cambelt warning

jas328sport · 10-01-2007, 16:46

do not put this job off.i have just picked my car up after having mine changed and the mechanic was shocked to see the cambelt in such a bad way after only 4 years and 54k.he said that it was starting to fall apart and i was very lucky to have had it done when i did.the water pump was also starting to crack so i was lucky there as well.total price for the job was £180 so well worth it for piece of mind.
my local dealership is still advertising 5 years or 60k for the cambelt change so i am glad i didnt wait until then

MisterGT · 10-01-2007, 17:25

That seems a very reasonable price for both the cambelt and the waterpump, who did the work ?

Tom_vRS · 10-01-2007, 17:28

I agree, a very good price.

Any chance of a photo showing the condition of the belt?

Ford recommend 100k / 10yrs for mine - I won't be leaving mine that long for sure.

radioone · 10-01-2007, 17:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by jas328sport

my local dealership is still advertising 5 years or 60k for the cambelt change so i am glad i didnt wait until then

I was told that it was 100k when i bought my car, then I was informed that they had reduced it to 80k. Mine is on 75k, so is due to go in, just waiting for one of my mates to get back to me with a price for the parts, then it will be going in next week if all goes will.

so who is correct, 60k or 80k???

Cheers,

Chris

jas328sport · 10-01-2007, 17:58

work was done by my local mechanic who i have used for many years and i no longer trust anyone else.i bought the parts from gsf and he fitted them for me.
no pics of the cambelt but he showed me it and there were loads of threads hanging off of it and he said that the only time that he had seen that much wear was on ones that had already snapped.
as for the time to change,i thought that the vrs was 4 years or 60k which is why i wanted it done as mine is now 4 years old.

TKW · 10-01-2007, 18:00

Just out of interest, is your car kept outside or in a garage? I've noticed a correlation between keeping the car in a garage and the cam belt staying in better condition. Are you going to disprove my theory?

radioone · 10-01-2007, 18:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by jas328sport

work was done by my local mechanic who i have used for many years and i no longer trust anyone else.i bought the parts from gsf and he fitted them for me.
no pics of the cambelt but he showed me it and there were loads of threads hanging off of it and he said that the only time that he had seen that much wear was on ones that had already snapped.
as for the time to change,i thought that the vrs was 4 years or 60k which is why i wanted it done as mine is now 4 years old.

Mine is the 1.9Tdi, so it may be different!!!

Just been phoning round for prices, and have been quoted £125 plus VAT, for all parts and labour, and this is a local garage where they care for a fleet of 9 Octy Taxi's, so, hopefully they know what they are doing!!!

Well, I know the machanic, and he has worked on my car before, so that makes me feel a little better, i think!!!

Chris

jas328sport · 10-01-2007, 18:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by TKW

Just out of interest, is your car kept outside or in a garage? I've noticed a correlation between keeping the car in a garage and the cam belt staying in better condition. Are you going to disprove my theory?

outside so that may well be a factor then.

TKW · 10-01-2007, 18:52

Another tick in my non-randomized, non-controlled study

Javaman · 10-01-2007, 21:59

I recently did some routine maintainance on my 04 Octy 130 tdi - oil, filters - air, pollen etc and I had a look through the schedule and I'm pretty sure the belt on the tdi doesn't need touching till 100K - I would hope the tensioner's automatic!!
This varies greatly model for model but I must admit, I'm gonna get a little sweaty once I'm on the dark side of 90K!!
Maybe I'll check with my local dealer to be on the safe side

Lummox · 10-01-2007, 22:13

The tensioner is manually set on the 04 130 TDi's.

Liverpool-Lad · 10-01-2007, 22:15

You did buy the full cambelt kit and not just the belt itself?

jas328sport · 10-01-2007, 22:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Liverpool-Lad

You did buy the full cambelt kit and not just the belt itself?

yep full kit and only 60 odd quid as well,bargain

Liverpool-Lad · 10-01-2007, 22:41

Good to hear.

FocusZtec · 11-01-2007, 09:13

Thats interesting; I had mine changed by Jabba last year at 27,000 miles (the car was four years old though!) and both the belt and water pump were literally pristine when they came off!

Very strange how there is so much variation. The previous owner did garage the car for the first 19,000 miles so now Im wondering - there may be something in that thinking!

Lee

Morley · 11-01-2007, 14:34

My dealer in Oxfordshire (see other recent post re cambelt) has just quoted me £380 for the belt, tensioners, pulleys and waterpump for a vRS Mk1. VAG have just reduced the recommended time to change to 4 years or 100,000 miles down from 5 years or 112,000 miles. The dealer was encouraging me to change it before I got to 80,000. There also seems to be a huge variation in price to do the work.

