Yesterday I noticed what sounds like a whirring type sound coming from the engine of my W plate fabia comfort 1.4 16v which has persisted today. It is something between a quite rattle and a whirring and is noticeable when the engine is first started and then occasionally on acceleration. It appears to be coming from the fanbelt area. I thought possbly water pump or alternator or maybe air conditioning pump.

The fanbelt itself seems fine though with a small amount of very minor surface cracking.

Any ideas what it may be?

On a possibly related point after looking through the forums I'm a little confused. It appears that my fabia should have a cambelt change after 40000 miles or 4 years. I've had the car 4 years now, it is 7 years old altogether and done 38K miles.

The service schedule does not mention cam belt for the petrol engine, it only mentions a cam belt change at 60K for the diesel engine only.

It does state that the ribbed v-belt should be inspected after 40K miles.

Do I have a cambelt that should have been changed so need to get it done ASAP and if so why isn't it mentioned in the service schedule or owners manual?

same engine, I get a whirring sound from the ac compressor, but only when I turn it off, and then after about a minute or so. it lasts for about a minute and then goes....................until the next time I switch off the ac.

I think you'll find that VAG recommend cambelts are changed at 4 years or appropriate mileage for the engine, whichever occurs earlier. It's approx

I'd get the belt changed at the earliest possible oppotunity mate, my X reg 1.4 16 valve Fabia shred it's cam belt a little while back. I nearly shat myself! Especially when the bill came through -

Cheers, I've already decided to get it changed ASAP, regardless of what the noise turns out to be

Well it finally went into the Garage today - It was the cambelt so I was lucky that I didn't continue to drive it. One of the tensioners dis-integrated as the Garage took it apart.

I will be writing to Skoda as this could have cost me a lot of money.

Well it finally went into the Garage today - It was the cambelt so I was lucky that I didn't continue to drive it. One of the tensioners dis-integrated as the Garage took it apart.

I will be writing to Skoda as this could have cost me a lot of money.

lucky... i've seen a brand new one of these break up on a mates seat arosa .... made my look i right idiot because i was the one who changed it

You're right, the cambelt and tensioners interval is 40k or 4 years, whichever comes first, so doubt you'll have much luck with skoda, being 3 years overdue a change! The reason it wasn't mentioned is because the interval was originally 60k/6 years (?) and was changed when the tensioners started disintegrating. Most dealers I've spoken to have known this, so as I said, I doubt skoda would be interested.

Cheers

Rob

Oh, I won't be asking for any money, it only cost