Cam belt change..... lucky escape !

badgerbrain · 02-02-2006, 09:24

Having tried to find out when my cambelt was due on my 2.0L octy and having several different answers i decided to get it done anyway.

The garage i use instantly informed me it was due at 60k... i had it done at 63k.. even only this small distance over the top my belt was at critical level and had started to break up...

Moral of the story - get it done early

My last car ( vectra) blew its engine when the cam belt went only 6k over its due date i learnt my lesson that time.

Podwin · 02-02-2006, 09:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by badgerbrain

Having tried to find out when my cambelt was due on my 2.0L octy and having several different answers i decided to get it done anyway.

The garage i use instantly informed me it was due at 60k... i had it done at 63k.. even only this small distance over the top my belt was at critical level and had started to break up...

Moral of the story - get it done early

My last car ( vectra) blew its engine when the cam belt went only 6k over its due date i learnt my lesson that time.

I wasn't sure to get the belt changed on our 1.6 at 60K, 70K or 80K miles, so you've made my mind up, 60K it is going to be!

The car is nearly 8 years old now, and just coming up to 50,000 miles. How old is your car, just thinking about how age affects it, especially since your's had started to break up.

devonutopia · 02-02-2006, 10:08

Had mine changed at 59k, as per the service schedule... It was not in a good way. I think I have some pictures, let's see if I can find them.

Yup, I do indeed. Let this be a visual warning! This was on a pd100, and the engine had not gone over 60k!

Micky 32 · 02-02-2006, 10:15

I changed mine on my 130 at 70k! Was still in good shape when took off.

devonutopia · 02-02-2006, 10:24

I'll be looking carefully at mine from 40k onwards I think, with the new setup. Mentally I'm planning a 50k swap, but thankfully thats still 35,000 miles away.

LittlePaul · 02-02-2006, 10:55

Can I ask where you got it changed and how much it cost?

Mine is overdue too; the dealer wot did the 60k service (at 58.7k) didnt bother doing it, or any of the other work, and the MK dealer last week put a note on my service for me to check whether they did or not. Guess I'd better get it done then, but they quoted me £380. Friends with fast Hondas and Astras reckoned it was far too high; they have only paid £220ish in the last few years.

The car is 4yrs old - is there any benefit at all getting it done at the dealers?

Cheers, Paul

Podwin · 02-02-2006, 11:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by LittlePaul

Can I ask where you got it changed and how much it cost?

Mine is overdue too; the dealer wot did the 60k service (at 58.7k) didnt bother doing it, or any of the other work, and the MK dealer last week put a note on my service for me to check whether they did or not. Guess I'd better get it done then, but they quoted me £380. Friends with fast Hondas and Astras reckoned it was far too high; they have only paid £220ish in the last few years.

The car is 4yrs old - is there any benefit at all getting it done at the dealers?

Cheers, Paul

We've had a similar quote from Skoda dealers. Same cost for a 1.8T as a 1.6, which I thought was odd. I now know a bloke who has worked on VWs for the past 20 years, and works out of a unit next to my business, and will do a Cambelt Change for £120. That the whole kit, not just the belt, with labour and VAT.

So we are going to get it done with him, but like I say, only because I have seen him working, and he has done fault diagnosis better than the dealer, so I trust it will be a top notch job.

If I didn't have such trust in a local mechanic, I'd be tempted to get the dealer to do it for peace of mind.

devonutopia · 02-02-2006, 12:00

Trust in a local mechanic is good. My cambelt change was less than £200 from memory. I paid circa £120/£130 for the cambelt kit and the rest was the 2 hours of labour.

LittlePaul · 02-02-2006, 12:02

That's a superb price.
Would he do mine too? Petrol to Merseyland would still make it under half price!

Always used to take my car to a garage here for work, have a mate who works there. Should get a quote from him.

johnjohnhealy · 02-02-2006, 12:57

For the PD130 Superb the service book says change at 60k. but Saltdean Skoda reckoned the mileage for changing it had been changed, and didn't need doing till 80k - I made tham sign a letter stating that when the warranty run out they'd still cover the engine if the belt went below 80k.

Fortunately it didn't but I wont be leaving it 80k before the next one!

Podwin · 02-02-2006, 13:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by LittlePaul

That's a superb price.
Would he do mine too? Petrol to Merseyland would still make it under half price!

Always used to take my car to a garage here for work, have a mate who works there. Should get a quote from him.

Suppose so, that's his trade afterall

badgerbrain · 02-02-2006, 18:05

The car is a y reg 2001 2.0l model. I bought it a year ago and it was on 18k... now on 63k... i guess the age may have a lot to do with the condition of the belt... how ever i would still advise getting it done early to be safe.

I had a guy i know locally do it.... quotes were in the range of £200 so he did it for £30... yup £30. belt cost me £15

CupraR-Rog · 02-02-2006, 18:34

I thought the recommendation for cam belts was 5 years / 60,000 miles, whichever is the sooner??

Remember to always have the cam belt kit and not just the belt - the tensioner is just as crucial as the belt!! (seen many bent valves from tensioner failures!!)