Isn't there somebody monitoring this forum who is in the know and can quickly eliminate all these urban myths. This forum is currently full of speculation and hear say which detracts from the appeal of having a useful resource. I don't doubt you are all enthusiast but a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

Maybe there should be a seperate forum for grumpy old men like me then I can leave all you cool dudes to it!

***DGW*** · 11-01-2007, 15:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Morley

Isn't there somebody monitoring this forum who is in the know and can quickly eliminate all these urban myths. This forum is currently full of speculation and hear say which detracts from the appeal of having a useful resource.

What urban myths?

Morley · 11-01-2007, 15:08

Perhaps I should say conflicting information. I'm probably just trying to stir up a reaction.

Liverpool-Lad · 11-01-2007, 16:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by Morley

My dealer in Oxfordshire (see other recent post re cambelt) has just quoted me £380 for the belt, tensioners, pulleys and waterpump for a vRS Mk1. VAG have just reduced the recommended time to change to 4 years or 100,000 miles down from 5 years or 112,000 miles. The dealer was encouraging me to change it before I got to 80,000. There also seems to be a huge variation in price to do the work.

Isn't there somebody monitoring this forum who is in the know and can quickly eliminate all these urban myths. This forum is currently full of speculation and hear say which detracts from the appeal of having a useful resource. I don't doubt you are all enthusiast but a little knowledge is a dangerous thing.

Maybe there should be a seperate forum for grumpy old men like me then I can leave all you cool dudes to it!

£380? Yowch. I had that lot done for £280 at a Skoda dealer!

Id say 4 years is probably the limit Id personally want to go to or 60,000 miles for peace of mind as these things are prone to failing.

2manycars · 11-01-2007, 18:20

Good topic,especially as i am very close to buying a modded VRS at the moment.

The car i am looking at has done about 35k but is a 2001 car,it was supplied and serviced for it's 1 owner by the same main dealer all it's life,and yet it has not had the belt done,so i asked the guy selling it if he would check with his dealer(Surrey),and i would check with mine(Bristol),and they both said it should be done every 4 years irrelevent of miles covered............................suffice to say the owner is a little put out by HIS service manager for not telling him at the 2005 service of this policy,especially as it is now some 16 months overdue for replacement

Lummox · 11-01-2007, 18:46

Nugget · 11-01-2007, 19:22

i did mine on my '01 VRS at 50000, but i always do em early.. better safe than sorry... for a dealer to do it here in Ireland it will cost you 900euros!!!

Javaman · 12-01-2007, 02:11

My official Skoda Service Schedule only mentions mileage for all vehicles - nothing about age. Dealers are bound to make their own recommendations based on experience and/or a desire to denude you of your hard-earned. Guess there's no harm in doing the work early but I'm gonna go with the official Skoda recommendation of 100k for my tdi - I'll punctuate my mileage with a few prayers once I'm in Snapland territory. If the water pump fails early (70k for both my Golfs) then I'll do both jobs at the same time.
I've had a few cars in recent years - VR6 Storm Corrado, Civic TypeR, Golf GTI x2 and still own a 111R Elise - as a tractable and pleasurable everyday drive the Skoda gubs the lot of them quite frankly and another will be definitely on my shopping list once my current steed is pushing up automotive daisies. As for performance, it's easy to drive fast and is every bit as quick as my Golfs which would need a whole handful of revs just to stay with it. It's a pretty big car when all said and done, yet I still average 56mpg and in 45,000 miles, all it's cost me is fuel plus a full set of tyres, oil and filters - done all my own oil changes etc.
Even managed 77mpg Bedford to Sleaford which is a 70mile run. O.K - I drove all the way at 50mph with Hurricaine Katrina up my ring piece, aircon off etc etc but I wouldn't even be able to do that on a motorbike for heaven's sake - This car is the absolute nuts - now the 2.0L oilburner and 146bhp will do me nicely next time thank you!!

Big Mark · 12-01-2007, 02:50

After my recent experiece £200 quid is cheap, the wife was driving, and heard a bang, then the car sounded worse and wasn't as quick, so she managed to get 5 miles before it stopped, looked at the belt, a piece of metal, had got i under the belt and it mashed 3 teeth on the belt causing it to jump, which has since resulted in me buying a new engine at 750, and a few more quid on belt kits, oil and the like, so the motto is, get it changed, its not worth the hassle .

10-01-2007, 16:46	#1
jas328sport Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: bath Posts: 139 Members Car: 52 octavia vrs Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	cambelt warning do not put this job off.i have just picked my car up after having mine changed and the mechanic was shocked to see the cambelt in such a bad way after only 4 years and 54k.he said that it was starting to fall apart and i was very lucky to have had it done when i did.the water pump was also starting to crack so i was lucky there as well.total price for the job was £180 so well worth it for piece of mind. my local dealership is still advertising 5 years or 60k for the cambelt change so i am glad i didnt wait until then

10-01-2007, 17:25	#2
MisterGT Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Okehampton Posts: 792 Members Car: Thanks: 16 Thanked 8 Times in 8 Posts	Re: cambelt warning That seems a very reasonable price for both the cambelt and the waterpump, who did the work ?

