VRS Cam Belt

[kebaros]

I was reading a thread regarding the cam belt in the VRS and how it should be changed every 60,000 miles. Mine is currently on 56k but this got me a little worried as I need 4 new tyres this month :(

Anyway I went to see my mechanic and I showed him in service log that it should not need changed until 100k but that someone on here recommended it to be every 60k. So my question is this; Should I get the cam belt changed at 60k or wait till something like 70k or 80k like i was planning to do? I know its an expensive mess if it does go but my car is still under warrenty till December / January so will it be covered if it does go snap? (My service book is all stamped up by a dealer)

[skudmissile]

I was reading a thread regarding the cam belt in the VRS and how it should be changed every 60,000 miles. Mine is currently on 56k but this got me a little worried as I need 4 new tyres this month :(

Anyway I went to see my mechanic and I showed him in service log that it should not need changed until 100k but that someone on here recommended it to be every 60k. So my question is this; Should I get the cam belt changed at 60k or wait till something like 70k or 80k like i was planning to do? I know its an expensive mess if it does go but my car is still under warrenty till December / January so will it be covered if it does go snap? (My service book is all stamped up by a dealer)

some engines are 80k and some 60k iirc but there is also a time limit @ 4 years. but as yours is still under 3 years old i wouldnt know.

Someone will be along with the definate yes/no. if not id ring the dealer and ask if its due

[Gyp]

some engines are 80k and some 60k iirc but there is also a time limit @ 4 years. but as yours is still under 3 years old i wouldnt know.

Someone will be along with the definate yes/no. if not id ring the dealer and ask if its due

For the warranty to remain valid, the cam belt will need to be done in accordance with Skoda's current timings, so I'd agree with skudmissile and suggest you ask your dealer what it should be (as it changes depending on current advice from VAG/Skoda UK)

[ScoobyChris]

IIRC, there is a notice issued by Skoda in the last week which states that all cambelts are now recommended to be changed at 60k miles or 4 years, whichever occurs first. I'd not be leaving it personally!

Chris

[rum4mo]

IIRC, there is a notice issued by Skoda in the last week which states that all cambelts are now recommended to be changed at 60k miles or 4 years, whichever occurs first. I'd not be leaving it personally!

Chris

That's strange, Volkswagen issued a blanket cambelt service rethink well over a year ago standardising the period across all engines to 60,000 miles or 4 years - whichever happened first, if I recollect correctly this change was to the unfortunately unexpected high mortality rate of PD engines due to the higher loading on these engines cambelts and associated rollars etc. So to remove any confusion, VAG were changing all cambelt service periods down to 60,000 miles or 4 years. Also, it makes a nice little earner for the dealers, while saving a lot of engines. I was alerted to this (had read about it in mags before this but hoped it was ba***cks) a year past May, when I booked the car in for this work in September the service desk said "your engine has a chain its a VR6" eventually they gave in and agreed to do this work - my car has the wide angle APR engine - ie "Audi" and does have a cambelt - the car was then over six years old. I've just had the Polo BBY engine done at a specialist at 4.5 years and 46,000 miles. Its cheaper than an engine repair - just remember to buy the correct VAG kit that includes rollars and tensioner as it is not so much the belts that break, but the associated bits that fail and cause belt failure - maybe change the water pump as well, even VAG have changed the impellars from plastic to metal - they are quite cheap as VAG operate an exchange system.

[kebaros]

There is nothing on the skoda website and seeing as they haven't sent out a letter indicating the new terms then people will still go by what it says in the service manual. I think it said that the petrol engine is 60k, another petrol is 70k but the diesel engines are 100k.

I'm going to contact my local dealer tomorrow to see what they say, if it still is 100k then i'll prob get it done about 80k just to be on the safe side but if its 60k then it has to be done.

[rum4mo]

There is nothing on the skoda website and seeing as they haven't sent out a letter indicating the new terms then people will still go by what it says in the service manual. I think it said that the petrol engine is 60k, another petrol is 70k but the diesel engines are 100k.

I'm going to contact my local dealer tomorrow to see what they say, if it still is 100k then i'll prob get it done about 80k just to be on the safe side but if its 60k then it has to be done.

I'm afraid that you will find that cambelt changing period is in general a fluid statement - if that makes sense, even autodata do not commit to actual time/mileage periods "see website for latest information". Thankfully this brilliant fix-all solution to flexible engine design has had its day and a new method, "duplex chain", has already been reinvented to get rid of all the problems associated with the very method "toothed belt" that was dreamt up to let us dump the noisy chains. I don't think that any ordinary car manufacturers have sent out any hand book updates to point this out - they simply don't need to as the owners of any cars still within the dealership service loop will be told when the changes affect them - the rest of us can just try to keep up with things or get caught out! Back in the early days of the Ford CVH engines, a non technical friend suffered engine destruction and felt hard done to by his dealer who carried out all his service work - no joy "you did not instruct us to replace the belt" - his answer was "what belt" - they knew that he used their judgement on all car matters but when it went pear shaped he was held totally responsible - at least nowadays VW dealers seem to be offering advice even if you use them only for MOTs - but don't expect a letter through the mail.

