Cam belt change

Niv

I have been advised by Skoda to change the cam belt on my skoda octavia and just wanted to get some opinions.

Its is 4.5yeras old and done 55k.

Main dealer is quoting £600 so I have been shopping around for a better deal. A local garage is getting back to me on a price and have informed me they use 'Gates' cam belts. From what i can see they are decent, any options?

I guess I am after reassurance about both changing it in the first place and going to a local garage (well respected locally not simply 'the cheapest') as opposed to main dealer.

TIA

Goudy

Gates are pretty much the go to brand for timing belts. You'd be hard pushed to find many other brands of timing belts on the shelves of the local motor factors and they could have even made the original.

No real worries there.

You need to do a proper calculation on price. What are they quoting they are changing? The belt, the belt and tensioner, the belt, tensioner and idler, all these plus the water pump?

They'll more than likely need remove the aux belt to get at the timing belt, are they going to replace that as well and is it in the price? Seems a no brainer to swap it now.

Niv

Ahh yes, I should have said. The local guy said that in his price (not come back yet) is cam belt, aux belt, water pump and anti freeze change. No mention of all the other bits you mentioned but the guy on the phone did say they use 'Gates systems' which implies the other bits and bobs...I think ( but will clarify when they call me back ty).

Skoda just said its cam belt and water pump.

jimjames

If you're querying whether to change the belt then yes that should be done. It's part of the service schedule and if it fails is likely to wreck the engine so even £600 is cheaper than trying to repair that.

oh_really

What engine is it? I have a CUNA in my golf and started the job, a couple of hours in I decided enough is enough and reassembled. I spoke with a couple of local workshops all said the same thing, leave it to the dealer due to tooling. I think from memory the dealer was over half a day with the job, a mated had Audi A4, half the front end had to be removed.

When I left the car the price was disccounted a clue of hundred ££, this wasn't mentioned on VAG website but offered by the dealer. Dealer also offers several year warranty, ask them what they can do.

Niv

its a 1.6 diesel. After hearing back from the independent guy he confirmed he cannot change the belt due to a lack of tooling and directed me to someone who could. The price from the guy that could do the work is more than the main dealer. So, I have booked in with the main dealer in a week or so's time.

Stupid modern cars, never had to change the belt on my proper skoda.

AdrianC

Niv said:

Stupid modern cars, never had to change the belt on my proper skoda.

If by that you mean a pre-VW Skoda, rear-engined or an 87-94 Favorit, then they used a pushrod engine launched in 1964, with the cam driven by gears from the crank - so, no, no cambelt...

oh_really

As a point of interest my belt was changed at around 130k (15 plate) and looked perftly servicable.

Niv

AdrianC said:

Niv said:

Stupid modern cars, never had to change the belt on my proper skoda.

If by that you mean a pre-VW Skoda, rear-engined or an 87-94 Favorit, then they used a pushrod engine launched in 1964, with the cam driven by gears from the crank - so, no, no cambelt...

Yea I had a pre VW skoda rapid

greyteam1959

I would have asked the main dealer for a discount.

oh_really

greyteam1959 said:

I would have asked the main dealer for a discount.

Already suggested.