Due my 4 year service and cambelt change in the next month or so, hoping to do the belt myself. I have changed cambelts before but any advise on the task would be helpful before i start,

ie "its a complete dog of a job, dont bother".

No seriously, i have searched the threads and will be changing the water pump at the same time, just looking to find out from someone elses hindsight whether its easy enough on the VRS.

whats the access like ?

special tools for the tensioners and rollers?

Regards, SIMON

Due my 4 year service and cambelt change in the next month or so, hoping to do the belt myself. I have changed cambelts before but any advise on the task would be helpful before i start,

ie "its a complete dog of a job, dont bother".

No seriously, i have searched the threads and will be changing the water pump at the same time, just looking to find out from someone elses hindsight whether its easy enough on the VRS.

whats the access like ?

special tools for the tensioners and rollers?

Regards, SIMON

If you've done a few belts before this one shouldn't scare you.

Access is ok once you get the top engine mount off.

Locking tools are required for (from memory) the crankshaft, camshaft & tensioner.

IMHO worth doing the water pump as you mentioned (have some replacement G12 handy) at the same time & replace the engine mounting stretch bolts.

Otherwise, pretty straightforward !

if you are doing it up your path at home , you will require a trolley jack to jack the engine up/down (block of wood on jack to protect the sump)

undertray and O/S/F wheel arch liner need to be taken off

get the complete Skoda cambelt kit inc tensioner and idler

you should use the locking tool kit

a 12 point 19mm socket will be required to turn the engine over

6mm allen key to remove crank bolts

13,15,17mm spanners/sockets

10mm socket on a 1/4 drive ratchet would be useful to remove the lower covers*

*make sure you put the lower covers back on the correct way round , bottom one goes on first

Doing mine next week hopefully, would anyone suggest a good set of locking tools for a students budget

haines manual mate,tells you what the proper tools are,then tells you what you can make a do with:rofl:

Thanks guys, will have to look into the locking tool, will be going the haynes route and making my own, all kitted out with ramps and jacks etc.

will be the best part of a month before i get chance to do this tho.

Thanks again

Simon.

Buy THIS & make the camshaft (drill bit) and tensioner (bit of bent metal with a notch out it) tools !

Buy THIS & make the camshaft (drill bit) and tensioner (bit of bent metal with a notch out it) tools !

you wont need the "bit of bent metal with a notch out it" as this is for the early tensioners , later ones can be adjusted by the circlip plyers method as explained in the Haynes i think , its easier with the proper tool though

Just a point if you're buying from Just Off Base, I think if you buy via Amazon you will get a better deal on p+p - and it will still come from Just Off Base.