:eek: No where in any of my Octavia TDI's service schedule does it say "we recommend you replace the timing belt at 4 years or 60k, whatever comes first". The complete opposite really, the timing belt must be replaced at 60k miles or 90 k kms.

The car is an April 02 plate, bought in Feb 03 with 16K on the clock, at the moment I'm still 7k under the 60k.

What is the opinion of the forum as to when the belt should be replaced?

My cousin (who owns an independent garage) said it needs replacing next year.

4 years or 60k.

Remember you book was written a long time ago and service schedules get changed.

Read the sticky on the tech thread. Looks like I'll get it done sooner, rather than later. Any idea of part cost and time taken?

IIRC, mine was about £250 all in (inc VAT and parts) on my '03 Octy 1.9 TDi

:eek:

The car is an April 02 plate

So it's over 5 years old then!

I would get it done as soon as and also change the water pump will your doing it

My cousin says the belt kit is £70 and he charges £35 phr, so thats not to bad.

Whats up with the water pump?

They break up at around 4 yrs as their made of plastic and spread around the coolant hoses/thermostat.

Worth doing in my opinion while you have the belt off.

I'll mention that then a week Thursday.

Still puzzled as to why the belt replacement time was dropped to 4 yrs, rather than miles driven. Unless it is purely to bring VAG in line with all the other manufacturers

It still is miles driven (60k) or if the car doesnt get to 60k in four years then its done on time as the belt can still degrade over time.

While I would change the waterpump anyway, for all the cost when the cambelt's being done, it's not as critical on the diesels as on the petrols, because the diesels run colder, and it's heat that's the impellor killer.

e-Skoda said to inspect the pump, rather than replace it. Apparently why I haven't been informed of the change to the service schedule was left to local dealerships!

quoting

I can confirm that we do recommend that if a vehicle does not reach the required cambelt change mileage, it should be changed by four years old. This is because we believe that components may require replacement due to age as well as mileage.

I would advise you to change the cambelt and guide pulley at your earliest convenience in order to avoid possible damage, as your vehicle is over five years old. Whilst it is not a necessity to change the water bottle at time of cambelt change a visual inspection would determine if this is a required.

It was left to supplying/servicing retailers own discretion regarding communications about cambelt change to the ir customers. I apologise that you did not receive a communication of this nature.

end quote.

It actually says "Whilst it is not a necessity to change the water bottle" but i think they mean pump.

How on earth do you visually inspect a water pump without draining???

If you do drain the system then you may as well pop another water pump in while your at it.

Good point, To confuse us even more VAG majic site, using the VIN to identify the correct vehicle tells me this for the ALH engine

Engine control toothed belt change interval from 2001/05 every 120.000 km

Engine control toothed belt change interval from 2002/05 every 150.000 km

Engine control toothed belt change interval up to 2001/04 every 90.000 km

Ooops!!!