OT timing belt replacement

[pcb1962]

I just had to have my VW done at 4 years, Skoda are probably using the same engines these days. They have another scam awaiting you - when you book it in for the timing belt change they'll tell you that you really should have the water pump changed at the same time - that'll be another 100 quid please. This is because in their infinite wisdom VW have decided that instead of driving the water pump off the fan belt like it's been done forever they drive it off the timing belt, and when they put in a nice tight new timing belt the water pump bearings will collapse under the strain, and instead of that being the half hour job it would be on any sensible car it's another 800 quid. I was sceptical but I googled it and they are right, it does happen. In the end I got it done under a special offer, 399 for timing belt and water pump which wasn't too bad compared to the original quote.

[Jules Richardson]

Vauxhall seemed to favour interference designs at one point (and may still do) - I've known belts to let go on a couple of Astras that belonged to friends, and a Belmont that my father had. Those all went at low RPM too (coincidence?) and caused similar levels of damage.

Indeed. Or not at all, depending on the design.

cheers

Jules

[SteveW]

Of two Astras that I've driven, both company cars, both 1995, recommended change intervals of 60,000 miles and both failed, wrecking the top-end, at 37,000. BTW, it wasn't my driving style, as both failed just before I started working there and after repair ended up as my company cars at different times!

SteveW

[brass monkey]

It's difficult to tell what to do, I bought an old camper, only 18k on the clock but 15 years old, still on the original belt. I got it changed PDQ but then, the cowboys? who changed it may have caused it to crash within the next 18 months (we'll see). I've used these cowboys? for 40+ years and know that they have insurance to cover such probs. You pays yer money and errrr pays yer money. What experience do they have? How many belts do they change? Do they have the correct tensioning kit? Does "the kid" do it or someone with a clue etc etc. Also, they order the belt, it gets delivered, if they don't check the number of teeth you're gonna be up shit creek - sorry sir, we found that the whelping wheel was out of kilter and has screwed your engine.

[brass monkey]

There's always -

maybe another bunch of cowboys.

[F Murtz]

find out whether it is an interference engine or not, one type no damage when belts break, the other usually has damage. It is to do with whether the valves hit the piston when out of synch.

[Tim+]

belts break,

Are there any of those left (non-interference engines)? I was under the impression that all modern engines were now interference engines.

Tim

[Terry Fields]

At one time SWMBO had a couple of FIRE-engined Fiat Pandas. Each one had a belt go (at low speeds as others have noted). These engines were non-interference, so it was just a case of calling the rescue squad and having the car taken to the local friendly independent.

Although at one time she was beetling down the motorway and the engine lost most of its power. She called the rescue squad and had the car towed home. The belt was fine, but as AFAICS it had slipped by about three teeth. I drove it to the garage - which was fun, as there was only one combination of choke setting, throttle opening, and engine revs at which it produced any power. The mechanic was amazed...but the car was back on the road in minutes. Never got to the bottom of that one.

As this is a DIY group, I'm sorry to say that after 50 years of doing my own servicing, I now ring up the dealer as the MoT window approaches, and some nice person collects the car and brings it back at the end of the day with it all done (including wash and interior valet) for another year.

I would like to get away from having cars with a cam-belt engine, though.

Terry Fields

[Bill Taylor]

Yep. I got £400 for my 12 year old 260,000 mile Octavia. Which was £400 more than I expected.

[Mike Barnes]

alan :

I understand that in this case the work is recommended by the manufacturer, so the dealer is not the one to go pointing a finger at.

[Onetap]

On Saturday, September 15, 2012 1:36:45 PM UTC+1, geoff wrote: =20

Petrol in the tank would make it worthless. It's a diesel.

Ask on the Briskoda forum. There's a recommended mileage/age.=20

Lots of taxi drivers use Octavias, they seem to last a long time. I've fo= und Skoda dealers to be amongst the shiftiest, most devious con artists I'v= e encountered, but I avoid main dealers like an incurable plague.

I enquired about a key fob that seemed to open the windows at random.=20 Main Dealer; "Yes, that indicates that the battery in the key fob has nearl= y expired, would you like us to change it for you?" Me (detecting the old 'had-to-reprogramme-the-key-fob-for-another-=A350, s= ir' scam on the horizon'); No, thanks.

On reading the manual later, I find that holding the open button causes a= ll the windows to open and vice versa for holding the close button. The key= fob battery was unchanged 3 years later.

[Chris Bartram]

belts break,

This one most certainly is.

[Chris Bartram]

On 15/09/12 19:30, pcb1962 wrote: This is

VW have done this for *years*. (since at least 1974) So have Vauxhall, IIRC.

It's actually more the case that the pump is cheap (£35 ish). If it fails with collapsed bearings, it strips the teeth off the belt, so damages the engine. If you have the car apart to change the belt, a good proportion of the work to change the pump is done, so it's a false economy not to change it at today's labour rates.

[F]

It's the same with MG TFs. Change the water pump when you change the cam belt. Extra labour costs are minimal.

[Tony Bryer]

I had two Skodas back in the UK, a Favorit and a VW-era Felicia. Paid £6400 for the latter and sold it to another Skoda dealer for £4000 after three years, warranty work nil.

More recently when deciding to buy a car here I had a Fabia Wagon on my shortlist but didn't pursue this after reading some horrendous posts re servicing costs and the potential cost of replacing DSG transmissions. And they're not a cheap car any more - a 77TSI auto wagon driveaway price is around A$28K, say £18,000.

[geoff]

OK substitute "Petrol" for "fuel" - happy ?

[Dave Plowman (News)]

It's a very unusual engine design which isn't interference. Even my old pushrod Rover V8 - designed in the '60s - will allow the valves to hit the pistons if the timing chain breaks. Luckily, this is almost unknown on pushrod engines.

[The Natural Philosopher]

I think that if you delve into it, its an intersting area. Combustion chamber design has changed radically with some engines having it almost remote from the main piston area, and valves are now larger and have variable timing as well..and turbochargers mean you can start with a lower compression engine anyway which leaves more room for valves.

Pushrod engines bent the rods or the rockers. Todays OHC and alloy rocker heads just break the rockers instead and may bend valve stems. Thy knock out with the valve guides so repair is not so bad.

Piston failure and bent conrods are less common than is supposed - in timing belt failure. You get that more if a big end lets go :-)

[Andy Champ]

Don't see why it should be any different to anything else they make - VW, Audi, Skoda, Seat, Bentley or Bugatti (IIRC)

Skoda aren't the eastern block rubbish they were 30 years ago. Or at least I hope they aren't as my Mum just bought one on my suggestion...

Andy

[Dave Liquorice]

All routine service intervals I have ever seen have stated similar.