Hi guys! I'm new to the site and think it's great. Just found it through Google... lot's of good info here.

I came looking for the answer to a query regarding cam belt change on my Skoda Superb 1.9 TDi (03 registered). I know this has to be changed every 60K miles and I'm coming up to 115K now.

However another problem has appeared just three days ago. The tensioner on the the fan belt ("serpentine" belt I think some people call it) has lost tension and the belt makes a squealing sound when the car is on full lock. I can see the tensioner and belt moving slightly when the car is on idle, but the car still drives OK. It hasn't lost all tension completely but the belt isn't as tight as it should be. I've been told the tensioner and belt definitely need replacing.

So I've decided that I will get the cambelt changed and have the tensioner and fan belt all changed in one go after Easter break. I've been quoted a price by a local mechanic of

I would think the squealing is caused by a seized alternator pulley, quite common and easy to check.

The cambelt tensioner should be changed and is different to the aux belt tensioner.

Prices sound very resonable indeed, but get yourself a genuine cambelt and tensioner.

squealing on full lock sounds like the belt for the power steering, I don't know whether that is driven from the fan belt? As for the cam belt kit I would recommend the kit that Skoda / VAG advise. some years back I had a tensioner pulley fail on a ford diesel engine and the belt went slack and jumped the teeth causing a lot of damage. so cam belt plus tensioners etc is best and cheaper that an failures!

I would think the squealing is caused by a seized alternator pulley, quite common and easy to check.

OMG... you were right! I had all the work carried out last week and all was well apart from the swuealing noise. That was still there and the new tensioner was bouncing around just like the old one.

I took the car to the IVC (Independent Volkswagon and Audi centre) here in Leeds and the young lad there knew what it was immediately. He even demonstrated to me what it was. He's fixing it for me today for about

OMG... you were right! I had all the work carried out last week and all was well apart from the swuealing noise. That was still there and the new tensioner was bouncing around just like the old one.

I took the car to the IVC (Independent Volkswagon and Audi centre) here in Leeds and the young lad there knew what it was immediately. He even demonstrated to me what it was. He's fixing it for me today for about

The alternator pulley has a one way clutch inside it to prevent torsional oscillations from the crankshaft (amplified by the high drive ratio) being transferred to the alternator. They are notoriously unreliable - I've seen them trying to make a bid for freedom via the fan.

The trouble is, VAG have done nothing about this for years.

rotodiesel.