Does my cambelt need changing ?

[MV-IXIUS]

My fabia vrs has just reached 40000 miles and the service light has come on, so i sent for a quote from my local skoda dealer,here's the reply

Thank you for your enquiry regarding a quote for your Service, please find below the details requested -

Fabia - HK05 NKU - 40K Service = £310.22 inc VAT.

The 40K Service would include an oil and filter change, fuel filter, air filter, pollen filter and screen wash.

Your vehicle may also be due a Brake Fluid Change, which is recommended every 2 years. The cost of a brake fluid change would be £54.97 inc VAT.

We offer free courtesy cars or a collection and delivery service to help while your vehicle is being worked on. We do ask you to book in advance to ensure availability.

We also have our Reward Card which I have attached details about, this entitles you to a £20 discount off your service and a free MOT when it is due, along with many other discounts and benefits. The Reward Card is completely free to apply and has no hidden charges.

I have read that it needs changing at 60000 miles or 4 years whichever comes first, well the car is 4 years old in august, so does it need changing? surely skoda would know ? and is that a resonable quote, my 30000 service was only £190 from the same garage.

And how long could i leave it for before getting the service carried out, moneys very tight at the moment ?

Many thanks,

MV

[Neily03]

Do a search, this question gets asked atleast once every day.

[MV-IXIUS]

I did and it left me even more confused, some say 40000 or 4 years some say 60000, and some say 75000 miles,:confused: my legs are old and bent, my ears are grizzled, my nose is knackered, and my search fu is weak

[mikec]

you should be safe until you reach the 60k mark - however on my 53 plate fabia i had to get the belt changed early due to a tensioner bearing starting to fail (about 45k)

[ultra_joel88]

4 years or 60,000 miles

[Conshine]

4 years or 60,000 miles

....um, yea, what he said

[Kiss_my_VRS]

Noticed your car is 4 years old and will now no longer be covered by the dealer warranty unless you have an extended warranty.

So I would shop around in regards to your 40,000 mile service quote as many independent garages will use genuine VAG parts and come in much cheaper than the dealer.

Had my cambelt and waterpump changed as well as a full 60,000 mile service 2 weeks ago for £310.

In regards to the cambelt due to wear and tear and life expectancy of the parts I would get it changed, that alone will cost £300 from the dealer.

Just my 2p worth.

[Tech1e]

Noticed your car is 4 years old and will now no longer be covered by the dealer warranty unless you have an extended warranty.

So I would shop around in regards to your 40,000 mile service quote as many independent garages will use genuine VAG parts and come in much cheaper than the dealer.

Had my cambelt and waterpump changed as well as a full 60,000 mile service 2 weeks ago for £310.

In regards to the cambelt due to wear and tear and life expectancy of the parts I would get it changed, that alone will cost £300 from the dealer.

Just my 2p worth.

Why would his warranty have anything to do with using an independant??

[viewer]

A good independant will also charge about £300 for a cambelt. Not worth the risk of trying to save on this item. See posts on changing water pump at same time. If you have a good relationship with the dealer and trust them then why change? My local dealer is a """", but this should not suggest that all are in this box.

[Conshine]

A good independant will also charge about £300 for a cambelt. Not worth the risk of trying to save on this item. See posts on changing water pump at same time. If you have a good relationship with the dealer and trust them then why change? My local dealer is a """", but this should not suggest that all are in this box.

Yes, but if I was closer to where somebody like Lummox is, I'd have him do my services & belts.

I'd sooner give money to a smaller good quality outfit than the dealer.

[Kiss_my_VRS]

Why would his warranty have anything to do with using an independant??

Hi Lummox, I thought that taking it to an independant would void the warranty or is that just a myth dealers use to keep your business.

[Tech1e]

Hi Lummox, I thought that taking it to an independant would void the warranty or is that just a myth dealers use to keep your business.

No dealers should be telling you that. As long as...

They are VAT registered

They use parts made in the EU

They carry out the work as per manufacturers specifications

It wont effect warranty.

For now.

[giandougl]

Hello MV-IXIUS

When my 2005 Fabia VRS reached 38.000miles in January 2009, I replaced Air,Fuel,Pollen and Oil filters costing £39.00 c/o E.Bay.