10-01-2007, 17:28	#3
Tom_vRS Briskodaholic Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Fenland, Cambridgeshire Posts: 11,542 Members Car: '97R BMW 328i Saloon Thanks: 679 Thanked 433 Times in 310 Posts	Re: cambelt warning I agree, a very good price. Any chance of a photo showing the condition of the belt? Ford recommend 100k / 10yrs for mine - I won't be leaving mine that long for sure. __________________ 97/R BMW 328i in Boston Green.

10-01-2007, 17:58	#5
jas328sport Briskodian Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: bath Posts: 139 Members Car: 52 octavia vrs Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: cambelt warning work was done by my local mechanic who i have used for many years and i no longer trust anyone else.i bought the parts from gsf and he fitted them for me. no pics of the cambelt but he showed me it and there were loads of threads hanging off of it and he said that the only time that he had seen that much wear was on ones that had already snapped. as for the time to change,i thought that the vrs was 4 years or 60k which is why i wanted it done as mine is now 4 years old.

10-01-2007, 18:00	#6
TKW Briskodian Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 968 Members Car: Thanks: 11 Thanked 14 Times in 14 Posts	Re: cambelt warning Just out of interest, is your car kept outside or in a garage? I've noticed a correlation between keeping the car in a garage and the cam belt staying in better condition. Are you going to disprove my theory? __________________ Octavia 4x4

10-01-2007, 18:52	#9
TKW Briskodian Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 968 Members Car: Thanks: 11 Thanked 14 Times in 14 Posts	Re: cambelt warning Another tick in my non-randomized, non-controlled study __________________ Octavia 4x4

10-01-2007, 21:59	#10
Javaman Briskodian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: East Midlands, UK Posts: 26 Members Car: July 04 Octavia Elegance 130 TDi 6-Speed Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: cambelt warning I recently did some routine maintainance on my 04 Octy 130 tdi - oil, filters - air, pollen etc and I had a look through the schedule and I'm pretty sure the belt on the tdi doesn't need touching till 100K - I would hope the tensioner's automatic!! This varies greatly model for model but I must admit, I'm gonna get a little sweaty once I'm on the dark side of 90K!! Maybe I'll check with my local dealer to be on the safe side

10-01-2007, 22:13	#11
Lummox Cupra Bush King Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Newport Pagnell Posts: 22,458 Members Car: Mk2 Golf GTi 16v and building a 20VT MK2. Images: 2 Thanks: 22 Thanked 753 Times in 633 Posts	Re: cambelt warning The tensioner is manually set on the 04 130 TDi's. __________________ www.unit18.co.uk Remapping Service now available, PM for details.

10-01-2007, 22:15	#12
Liverpool-Lad Briskodian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Liverpool Posts: 1,642 Members Car: Octavia vRS Thanks: 12 Thanked 47 Times in 47 Posts	Re: cambelt warning You did buy the full cambelt kit and not just the belt itself? __________________ 2001 Rally Red Octavia vRS...remap complete Whiteline rear ARB, Superpro dogbone bush - 225/45/17 Goodyear Eagle F1 Aysmmetrics and lots of V-Power! Smiles all 'round

10-01-2007, 22:41	#14
Liverpool-Lad Briskodian Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Liverpool Posts: 1,642 Members Car: Octavia vRS Thanks: 12 Thanked 47 Times in 47 Posts	Re: cambelt warning Good to hear. __________________ 2001 Rally Red Octavia vRS...remap complete Whiteline rear ARB, Superpro dogbone bush - 225/45/17 Goodyear Eagle F1 Aysmmetrics and lots of V-Power! Smiles all 'round

11-01-2007, 09:13	#15
FocusZtec Briskodian Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: North London Posts: 815 Members Car: Octy 4x4 1.8T Elegance Hatch Thanks: 27 Thanked 26 Times in 23 Posts	Re: cambelt warning Thats interesting; I had mine changed by Jabba last year at 27,000 miles (the car was four years old though!) and both the belt and water pump were literally pristine when they came off! Very strange how there is so much variation. The previous owner did garage the car for the first 19,000 miles so now Im wondering - there may be something in that thinking! Lee __________________ Thanks to JKM: REVO STAGE 2+ remap, Evoms CAI, Piper Turbo back Exhaust, Autotech Fuel Pump, Torque Arm Insert, Forge Recirc, Neuspeed Turbo & Intercooler pipes, APR FMIC, Iridium plugs, Koni FSD's, Eibach springs, Eibach F + R anti roll bars. VF short shifter. 345mm Brakes. 280BHP & 330LB/FT - enough room for a proper trip to B&Q and 36mpg on a run!!!

