you cant go far wrong.

i thought this new timing belt schedule was only for 1.8t engines i.e in the Octavia

Well I hope not, as my dealer advised changing the cambelt on my 1.6 as it was over 4 years old...

Rob.

Thanks people. It doesn't sound as though the noise is related to cam belt but I guess it's worth getting both checked out. Oh well, pay day tomorrow...

Ta for taking the time to respond.

A sneaky way to change cambelts without knackering the timing.

Tools :- Those required to remove the cover and sparkplugs (if fitted) a big spanner to turn the engine over with, and a stanley knife. Probably a hammer too. Oh, and a new cambelt.

Take off the cover, remove the spark plugs. Put the big spanner on the end of the crank, and then take your trusty stanley knife.

Cut the belt in half ALONG its' length, so you get 2 'half width' cambelts, turning the engine over with the spanner when you can't reach any more. Then cut through the 'outer' belt, leaving the inner belt to preserve the timing. Take your new cambelt and slide it onto the pulleys, (You might want some sticky plasters for your knuckles) when it's on as far as it can go, cut through the remaining 1/2 belt and slide the new one all the way.

HOWEVER I haven't done this myself yet, it's a technique borrowed from a friend, but I would if the need arose.

...

Take off the cover' date=' remove the spark plugs. Put the big spanner on the end of the crank, ...[/quote'] On a diesel, with no spark plugs to remove to eliminate the compression, how would you turn the engine over? Removing the injectors is almost as much hassle as changing the belt I'd have thought.

On a diesel, with no spark plugs to remove to eliminate the compression, how would you turn the engine over? Removing the injectors is almost as much hassle as changing the belt I'd have thought.

Just start the engine and put the knife against the belt! :rofl: :P

Just had the Cambelt replaced on my 01 1.9 Tdi today -

Just had the Cambelt replaced on my 01 1.9 Tdi today~SNIP~

It's also worth having the water pump replaced at the same time.

What's the reasoning in having the water pump done? How much does it cost? (My 1.9Tdi has a cambelt service coming up - 180K!:eek: )

Just had the Cambelt replaced on my 01 1.9 Tdi today -

Re the water pump - I understand it's a similar strip-down task to the cam belt and as they are in close proximity...... There's a thread about it somewhere on this forum.

I agree Jason - it is a good price, especially as I'd had a quote from another Skoda garage for

Re the water pump - I understand it's a similar strip-down task to the cam belt and as they are in close proximity...... There's a thread about it somewhere on this forum.

Thanks for that - presumably one of these:

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/octavia/worth-combining-water-pump-change-cambelt-change/57512 or

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/octavia/cam-belt-water-pump/57211 ?

i've personally never seen a water pump go on a 1.9TDI PD ,obviously Lummox may know different, but you do seem to have got a very good price for the job if the pump was changed in that price awt41 , it does sound very cheap to me though

Sorry, that price was just for the belt change, the pump was extra.

I had the cam belt & tensioners replaced, the water pump replaced and a 50k service, all done for a total price of

Just start the engine and put the knife against the belt! :rofl: :P

:rofl:

Further to my earlier post regarding having the water pump replaced at the same time as the timing belt:

I was leafing through 'Car Mechanics' mag in Smiths this morning when I came across an article about a Golf TDI which had had the belt replaced at 60,000 miles, but not the water pump.

At 75000 miles, the water pump, which is apparently driven by the timing belt, failed, breaking the recently fitted belt and causing damage to the engine which cost

I've just bought a 1.4MPI Fabia with 28K onl the clock, but it's a 4 year old, 2002 51-plate.

Does this have a camchain or a timing belt and will I be looking at needing it sorted?

The engine is remarkably quiet btw, but then, my other car was a Felicia.