Hi there

I've just "re-introduced" myself over in the new members area as I've been away for a while. I have just rejoined the ranks of vRS owners, after a brief encouter with a Seat, a Ford and a Toyota.

I have a question though regarding Cambelts.

My new car is a 2003 53 plate Octavia vRS in red, 1 previous owner, 28K miles and FSSH. I picked it up in July and must say its great to be back ! (I'll post some pics when its clean). So far I've replaced the Hankook Ventus K104's the original owner had put on the front with Continental Contisport 2's, which has resulted in a marked improvement in grip. I've also replaced the front speakers with a pair of 17 cm Alpines, again a marked improvement.

The only slight fly in the ointment is that when I bought the car from my local main dealer in July I enquired if the cambelt change was due. I was told by the service department that it was due for inspection at 60k miles, and every 20K miles thereafter, but was not due to be replaced until 120K miles. They also stated there was no time limit for replacement, only a mileage limit. They backed this up by showing me the official Skoda service schedule, which stated as much. The car was serviced for me prior to picking it up, as per service schedule and as a Skoda approved used car is covered by 1 years extended Skoda warranty. I had to call in to my local dealer a few days after collecting the car to pick up some paperwork and again queried the cambelt. I even went so far as to ask if the belt was to fail within the extended used car warranty would it be covered. I was told as it was not due to be changed, yes it be would fully covered.

Now since looking on here again I've noticed loads of posts regarding cambelt intervals, which seem to imply the belt should be changed at 4 years, regardless of mileage. If this is indeed the case it would meam my car is due a cambelt in September, barely 2 months after to buying it

I've emailed Skoda UK for clarification, but have yet to receive a reply.

Any thoughts on this ? If for instance Skoda come back and tell me the belt IS due at 4 years what are my changes of getting this done FOC by the suppying dealer.

Cambelt every 4 years/60k Im afraid due to failures. Also get the waterpump changed. Cost me

Thanks for the reply Liverpool-Lad.

I've just had an Email from Skoda UK as follows -

"Thank you for your e-mail. I am pleased to learn that you are now the owner of a Skoda Octavia vRS and trust that the vehicle is performing to your requirements.

I can confirm that the timing belt change interval for a Skoda Octavia vRS engine type AUQ is every 180,000 kilometres / 111846 miles or every four years whichever is reached first. I can also confirm that the timing belt interval change was revised to include the four year proviso on the 19th May 2006, this being common to all vehicles in the Volkswagen Group".

I'm now off to my local dealer to see what they have to say. This is especially irritating as they specifically stated they were unaware of any time limit on the belt change.

I will keep you posted.

I've just come back from my local main dealer. They again assured me that the belt was not due and insisted that they were unaware of the need to change the belt at 4 years, despite the Email from Skoda UK. Furthermore they assured me that if the belt was to fail within the extended warranty period, it, and all the subsequent damage would be fully covered. The sales manager even said to me "we have sold lots of cars with that engine and have never changed a cambelt at 4 years, why would we turn work down when these cars came back for servicing ?". Which seems a valid point.

My local Skoda main dealer has an excellent reputation and I personally know several people who have bought cars from them, and had them maintained by them for many years. I must admit though that I'm somewhat concerned by the apparent discrepancy in advice given by Skoda and a franchised dealer.

Now as you can imagine I'm reluctant to pay to have the belt changed, especially as my local main dealer are telling me it is absolutely NOT required and that any failure would be covered by the extended warranty.

Well if thats the case, leave it and change it when the warranty runs out.

A Technical Bulletin was issued by Skoda UK on 19 May 2006. Your dealer needs to get a copy asap and stop giving duff advice.

I made my dealer aware of the Email I had received from Skoda UK, but they stuck by their original statement that the belt was not due to be changed until 120K miles. I also offered to forward the email onto them.

I was also unaware of the change until after I bought my vRS. Got to be honets though as soon as I found out it was overdue (by 6 months) paranoia set in and I was glad to get it done, even though it did leave me

I wonder what other important Technical Bulletins this dealer is unaware of. :rubchin: Contact Skoda Customer Services again and let them know what your dealer said.

thanks for the replies so far guys.

The problem as I see it is that the belt should have been changed when the car was serviced prior to my collecting it. My dealer says no, whereas Skoda UK say yes

I've therefore sent another Email to Skoda customer services asking them to confirm my extended warranty is valid, despite the cambelt not being replaced at 4 years. If they say it is invalid I suppose I'll be off to speak to my local dealership again, as the warranty is presumably underwritten by the maufacturer, not the issuing dealership. The local dealership did tell me today however that this was their final position on the matter.

I think it is time to name the dealer so that other Briskoda members who use their services can be aware of that dealer's unfortunate attitude and lack of knowledge.

DGW

I have been careful, on this forum and several others I've posted this issue on not to name the dealership involved. I think I'm a reasonable guy and am attempting to give them every opportunity to sort this out amicably. If however things are not sorted once Skoda customer services have replied to my second email I will or course be happy to name them.

I will keep you posted.

A result of sorts.

I had a chat with a nice fellow from Skoda UK this morning. He again confirmed the cambelt change was due at 4 years and that my extended warranty would be invalidated if the belt was not changed. He also expressed concern that a franshised dealer was giving advice to customers which was contrary to the guidance issued by VAG back in May 2006. He offered to speak to the dealership on my behalf, but I instead decided to have a chat with the service manager and tell him my concerns (my previous visits to the dealership all resulted in conversations with the sales manager). The upshot of all this was an offer to change the cambelt at approximately 25% of the usual cost price.

I have decided to accept their offer and hope this is the end of the matter.

Sorry to drag this old post up again but I received a flyer from my local Skoda dealership this morning informing me that due to recent changes in guidance from VAG they were advising all customers to change their cambelts at 4 years, regardless of mileage.

I find this quite ironic given their position on the matter a few months ago when I bought a car from them.

Probably seeing their arses with failures!

Sorry to drag this old post up again but I received a flyer from my local Skoda dealership this morning informing me that due to recent changes in guidance from VAG they were advising all customers to change their cambelts at 4 years, regardless of mileage.

I find this quite ironic given their position on the matter a few months ago when I bought a car from them.

Good news, it appears that Skoda have given the dealer a telling off and told to update their advise regarding cam belts to customers.

I was also unaware of the change until after I bought my vRS. Got to be honets though as soon as I found out it was overdue (by 6 months) paranoia set in and I was glad to get it done, even though it did leave me