11-01-2007, 14:34	#16
Morley Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Oxfordshire Posts: 95 Members Car: Unmodified Octavia vRS Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: cambelt warning My dealer in Oxfordshire (see other recent post re cambelt) has just quoted me £380 for the belt, tensioners, pulleys and waterpump for a vRS Mk1. VAG have just reduced the recommended time to change to 4 years or 100,000 miles down from 5 years or 112,000 miles. The dealer was encouraging me to change it before I got to 80,000. There also seems to be a huge variation in price to do the work. Isn't there somebody monitoring this forum who is in the know and can quickly eliminate all these urban myths. This forum is currently full of speculation and hear say which detracts from the appeal of having a useful resource. I don't doubt you are all enthusiast but a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. Maybe there should be a seperate forum for grumpy old men like me then I can leave all you cool dudes to it!

11-01-2007, 15:08	#18
Morley Briskodian Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Oxfordshire Posts: 95 Members Car: Unmodified Octavia vRS Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: cambelt warning Perhaps I should say conflicting information. I'm probably just trying to stir up a reaction.

11-01-2007, 18:20	#20
2manycars Briskodian Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 33 Members Car: Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Re: cambelt warning Good topic,especially as i am very close to buying a modded VRS at the moment. The car i am looking at has done about 35k but is a 2001 car,it was supplied and serviced for it's 1 owner by the same main dealer all it's life,and yet it has not had the belt done,so i asked the guy selling it if he would check with his dealer(Surrey),and i would check with mine(Bristol),and they both said it should be done every 4 years irrelevent of miles covered............................suffice to say the owner is a little put out by HIS service manager for not telling him at the 2005 service of this policy,especially as it is now some 16 months overdue for replacement

11-01-2007, 18:46	#21
Lummox Cupra Bush King Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Newport Pagnell Posts: 22,458 Members Car: Mk2 Golf GTi 16v and building a 20VT MK2. Images: 2 Thanks: 22 Thanked 753 Times in 633 Posts	Re: cambelt warning edit __________________ www.unit18.co.uk Remapping Service now available, PM for details. Last edited by Lummox; 21-01-2007 at 21:30.

11-01-2007, 19:22	#22
Nugget Briskodian Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Ireland Posts: 8 Members Car: 01' Octavia vRS Black - Standard Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: cambelt warning i did mine on my '01 VRS at 50000, but i always do em early.. better safe than sorry... for a dealer to do it here in Ireland it will cost you 900euros!!!

12-01-2007, 02:11	#23
Javaman Briskodian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: East Midlands, UK Posts: 26 Members Car: July 04 Octavia Elegance 130 TDi 6-Speed Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: cambelt warning My official Skoda Service Schedule only mentions mileage for all vehicles - nothing about age. Dealers are bound to make their own recommendations based on experience and/or a desire to denude you of your hard-earned. Guess there's no harm in doing the work early but I'm gonna go with the official Skoda recommendation of 100k for my tdi - I'll punctuate my mileage with a few prayers once I'm in Snapland territory. If the water pump fails early (70k for both my Golfs) then I'll do both jobs at the same time. I've had a few cars in recent years - VR6 Storm Corrado, Civic TypeR, Golf GTI x2 and still own a 111R Elise - as a tractable and pleasurable everyday drive the Skoda gubs the lot of them quite frankly and another will be definitely on my shopping list once my current steed is pushing up automotive daisies. As for performance, it's easy to drive fast and is every bit as quick as my Golfs which would need a whole handful of revs just to stay with it. It's a pretty big car when all said and done, yet I still average 56mpg and in 45,000 miles, all it's cost me is fuel plus a full set of tyres, oil and filters - done all my own oil changes etc. Even managed 77mpg Bedford to Sleaford which is a 70mile run. O.K - I drove all the way at 50mph with Hurricaine Katrina up my ring piece, aircon off etc etc but I wouldn't even be able to do that on a motorbike for heaven's sake - This car is the absolute nuts - now the 2.0L oilburner and 146bhp will do me nicely next time thank you!! Last edited by Javaman; 12-01-2007 at 02:20.

12-01-2007, 02:50	#24
Big Mark Briskodian Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 15 Members Car: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: cambelt warning After my recent experiece £200 quid is cheap, the wife was driving, and heard a bang, then the car sounded worse and wasn't as quick, so she managed to get 5 miles before it stopped, looked at the belt, a piece of metal, had got i under the belt and it mashed 3 teeth on the belt causing it to jump, which has since resulted in me buying a new engine at 750, and a few more quid on belt kits, oil and the like, so the motto is, get it changed, its not worth the hassle .

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