Lummox · 02-02-2006, 18:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by LittlePaul

is there any benefit at all getting it done at the dealers?

Yeah you get me doing it

That price included a water pump (as a precaution) and bolts etc for the mountings.

LittlePaul · 02-02-2006, 19:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lummox

Yeah you get me doing it

That price included a water pump (as a precaution) and bolts etc for the mountings.

Heya, noticed your name on the service sheet!

Actually the price Linda gave me was £380 for the cambelt kit (tensioner etc), the water pump was an extra £50ish. Although I wasnt given a copy of the prices of recommended work to take away :/
Paying for the service as well, I just hadnt enough money to do it.
Did you like my sticker Ross?

Lummox · 02-02-2006, 19:16

You could have asked for a copy, im sure she would have photocopied it for you.

Yes i liked the sticker, hope you found the service met you needs/expectations.

LittlePaul · 03-02-2006, 10:10

Yeah I guess I could, maybe too quickly assumed that if it was ok for me to have it I'd have been given it. I'm sure it'll be on file, I'll ask for a copy.

Yeah - I knew it would be a good service, guessed you'd be doing it.

Was expecting you to just change the brake pads rather than just saying they're due, means I have to have another day in MK. Ah well. Was thorogh though. At least you didnt just ignore everything that the manual says to do, like the last dealer appears to!
Forgot to mention too that the door-open light keeps coming on whilst driving, but cant work out which catch is knacked. Ah well, will be in for another service before long

noodles · 03-02-2006, 10:17

so just when is the 1.8T 4x4 cambelt change recommended then? I tried to decipher the manual last night and it just didnt make sense to me at all! there were lots of different figures in brackets for different models at different intervals. it seemed to suggest the 1.8t needed it replacing at 180,000km which I cant believe.

My car has done 53k so should i get the cambelt done at the next service around 60k?

WW_VRS · 03-02-2006, 10:37

IMHO a lot of manufacturers start off with really nice, high figures for changing the cambelt. The joke (?) is that over time the 'when to change' advise tends to come down by a tremendous amount.

In any case I'd get it done at 60k miles at the latest, most cars seem to require a cambelt change at 50-70k miles anyway, and as the 60k one is imminent, I'd put up with that extra cost I suppose at the same time.

Andyturbo · 04-02-2006, 19:58

from what i can make out on the ocatavia VRS, the cambelts not due til 120k??! Is this right or am i reading the manual wrong? Seems an awful long time to me!

02-02-2006, 09:24	#1
badgerbrain Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Somerset Posts: 68 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Cam belt change..... lucky escape ! Having tried to find out when my cambelt was due on my 2.0L octy and having several different answers i decided to get it done anyway. The garage i use instantly informed me it was due at 60k... i had it done at 63k.. even only this small distance over the top my belt was at critical level and had started to break up... Moral of the story - get it done early My last car ( vectra) blew its engine when the cam belt went only 6k over its due date i learnt my lesson that time.

02-02-2006, 10:08	#3
devonutopia Mongreller Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Ooo-ar, Oi be from Devonshire Posts: 29,204 Thanks: 58 Thanked 288 Times in 234 Posts	Re: Cam belt change..... lucky escape ! Had mine changed at 59k, as per the service schedule... It was not in a good way. I think I have some pictures, let's see if I can find them. Yup, I do indeed. Let this be a visual warning! This was on a pd100, and the engine had not gone over 60k! __________________ Jason - Mongrel owner! WOOOOF! Grrrrr Custom Fabia Bonnet Lifter Kits - £45! Click Me. See the mongrel's 260bhp Dyno Video!

02-02-2006, 10:15	#4
Micky 32 Briskodian Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Longford, Ireland Posts: 354 Thanks: 8 Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts	Re: Cam belt change..... lucky escape ! I changed mine on my 130 at 70k! Was still in good shape when took off.

02-02-2006, 10:24	#5
devonutopia Mongreller Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Ooo-ar, Oi be from Devonshire Posts: 29,204 Thanks: 58 Thanked 288 Times in 234 Posts	Re: Cam belt change..... lucky escape ! I'll be looking carefully at mine from 40k onwards I think, with the new setup. Mentally I'm planning a 50k swap, but thankfully thats still 35,000 miles away. __________________ Jason - Mongrel owner! WOOOOF! Grrrrr Custom Fabia Bonnet Lifter Kits - £45! Click Me. See the mongrel's 260bhp Dyno Video!

02-02-2006, 10:55	#6
LittlePaul Briskodian Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Northampton Posts: 504 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Cam belt change..... lucky escape ! Can I ask where you got it changed and how much it cost? Mine is overdue too; the dealer wot did the 60k service (at 58.7k) didnt bother doing it, or any of the other work, and the MK dealer last week put a note on my service for me to check whether they did or not. Guess I'd better get it done then, but they quoted me £380. Friends with fast Hondas and Astras reckoned it was far too high; they have only paid £220ish in the last few years. The car is 4yrs old - is there any benefit at all getting it done at the dealers? Cheers, Paul __________________ Black Magic Octavia vRS, cruise control, towbar, nokia NK-7W, PhatBox, bonnet lifters

02-02-2006, 12:00	#8
devonutopia Mongreller Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Ooo-ar, Oi be from Devonshire Posts: 29,204 Thanks: 58 Thanked 288 Times in 234 Posts	Re: Cam belt change..... lucky escape ! Trust in a local mechanic is good. My cambelt change was less than £200 from memory. I paid circa £120/£130 for the cambelt kit and the rest was the 2 hours of labour. __________________ Jason - Mongrel owner! WOOOOF! Grrrrr Custom Fabia Bonnet Lifter Kits - £45! Click Me. See the mongrel's 260bhp Dyno Video!