Engine oil 5 litres from "Halfords" their own brand, fully synthetic 5W40 VW 505.01 spec £36.00.

Screen wash ready-made-up 5 litres £3.99, 1/2 litre power steering oil £6.00.

Gear-box oil 1 litre fully synthetic 75W90 £10.00.

Rest of servicing is simply checking for trouble, ie:- split rubbers on drive shafts/brake hoses etc, and lubricating hinges/locks etc.

All this can be done DIY.

Parts about £96

Labour free.

As to Auxillary (alternator belt) inspect for rips or tears otherwise leave another 10,000/ 12 months.

Cambelt/tensioners etc, and Auxillary Belt, I shall leave till 5 years/ or 50,000 miles when I shall let garage replace both and the water pump (because of access).

The changing of the Cambelt is not quite clear as Skoda have moved the goal posts since I bought my car from new.

The huge range is from 40 to 60, 000 miles which puts most cars 4 to 5 years old.

If the belt broke, the costs would be enormous, and would far exceed an earlier belt replacement/change.

I have had brake fluid changed at 2 years and shall do the same at 2nd MOT in June 2009 at 4 years.

Independant garage quoted £35.00 for brake fluid change alone. Skoda dealership wanted £45.00+ VAT

Bought a litre of brake fluid DOT 4 spec, £3.91inc.VAT usng one-way bleed-valve and a friend saved at least £40.00.

Mileage and age of your Cambelt must be considered, and being able to sleep at night, LOL, if you do have a new Cambelt belt fitted have a new Auxillary belt as well, as they must remove the Auxillary belt to get to the Cambelt.

To save further money, also get water pump changed, because again of access, the costs would be almost the same again.

Good Luck. Ian. 21/03/2009

Edited 8 July, 2009 by giandougl

[gadgetman]

I wouldnt skimp on the cambelt & aux belt.

IF they fail, it'll cost you a lot more to put right. I know people who've had failures long before a recommended change and no warning signs of damage.

You're gamble.

[dadoc2001]

I bought my '05 54 plate just last week and this was the question on my tongue. Having scrolled through the service book and the fully documented history and printouts supplied with the car I noticed that the one thing missing was the cambelt/waterpump change.

I phoned the dealership (Parks Skoda Hamilton) that had looked after the car for the past 4 years to be told that it was recommended at 5years or 60k - the fact the car had just turned 4 years and less than 30k meant it shouldnt/wouldnt need changed yet. To be absolutely sure I phoned another Dealership (Henrys Skoda) in the area and they told me (almost) the same thing (5yr/80k:eek:).

If you are concerned/worried about it in any way then I suggest you get it done for piece of mind. And certainly try to find a VAG specialist to do the work as they will follow the service routine and do an as good - if not better- job than the dealership. Ding it in this way wwll help your wallet yet not have an adverse affect on the cars residuals.

[rainbow-walker]

Why on earth do Skoda make this so confusing.

Agree with above post that 4 years or 60K is the accepted time, but I have a letter from my dealer recently with the following in CAPITALS.

"WE HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED BY SKODA UK, TO ADVISE TIMING BELTS TO BE CHANGED AT 4 YEARS OR 80000 MILES WHICH EVER COMES SOONER. DEPENDING ON THE ENGINE CODE"

RBW

[loskie]

Why not contact skoda technical via the website quoting your engine code and ask them for a definitive answer.

[Tech1e]

Why on earth do Skoda make this so confusing.

Agree with above post that 4 years or 60K is the accepted time, but I have a letter from my dealer recently with the following in CAPITALS.

"WE HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED BY SKODA UK, TO ADVISE TIMING BELTS TO BE CHANGED AT 4 YEARS OR 80000 MILES WHICH EVER COMES SOONER. DEPENDING ON THE ENGINE CODE"

RBW

Skoda don't make it confusing.

The workshop system we use is called ELSA. You input data on ELSA from the car and it gives you all the service schedules for that car inc cambelt replacements.

By the book some (if not all) ASZ engined Fabia vRS's are 80k. Some dealers prefer to advise earlier. but the only way to be 100% sure is to download the current data from Skoda.

[Conshine]

I'm sticking to the 60k limit as this will always come up sooner than 4 years.

Peace of mind too....