Hiya

this is my first post I've had my VRS combi for a year now its an 03, and has done 52 K. Its on the long service interval. My service book says inspect the belt at 60K, then 20 K intervals and change at 120K (not likely mate!). The Haynes manual seems to agree with this.

I was planning to do it at 60K, but I've read a few threads here that seem to point to 60K or 4 years, where does the four year thing come from, is it experience or an update to the schedule?

If this is true the change should have been done as I bought it as it turned 4 years. The guys at Lightcliffe Skoda Halifax, at the time said that it wasn't due a service etc for a while as it was on the long service interval, and I took them at that word.

The service light has just come on as predicted by the garage.

So can anyone clarify this 4 year thing?

I'm driving a 5 year old car under the mileage limit for the change (according to the service schedule) so I thought everything was ok, till I joined this forum. Was planning to change it in July when I get my bonus. I was just going to get the regular service done now (as I'm strapped for cash).

Cheers

I had mine done just before 4 years.

But it is 4 years or 60K, It was changed after due to cam belt material breaking down IIRC.

Welcome to the forum

Remember to price in getting the water pump changed when you get the timing belt changed.

The four year thing is apparently because at that age the plastic impellers on the water pump can start to become brittle and have been known to disintegrate.

VW/Skoda/Audi/Seat all say 4 years/60,000 on petrols and 4yrs/80,000 miles on diesels, with exception to some of the early 1.4TDIs that was 4yrs/40,000.

Its because the rubber becomes brittle with age as well as usuage, or you would have little old ladys driving around town in a car for 15 years / tops 30,000miles and never seeing one cambelt when in effect it should of had 3!!

And as per other posts, please factor in waterpump and tensioner replacement together, you dont want to be paying for exactly the same repair when one of these parts fail, would also use this oppertunity to replace the auxillery belts at same time whilst they are all removed.

Cheers guys, is this a change since 2003, as my service book doesn't mention 4 years, its states Inspect toothed belt at 60,000 miles.

Has there been a servive schedule update?

Judging by the statements here the dealer should have changed the belt and pump when I bought the car (it was 3 yrs and 11.5 months old! when i bought it.

Ian C

Hi

I have a 2001 vrs and it was last serviced end of summer 2007. Mileage was a little under 50K.

Having read comments posted on here I mentioned to the dealer at the time that I'd heard that the cam belt should be changed every 4yr or 60k and not as scheduled in service book- was getting a bit worried as car was over 6 yrs old at time.

They didn't seem to know anything about it and quoted the 120K to me. So I contacted Skoda through their website who confirmed the 4yr or 60k.

Read the first post in the 'sticky' below for details of how and when dealers were notified of the change in timing belt change intervals.

http://briskoda.net/forums/ask-tech/timing-belt-change-interval/56532/

I took my 02 vRS in for its 70,000 service last may (main dealer Plymouth area) and enquired if i was due a cam-belt change and was told 80,000 miles by the Service Manager.

I took my 02 vRS in for its 70,000 service last may (main dealer Plymouth area) and enquired if i was due a cam-belt change and was told 80,000 miles by the Service Manager.

They were wrong, it is as mentioned earlier 60K or 4 years. In theory yours should have been changed in 2006, if it hasnt yet I would seriously get it done ASAP.

All service bboks are now out of date and more than likely irrelevant as all service sheets are now printed off specifically for that vehicle from ELSA. Owners handbooks and service book are usually generic and pretty vague.

1.8T vRS is 4 years or 60k, leave it longer at your peril.

It just goes to show that you cannot trust dealers, it was the Workshop Manager that looked up my engine code and told me 80,000 miles.

The car is on 79,000 now so it is due its service any week now,cambelt,pump change etc is getting done at the same time and before you ask no it is not going to the Plymouth area main dealership.

Hiya

the 4 year rule doesn't appear to apply to all. I called skoda customer servive to confirm that the dealer should have either changed the belt or told me it ws due 2 weeks after buyng my 3 years 11.5 month old VRS.

Skoda Uk customer service checked my chassis number , called me back and the advice from the technical people was that its due at 60K, even though I flagged the cars age (5 years).

There was no mention of 4 years despite me asking aout the may 06 technical bulletin. Unless they are covering for the dealer.....

Anyhow it will be done by this summer!