Hi all,

I popped in here to have a read about cam belt advice and have looked at the sticky thread above. Can anyone tell me what the cam belt interval is for an 03 reg fabia elegance 1.4?

I called my local dealer to arrange the 4 year service (has only done low 20k miles though) and he suggested that it was quite a big one as they will change filters etc that haven't been done yet. Then he suggested that I should have my cam belt changed because it's 4 years old, even though I'm nowhere near the 40k mark. Having read the sticky thread, it seems that even at 40k it may not be necessary yet? They quoted me around

Is yours a 1.4 MPi, or a 1.4 16v? I think being 03-reg, it's probably the latter - but it's good to make sure, as the MPi engine doesn't have a cambelt!!!

4 years for a cambelt change (or an inspection at least) is normal nowadays.

It is the 16v model. I was hoping someone was going to tell me it didn't need doing yet Thanks though!

The thing is, at some point in the past the recommended interval went from (I think) inspect/replace after 80k to inspect/replace after 60k or 4 years. This was presumably based on the failure frequency of cambelts, but I don't know if there is any actual difference between the belts used before and after the change. At the end of the day, the service schedule is only advisory once the car is out of warranty, so you don't need to have it done. But I think you'd struggle to find anyone on here who didn't recommend following the schedule (or even servicing the car more often!)

There are quite a few threads on here discussing the merits of various intervals for cambelt changes - have a search and see what you think...

Seems a lot of money, but actually the price given is very reasonable, and even more so if your belt was to go as in a new engine

Not Skoda but I had a Pug206 ninemonths old and had every 10k svc done on the dot at 9.999

On the 50k service, done at 49998, I picked the car up, drove out of the garage and 100yds down the road the cambelt went

That was expensive to someone (company car) two pistons and all the valves and a new head/new engine, apparently the labour charges to rebuild were as much as a new unit

I do not know what the result was other than. Now I pay for my own car and maintenance, although it appears costly I know in the back of my mind what cutting corners may cost me in reality, Just got to bite the bullet I am afraid

Another call to get it done soonest. If valves meet pistons you can be looking at replacing most or all of the engine!

Yep, get it done. 4 years or 60,000 miles (whichever comes first) as a rule of thumb.

Try a local VAG specialist independent garage using a genuine kit perhaps?

I agree though, get it done, as if you don't and it goes that is going to be expensive.