When to change a timing belt on Octavia vRS TDi

[Mysticality]

I think I paid about $1,200 for the service... But call to check. Speak to Matt.

[Socceroo]

Thanks Brad,

I'm currently emailing a NZ supplier of genuine skoda parts who have a flat shipping rate to Aus. I'll let you know how I go.

[brad]

If you buy from OS then generally they don't recognise Skoda except in the UK.

Try these places

Eurocarparts.com

carparts4less.co.uk Try using promo code saveme75 usually gets another 7.5% off

VW Parts - Audi Parts - AVS Car Parts

postage might be an issue though...

[Socceroo]

I did mine at 135,000km due to financial constraints, the belt was a tad stretched but otherwise fine... Car was only about 20 months old at the time though.

Camden GTI did the work

Some idea of prices? Does anyone know where to get kits from non-dealers in Sydney? Are the ebay ones from O/S any good?

[Mysticality]

I did mine at 135,000km due to financial constraints, the belt was a tad stretched but otherwise fine... Car was only about 20 months old at the time though.

Camden GTI did the work

[brad]

Hmmm, I was wondering about this today. I have an 08 Octavia at 119k. The book says change the timing belt at 150k. The suggestions here would suggest ASAP!! Yeh?

Unfortunately, yes. You've got a 120km service due soon - get it done then. Best you start ringing round for estimates as prices vary by about $500. Ask what parts they are changinging - some do the water pump & idler pulleys, some don't.

edit: If you have DSG trans then that is due at 120km as well

[Umai Naa!!]

Correct.

105K or 7 years, whichever comes first.

[Socceroo]

Hmmm, I was wondering about this today. I have an 08 Octavia at 119k. The book says change the timing belt at 150k. The suggestions here would suggest ASAP!! Yeh?

[woofy]

Sorry I meant isn't it a special grade with a long life, ie the genuine coolant.

[MountainBikeMike]

Good work, you just reminded me of why I don't do these bigger jobs anymore....lol...one thing, I thought the coolant was a certain grade made up with distilled water etc as a lifetime fill?

You loose it all from having to do the water pump... I tried to save some but just couldn't be bothered and thought I may as well have new coolant after 120k

[woofy]

Good work, you just reminded me of why I don't do these bigger jobs anymore....lol...one thing, I thought the coolant was a certain grade made up with distilled water etc as a lifetime fill?

[Umai Naa!!]

Good work!

[MountainBikeMike]

Hey guys, bit of an update. After 10 hours of swearing and hurting, I'd finally done the timing belt change myself

For reference:

I got the parts from Skoda Brighton. I called and the guy accidentally gave me the trade price, realized what he'd done, and said he'd just do it anyway. This came to (PLUS TAX):
-Repair kit including belt, rollers, tensioner: $275 (list price $358 )
-Water pump $80 (list price $115)
-Water pump core $65 (refundable upon return of used water pump core)
-1.5L of genuine coolant $20 (list $23) which I'm going to take back, as it wouldn't have been enough, and I ended up buying 5L on concentrate (makes 10L) from Repco for $46 (RACV discount)

My mechanic is very cheap most of the time, and he quoted me $650 labour, which I still didn't like the sound of. I would say difficulty wise, you need to be very switched on, and have a high level of perseverance. You also need an excess of time- that was my biggest struggle, and the major cause of stress (had to get it ready for track day Sunday). But there were a fair few times I couldn't see extra bolts thats weren't listed in the DIY's I used (I used two to cross-check).

I didn't need any really specific tools, I just followed the DIY's that can easily be found by googl'ing "FSI 2.0 TIMING BELT". On there it mentioned the job would take someone with experience 4-5 hours, but set aside 8 hours. Including re-filling coolant and some drive testing, it took ten hours for me. I jacked up the car in the morning and rode to work. Started at 5.30pm Friday and went till 1.30am... Then another 2-3 hours Saturday after work. It wasn't too bad doing the techy bits in the dark. The hardest part was dealing with getting the engine mount up and out of the way. The fuel lines needed to be moved in my Skoda, as well as removing the K&N intake so that I could jack the engine higher. Lots and lots of bolts also have to be removed, so its difficult to remember which is which.

I've now driven it 700km including 50 happy laps of Winton and no dramas at all!

The missy being stuck


And by 1am...


Shot of the belt and all rollers off, and the pump out


All the bits taken out of the side of the engine bay


Old vs New water pump. The guy at the dealer told me to give it a good clean before returning for refund...


Aaaaand the following day


For anyone else game enough to save the dough and learn a sh17load about their engine: GLHF!

[MountainBikeMike]

You can get away with it, but you must be super careful that the cams or crank don't rotate of their own accord once you've taken the belt off.

That must have been what the white markings were for on the diy I posted. A safe guard

[Umai Naa!!]

You can get away with it, but you must be super careful that the cams or crank don't rotate of their own accord once you've taken the belt off.