belt or chain?

frankie

I have a Skoda Octavia estate, 62 plate, 1.4 tsi petrol.

I am getting conflicting information about whether the car has a timing belt or a chain.

If its a belt then as the car is coming up to 4 years old it would need an expensive belt and water pump change.

The car has don 38000 miles.

Any answers most welcome.

SailorSam

I thought all modern cars had belts now.
I maybe wrong.

Update:

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=skoda+octavia+timing+belt&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b&gfe_rd=cr&ei=mqqwV6j1DsrU8geGroGoCQ

cajef

SailorSam wrote: »

I thought all modern cars had belts now.
I maybe wrong.

Update:

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=skoda+octavia+timing+belt&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b&gfe_rd=cr&ei=mqqwV6j1DsrU8geGroGoCQ

Some manufactures have gone back to chain the latest Honda Civic and Jazz are both chain.

AdrianC

SailorSam wrote: »

I thought all modern cars had belts now.
I maybe wrong.

Very wrong.

This is definitely a chain engine.

bigjl

SailorSam wrote: »

I thought all modern cars had belts now.
I maybe wrong.

Update:

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=skoda+octavia+timing+belt&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b&gfe_rd=cr&ei=mqqwV6j1DsrU8geGroGoCQ

Probably more are belt than chain but there are still plenty of chain driven engines.

Clive_Woody

frankie wrote: »

I have a Skoda Octavia estate, 62 plate, 1.4 tsi petrol.

I am getting conflicting information about whether the car has a timing belt or a chain.

If its a belt then as the car is coming up to 4 years old it would need an expensive belt and water pump change.

The car has don 38000 miles.

Any answers most welcome.

I've got a 2010 Octavia estate, albeit the 2.0 vRS version and that's got a chain and my wife has a 2011 1.4 Golf and that has a chain. Pretty good chance your's has a chain too.

Phone Skoda garage and give them your Reg. and they will be able to tell you whether you have a chain or belt and what service is due next (even if you aren't taking it to them).

mr_accountant

Most cars are now belt, but a few are chain, I think Hyundai/Kia are all chain.

However does not necessarily mean all is perfect, they can still be faults with chains too, right bmw?

cts_casemod

There is a removable cover for the cam belt, which allows inspection by removing a few clips (no tools required). If this is not present (left side of the engine as seen from the front of the bonnet) it is chain driven (aka internal to the engine).

arcon5

SailorSam wrote: »

I thought all modern cars had belts now.
I maybe wrong.

Update:

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=skoda+octavia+timing+belt&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b&gfe_rd=cr&ei=mqqwV6j1DsrU8geGroGoCQ

What does your link prove ? Lol

loskie

ask on Briskoda. Find the engine code in your handbook or spec sticker (the barcode one on the boot floor).
Briskoda will help.
the 1.4 tsi engine has been belt and chain driven. One of the 1.4 tsi engines has been known to be problematic. It has chopped nd changed over recent years.

bigjl

mr_accountant wrote: »

Most cars are now belt, but a few are chain, I think Hyundai/Kia are all chain.

However does not necessarily mean all is perfect, they can still be faults with chains too, right bmw?

Old Picanto was a belt, new Picanto is a chain apparently.

Chains are vulnerable to oil quality and oil change frequency and also the oil being left in too long when the vehicle is used in such a way that a Severe Service oil change interval would be advisable.

As an example my old Pathfinder did long trip round the M25 every day with the first owner, did nearly 90k in just over three years so the 18k interval was not a huge issue.

In my use it was lots of local stuff, traffic and periods of prolonged idling at Events.

So I changed it every 5k with the best Full Synth I could get.

Considering the Pathfinder and later Navara had common issues with camchains stretching, jumping teeth and snapping at fairly modest mileages I don't think it's a coincidence. Edit: When sold my Pathfinder was in the original chain and guides, can't remember the exact miles as I didn't drive it that often, think it was well over 130k though. The car broke down 6months or so later due to a common fault which the the transmission fluid cooler allowing coolant into the gearbox fluid (it's part of the radiator and many either block the lines off or fit a seperate cooler for the box) the engine was still going well.....

A cambelt is not affected by the usage in the same way.