[anonymouse]

I'm pretty sure the cambelt on the diesel Fabia vRS should be changed at 4 years or 60,000 miles - whichever occurs 1st.

There have, in the past, been numerous posts to this effect.

[Mark raw]

damage will not be covered by any warranty for cmbelt falure of not replaced it is classed as a servicable item hence needs replacing. I know this form past expereince with anty other car i had but luckily this fabia 1.4 8v has chain not belt.

[Td-eye]

You can find a picture of my cambelt which had done only 53,000 miles HERE it was 5 years old when it was replaced.:(

Personally, I'd now replace any cambelt at no later than 60,000 miles or 4 years whichever comes first as it's just not worth destroying your engine by not doing so !

[mluton]

If you relying on your dealer telling you what's what, get it in writing.

[Gyp]

I'm pretty sure the cambelt on the diesel Fabia vRS should be changed at 4 years or 60,000 miles - whichever occurs 1st.

There have, in the past, been numerous posts to this effect.

Worth noting though that whilst it must be done [1] it doesn't have to be done at a Skoda dealer

[1] As my car was out of warranty, my local dealer suggested that I could probably wait a lot longer than the 4 year/60k mile mark with no risk. I'm still running the original cambelt on my 20 year old Citroen BX 19GTi (value

[Davy-B]

100k sounds very high. I definately wouldn't do more than 60k.

Are you sure that it's 100k miles becaue 60,000 miles is about 100,000 kilometers.

[kebaros]

OK I phoned Telfords Skoda in Carlisle and spoke to one of their service guys and he said that on the fabia its 70k. Think i'll stick to 60k like people have recommended.

[Wardy]

Complete minefield this. There was, what appears to be, an 'advisory' issued about the 4yr issue by VAG last year. It didn't seem to give a blanket maximum mileage though, so I would imagine on a mileage basis it's whatever's in the handbook. This is because it covered both petrol and diesel units. The 4yr age limit was imposed because of the increase in belt issues on cars that had not yet reached the mileage limit due to lower annual mileages, and were in years 5-6.

I bought my latest Fabia with 65k on it and it has a full Skoda dealer history, from the same dealer. So if there was an enforced belt change, mine would have been done. It hasn't been done.

My 70K service is now due and the car will be 4 years old in October. So I'm getting the belt, tensioners and waterpump done at this service, this month. Bare in mind those other two parts - just as important they're changed as VAG cars have had issues with failed waterpumps and tensioners.

Coupled to this when I phoned SUK at the start of June about the cambelt, I was told it was 80k/4yrs on the Fabia vRS. So it would seem different dealers, and SUK, are giving out different information.

Steve

[kebaros]

I use a local garage for all my servicing and apparantly its a kit that you order (tensioners etc) but i don't think it includes the water pump.

Parts:

WATER PUMP

[Wardy]

No, the cambelt kit doesn't include a waterpump. But as I say, it should be changed while they're sorting everything else.

Steve

[kebaros]

I thought it didn't but I read somewhere here that it needs changed but i'm not sure if my local garage knows that so i got the prices listed above as a guide.

My local dealer said to change the cambelt it would be just over

[Wardy]

Upto you of course, but I know what I'd do (and what's being done on mine next week). There have been cases of VAG waterpumps failing.

Its a

[rongagain]

As an added note which isn't strictly relevant to the Fabia.

MX5 engines (early ones at least) are "non-interference" so if the belt snaps no damage is done. Are there others? Why not all cars? Or chains?

[ScoobyChris]

My local dealer said to change the cambelt it would be just over

[kebaros]

So the new water pumps with a metal impeller lasts longer then 60k?

[fatherted444]

been advising customers[local inde glasgow] to change belt kit and pump at 60k for two years now due some early failures costing a lot,saves on labour both at one time,and peace of mind for 60k also do air con work and diagnostics codes read cleared and service work for any one local cheers graham

[funfly]

Got my cam belt changed a few months ago, bought cam belt kit (VW part) off "hootiemcboob1969" on Ebay for either

[Slippery Slav]

The manual uses kilometers and 100 km is approximately 60 miles, so the two are broadly equivalent.

It's something to watch out for for normal services and oil changes too.

Otherwise you could be servicinng your car less often than required by the warantly.