02-02-2006, 12:02	#9
LittlePaul Briskodian Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Northampton Posts: 504 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Cam belt change..... lucky escape ! That's a superb price. Would he do mine too? Petrol to Merseyland would still make it under half price! Always used to take my car to a garage here for work, have a mate who works there. Should get a quote from him. __________________ Black Magic Octavia vRS, cruise control, towbar, nokia NK-7W, PhatBox, bonnet lifters

02-02-2006, 12:57	#10
johnjohnhealy Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: UK south east Posts: 2,431 Thanks: 1 Thanked 13 Times in 12 Posts	Re: Cam belt change..... lucky escape ! For the PD130 Superb the service book says change at 60k. but Saltdean Skoda reckoned the mileage for changing it had been changed, and didn't need doing till 80k - I made tham sign a letter stating that when the warranty run out they'd still cover the engine if the belt went below 80k. Fortunately it didn't but I wont be leaving it 80k before the next one!

02-02-2006, 18:05	#12
badgerbrain Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Somerset Posts: 68 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Cam belt change..... lucky escape ! The car is a y reg 2001 2.0l model. I bought it a year ago and it was on 18k... now on 63k... i guess the age may have a lot to do with the condition of the belt... how ever i would still advise getting it done early to be safe. I had a guy i know locally do it.... quotes were in the range of £200 so he did it for £30... yup £30. belt cost me £15

02-02-2006, 18:34	#13
CupraR-Rog Briskodian Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Somerset Posts: 609 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Cam belt change..... lucky escape ! I thought the recommendation for cam belts was 5 years / 60,000 miles, whichever is the sooner?? Remember to always have the cam belt kit and not just the belt - the tensioner is just as crucial as the belt!! (seen many bent valves from tensioner failures!!) __________________ Some people say I'm stark raving bonkers... ...the others just smile and nod...

02-02-2006, 19:16	#16
Lummox Hairy Yeti Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Newport Pagnell Posts: 21,418 Thanks: 19 Thanked 574 Times in 502 Posts	Re: Cam belt change..... lucky escape ! You could have asked for a copy, im sure she would have photocopied it for you. Yes i liked the sticker, hope you found the service met you needs/expectations. __________________ Unit 18 now open Servicing, repairs, modifications you name it we do it. Cupra console bushes at special price, PM for a very competitive quote.

03-02-2006, 10:10	#17
LittlePaul Briskodian Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Northampton Posts: 504 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Cam belt change..... lucky escape ! Yeah I guess I could, maybe too quickly assumed that if it was ok for me to have it I'd have been given it. I'm sure it'll be on file, I'll ask for a copy. Yeah - I knew it would be a good service, guessed you'd be doing it. Was expecting you to just change the brake pads rather than just saying they're due, means I have to have another day in MK. Ah well. Was thorogh though. At least you didnt just ignore everything that the manual says to do, like the last dealer appears to! Forgot to mention too that the door-open light keeps coming on whilst driving, but cant work out which catch is knacked. Ah well, will be in for another service before long __________________ Black Magic Octavia vRS, cruise control, towbar, nokia NK-7W, PhatBox, bonnet lifters

03-02-2006, 10:17	#18
noodles Briskodian Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: South UK Posts: 199 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Cam belt change..... lucky escape ! so just when is the 1.8T 4x4 cambelt change recommended then? I tried to decipher the manual last night and it just didnt make sense to me at all! there were lots of different figures in brackets for different models at different intervals. it seemed to suggest the 1.8t needed it replacing at 180,000km which I cant believe. My car has done 53k so should i get the cambelt done at the next service around 60k?

03-02-2006, 10:37	#19
WW_VRS Escorted Estate Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Oxfordshire/Berkshire Posts: 9,721 Thanks: 44 Thanked 68 Times in 59 Posts	Re: Cam belt change..... lucky escape ! IMHO a lot of manufacturers start off with really nice, high figures for changing the cambelt. The joke (?) is that over time the 'when to change' advise tends to come down by a tremendous amount. In any case I'd get it done at 60k miles at the latest, most cars seem to require a cambelt change at 50-70k miles anyway, and as the 60k one is imminent, I'd put up with that extra cost I suppose at the same time. __________________ WW --->> Project Journal (pic links in first post there)

04-02-2006, 19:58	#20
Andyturbo Briskodian Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Cambridge Posts: 24 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Cam belt change..... lucky escape ! from what i can make out on the ocatavia VRS, the cambelts not due til 120k??! Is this right or am i reading the manual wrong? Seems an awful long time to me!

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode