Skoda cam belt change

andrewf75

Just found out that in addition to a £250 4-year service, my Fabia 1.4 TDI is due a cam belt change which adds another £300! Apparently Skoda/VW/Audi have only recently reduced the recommended cam belt change interval to 40,000 miles/4 years from 60,000 miles.

But mine has only done 25,000 miles!

I appreciate that the belts deteriorate over time as well as through wear, so I would be taking a risk by leaving it, but it does seem unnecessary...

Really torn on this

Any thoughts?

flashg67

I does seem to be an early change, but personally, I'd go by the age recommendations, rather than mileage. It's outside warranty - why not see if there's a local VAG specialist who can do it for less?

I suppose the real question is, can you afford the consequences of not having it done, and the worst happens?

Retrogamer

Unless you plan on selling the car, i'd pay for it.
I know of a lot of people who didn't in similar circumstances and wished they had hindsight

forgotmyname

Pay £300 or count down the days until the belt does go and costs you a new engine.

Steve059

It's 40K miles or 4 years, whichever comes first. I've had a belt go on a car: never again.

Geodark

Thing is there are so many manufacturers using plastic tensioners etc, that it isn't just the belt you need to worry about - get it all changed as it would work out so much more in the long run! Depending on your engine I would get them to change the water pump at the same time.

Westmead_Fan

if you don''t get it done, you are on a ticking time bomb because when the timing belt goes, you will be looking at a expensive job to repair the vehicle.

other thing to bear in mind is if the water pump is on the timing belt, get that replaced too, cheaper to find a local recommended garage rather than main dealer & ask what parts they would be fitting & do your research.

Steve059

The new plastic idler and pulley wheels are kinder on belts, but they get brittle with heat and time. The result of one of these breaking up is just as disastrous as the belt snapping.

If it needs to come off anyway, it's a very good idea to renew the water pump at the same time. The tension from the new belt can cause the part-worn bearings on the pump to fail. The garage should just charge for the part: if they try to charge extra labour, walk away.

Westmead_Fan

Steve059 wrote: »

If it needs to come off anyway, it's a very good idea to renew the water pump at the same time. The tension from the new belt can cause the part-worn bearings on the pump to fail. The garage should just charge for the part: if they try to charge extra labour, walk away.

all cars are different & depends how long it takes to change the water pump & then bleed the system out, this all adds up when on the ramp in the workshop.

colino

It's a disgrace that the mileage has been brought down, never mind a change as frequently as 4 years, for a component so crucial to the lifetime of the engine. Make no bones about it though, they clearly have enough data to prove it needs doing so soon otherwise they'd boast about its longevity.

Alter_ego

andrewf75 wrote: »

Just found out that in addition to a £250 4-year service, my Fabia 1.4 TDI is due a cam belt change which adds another £300! Apparently Skoda/VW/Audi have only recently reduced the recommended cam belt change interval to 40,000 miles/4 years from 60,000 miles.

But mine has only done 25,000 miles!

I appreciate that the belts deteriorate over time as well as through wear, so I would be taking a risk by leaving it, but

Really torn on this

Any thoughts?

I'd write to Skoda UK and get a definitive answer for your particular car. Some dealers are bending what Skoda is saying.