My 2001 X plate Octavia Ambiente is due for a timing belt change as it is on 59000. I am selling it very soon to a mate's dad - the question is should I get the water pump changed as well? If I was keeping it there would be no hesitation.

For how much they cost , yes no doubt

They are only about £25 ish and only another half hour to do

I would

Sarah

Get a quote for the belt to be done locally and knock that off the asking price of the car.

Then its his choice.

Sorry to hi-jack but ive just left a deposit on a 53 reg octavia vrs...

Its only done 14k miles but am i right in thinking it will need a cambelt soon as its nearly 5 years old ?

Im guessing its not too important if this octavia is much older and the cambelt is still in one piece ?

Would you change a cambelt at 15k miles if the car was 5 years old ??

cheers

(oh and definately change the water pump.. Id be checking that if i bought a car that had had the cambelt changed!)

In my Skoda dealer recently and they had a sign up saying every 4 yrs or 60k whichever comes first and yes chanhe waterpump while it is in.

Sorry Would you change a cambelt at 15k miles if the car was 5 years old ??

Yes! The cambelt deteriorates with age as well as mileage. In your car's case, the change interval is (or was) 180,000km or 4 years, whichever comes first. Read the thread below for more information. My 4X4's cambelt and water pump were change at 4 1/4 years and just 18738 miles. The water pump impeller was already breaking up. Had I not elected to change it at the same time, I would have been faced with paying for the cambelt to be changed again along with the pump when that failed completely resulting in the engine overheating.

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

Yes! The cambelt deteriorates with age as well as mileage. In your car's case, the change interval is (or was) 180,000km or 4 years, whichever comes first. Read the thread below for more information. My 4X4's cambelt and water pump were change at 4 1/4 years and just 18738 miles. The water pump impeller was already breaking up. Had I not elected to change it at the same time, I would have been faced with paying for the cambelt to be changed again along with the pump when that failed completely resulting in the engine overheating.

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

Cheers for that.. Sounds very sensible! My water pump blew on the cupra a while ago so know about the overheating! Luckily my car was booked in for it the next day!

Cool will definately arrange to get this done then.. Hoped i wouldnt need to spend much on the new car but its gonna need a service and this when i pick it up! :( Might see if i can knock another 100 or so off the sale price!

Do some more haggling Ninja.....

What colour is the VRS as well mate, any extra specced-up toys?

yeah will give it a go

Its red matey.. Wasnt one of my first choices (silver or black lol) but the mileage made it worthwhile!

Not sure about extras as only had a quick drive but the interior is in mint condition and i could only find the 1 tiny scratch on the rear quarter!

Ill post a proper thread tomorrow after the RAC inspection..

Again.. sorry for the thread hi-jack

Ninja,don't get too sucked in with it being very low mileage.

Lots of short journeys are worse on a car than doing mega miles, as nothing has chance to get up to temperature.

Its worth paying close attention to the exhaust. tyres, oil etc as these can suffer more from little use.

Not trying to put you off, just be careful.

Thats cool thanks.. I hadnt really thought about it like that.. Like you said was probably more attracted with the mileage!

Having a proper full RAC inspection tomorrow so will at least know what im dealing with! I know its going to need a couple of front tyres in the next 1-2k miles or so also!