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I have a 2004 Fabia fitted with a 100bhp (74kW) BBZ engine which follows the QG0 service schedule. This is the 16v DOHC petrol unit. My dealler recommended that I should change the belt at 40,000 hours or 4 years. My manual states 80,000 miles, and my Haynes manual states 60,000 miles, without any time limit. I called Skoda U.K and they could not offer any official service bulletin, and could not explain technically why the expected service life of the belt had been halfed, and a time limit put on its life either. Skoda U.K said that the dealler network had access via their internet portal to skoda service information that Skoda U.K were not prevy too. Does anyone know who is the technical authority on these engines, and who has issued this life reduction? I will have the belt changed if it is at risk of failure, but I'm relucatnt to if this recommednation is just a money making ploy by Skoda service sales based on little evidence of actual failures. I would welcome any useful comments people have.
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I would welcome any useful comments people have.
This sort of thing makes me hate all importers and dealers!
But being pragmatic about it, the car is 5years old. How long are you thinking of keeping it? If a change would fall within your period of ownership anyway, then it doesn't make a lot of difference when you get it done.
It only becomes an issue if you get forced in to an un-neccessary change, or perhaps a second one.
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My feelings with regard to VAG UK's recommendations, which are not matched anywhere else in the world to my knowledge are stated above - it's a scam.
Icalled Skoda U.K and they could not offer any official service bulletin and could not explain technically why the expected service life of the belt had been halfed and a time limit put on its life either. Skoda U.K said that the dealler network had access via their internet portal to skoda service information that Skoda U.K were not prevy
Well done - you've rumbled them - did you ever hear such unlikely utter rubbish?
Speaking completely generally I would recommend that a DOHC engine with both cams belt driven (which gives unfavourable belt wrap angles and tempts makers to use belt wheels which are too small) should have a full belt kit fitted after 50k miles or 5 years. This is playing pretty safe, unless your particular engine is a known belt-smasher.
Factor your belt change interval according to the anticipated total mileage within your period of ownership. An early belt change may not result in any more cost to you and will slightly lower the risk factor. If your engine has a belt driven water pump, change that too. I'm not familiar with the VAG petrol engines, only the diesels.
659.
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i know i am going slightly off topic manufacturer wise but how can skoda(vw) only get a belt that has a supposed life of 40,000 or 4 years, when ford recommend 10 years or 100.000 mls on there zetec engines , i had mine done (73k 10 years) including tensioners in February along with a new alternator belt £110 all in , so if one can do it why cant all manufacturers, must be a german thing , are bmw not very similar on there belt schedules as someone wrote earlier easy money from the motorist
Edited by mark.b on 29/09/2009 at 14:23
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I asked several times regarding my 05GolfTDi - each time, the answer back was "computer says 80k" so that was when the belt and tensioner was changed. The '40k/4years' was explained as being general advice when specific recommendation was not available...
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