when?

I've seen (on Forums), read (in Magazines) and been told (by Local People) that the cambelt should be changed at 60,000 miles or every 4-years!

Can anybody corroborate/substantiate or give me the definitive answer to this perplexing question?

My (mid-June registered) '03 vRS 1.8 petrol-engined vRS Hatchback has just turned over 59,400 miles.

Many thanks...

I've seen (on Forums), read (in Magazines) and been told (by Local People) that the cambelt should be changed at 60,000 miles or every 4-years

Yes that's correct

I've seen (on Forums), read (in Magazines) and been told (by Local People) that the cambelt should be changed at 60,000 miles or every 4-years and the water pump changed at the same time!

Many thanks for confirming guys. Seems as though I haven't got many miles left to do then... ...but it's running so, so, so well at the moment. Hit 110 comfortably at various (when it was safe & the prevailing conditions allowed me to do so) times on the motorway last night. 'She' was just lovin' it! I kinda feel that it would be a real shame to have her 'opened-up' and everything disturbed?

However, I think I know what you're all going to say next...

Change it ASAP, including the water pump, and you were of course on the way home from Germany on an unrestricted autobahn. You never know when the BiB are poking about !!!!!

im picking up my octavia vrs at the weekend.. Its only done 14000 miles butis nearly 5 years old..

I'll be getting the cambelt and water pump changed asap

Good plan I think. The plastic impeller on the water pump starts to get brittle after the four year mark and can disintegrate.

I'm getting mine done this year after 4 years (and about 50,000 miles)

when?

I've seen (on Forums), read (in Magazines) and been told (by Local People) that the cambelt should be changed at 60,000 miles or every 4-years!

Can anybody corroborate/substantiate or give me the definitive answer to this perplexing question?

My (mid-June registered) '03 vRS 1.8 petrol-engined vRS Hatchback has just turned over 59,400 miles.

Many thanks...

4 yrs or 60k miles - whichever is the soonest

What price an engine :thumbdwn:

Ours is only 27k, but 4 yrs, and had the lot done - including a metal impeller water pump, cos as Rob says the plastic ones become brittle.

Eurocar parts do metal impeller water pump for Fab vRS (as example) for £22 + VAT + delivery.

When I brought my VRS I drove it straight form buying to the garage for a cam belt and pump change

For the £250 it's not worth the risk!

...and you were of course on the way home from Germany on an unrestricted autobahn. You never know when the BiB are poking about !!!!!

I was talking km/h obviously...

...and thanks to all for the advice – appreciated. Even though I'm soon to be seling I'll get it done next week!

I had mine changed this week (2002 model) @ 80,000 miles. The cam-belt, tensioner and roller were like brand new but the water pump blades were cracked and very very brittle. It only took a small amount of pull to snap a couple of lumps off the impellor blades.:eek:

60,000 is the perfect time to change the original water pumps, i came very close to dropping a b*llock by leaving mine until 80,0000 miles.

And of course, you most certainly DON'T want to have the WP replaced for another one with plastic impellor. Make sure you get the brass one. That way, you wont have to worry about it again