Skoda 03 starting to cost a lot

Dinky22

Got my car serviced recently. New brakes done last year. Was told I needed, I think, a timing something or other. Was told it would cost 450 euro for a days work. This was at Pitstop. I have a Skoda '03. Can't avail of scrappage as 9 years old. Can't really afford this at the present time. Any advice please?.

Mr.Boots

Maybe give a bit more info on car...milage, engine size etc.

Tragedy

You can't afford a timing belt change but you can afford a new car if you get scrappage?

Whut?

Nonoperational

If you can't afford €450 for a timing belt then it might be unwise to spend €10k+ on a new car.

All cars need maintaining, granted a new one will be ok for a few years but it will still need servicing and after you do the timing belt then your Skoda may be ok for years with just oil changes.

Edit: beaten to it...

Will you be able to afford it in a month or two? Just save up and hope it doesn't snap. It's unlikely to do so unless its well over due.

taintabird

gpf101 wrote: »

If you can't afford €450 for a timing belt then it might be unwise to spend €10k+ on a new car.

All cars need maintaining, granted a new one will be ok for a few years but it will still need servicing and after you do the timing belt then your Skoda may be ok for years with just oil changes.

Edit: beaten to it...

+1 and if you don't replace your timing belt you could quit possibly wind up replaceable your engine if it snaps you will be looking at a €1000 + at that stage

-Corkie-

Timing belt must be changed. I know a guy with a 07 A4 2.0 TDI I told him the belt was overdue and he told me he could not afford it. He could go drinking 3-4 nights a week though. The belt broke anyway and the engine is totally Fcuked now..:rolleyes:

shamwari

-Corkie- wrote: »

Timing belt must be changed. I know a guy with a 07 A4 2.0 TDI I told him the belt was overdue and he told me he could not afford it. He could go drinking 3-4 nights a week though. The belt broke anyway and the engine is totally Fcuked now..:rolleyes:

Hard to feel any sympathy for someone who ignores fundamentally good advice like that.

OP, €450 for a belt replacement on an Octavia (which should include the waterpump too) is not only par for the course with this type of car, but is also money wisely spent.

x in the city

since when does a 07 audi have a belt..?

I thought all modern cars got chains...

x in the city

x in the city wrote: »

I thought all modern cars got chains...

You thought wrong

Dinky22

Thanks for all your replies. The engine size is 1.4 and the mileage is approx just 11,000. Garage didn't say how urgent it was just that it needed to be replaced. I take great care of my Skoda. I get full service every year. Paid a lot 3 years ago when it had electrical problems with windows and got brakes done last year. I had other cars for many years and never heard of a timing belt to be replaced. Is it something peculiar to the Skoda I wonder?. I really like the Skoda but costs are adding up now for a car with such low mileage.

-Corkie-

AFAIK it do not need the belt done at that mileage... 11k on a 03!!!!

Dinky22

Thanks Corkie. I thought that too and I said it to garage. They said that "mileage didn't matter that it was the year of the car that mattered".

Tragedy

-Corkie- wrote: »

AFAIK it do not need the belt done at that mileage... 11k on a 03!!!!

All belts need to be replaced after both a time interval and a mileage interval, whichever comes first.

However, belts are far far far far far less likely to go due to age than mileage. Still, better safe than sorry.

OP, get a price for waterpump+belts at a good Independent garage. Be surprised if you couldn't get it done for €350 or under.

-Corkie-

Tragedy wrote: »

All belts need to be replaced after both a time interval and a mileage interval, whichever comes first.

However, belts are far far far far far less likely to go due to age than mileage. Still, better safe than sorry.

I was thinking that too.

bazz26

If that is the original belt then it is 8 years old. The belt is made of rubber which perishes over time as well as usage. It can vary from manufacturer to manufacturer but afaik on VAG cars the timing belt needs to be changed every 60k miles or 5 years, which ever comes first.

I'd find the €450 otherwise you may be stuck with a larger bill for an engine rebuild or replacement.

unkel

RoverJames wrote: »

hope it doesn't snap. It's unlikely to do so unless its well over due.

As bazz26 suggested, it's 3 years overdue

Agree with your point though. It would be a bit extreme to stop driving the car because it's due a belt. The OP would be unlucky if it snapped in the next few weeks, but he shouldn't come crying here if it does

BTW a main dealer will do the belt for about €450, a local mechanic is unlikely to charge more than about €300 so there's a nice saving for the OP

coolbeans

Dinky22 wrote: »

Got my car serviced recently. New brakes done last year. Was told I needed, I think, a timing something or other. Was told it would cost 450 euro for a days work. This was at Pitstop. I have a Skoda '03. Can't avail of scrappage as 9 years old. Can't really afford this at the present time. Any advice please?.

Whatever else, you're guaranteeing the highest price possible by going to Advance Pitstop. I have found them uncompetitive and incompetent in the past.

Dinky22

Dinky22 wrote: »

............. and the mileage is approx just 11,000. ................... and got brakes done last year. I had other cars for many years and never heard of a timing belt to be replaced.

brakes at 11K miles? That's a bit strange. What needed doing? Pads?

Dinky22

I suppose it was the brake pads. I was disappointed when I brought the Skoda back to same Pitstop this time for its service that they said that the "brake were screeching". They obviously forgot they had done my brakes last year. I rang them a few days later and they just said - take it back some and we will oil them (or something like that) for you free of change.

Skuxx

First off I'd forget taking it to pitstop and go pretty much anywhere else, probly save €100 doing that alone!

-Corkie-

AAAGGGHHH here those boys are trying to shaft you. Get yourself a good indy mechanic..

Skuxx

-Corkie- wrote: »

AAAGGGHHH here those boys are trying to shaft you. Get yourself a good indy mechanic..

They shaft everybody! Bring in a tyre to get a puncture fixed and they are guranteed to try convince you that you need 4 brand new tyres!! They're crooks the lot of 'em!!

Dinky22

Dinky22 wrote: »

I rang them a few days later and they just said - take it back some and we will oil them (or something like that) for you free of change.

At 11K miles I would be amazed if the pads were worn, if they were actually screeching after the clowns on Advance were at them they may well just require copper grease on the back of them. My Dad has 36K on a 1999 Hyundai Accent and it's on the original pads.

As others have said Advance are not known for being reasonably priced or for being good.

Skuxx

Dinky22 wrote: »

I suppose it was the brake pads. I was disappointed when I brought the Skoda back to same Pitstop this time for its service that they said that the "brake were screeching" .

And could you actually hear the brakes screeching?

ronaldo84

Dinky22 wrote: »

the mileage is approx just 11,000.

christ thats low. has to stand for something on resale. price other garages bet you can get the timing belt done at least 100 euro cheaper. as for da brakes they probaly arent broken in

Dinky22

I honestly can't say that I heard the screeching as I listen to the radio. I was told last year that I needed 2 new tyres which supprised me as well. I am now beginning to feel like an utter FOOL - They saw me coming!

Skuxx

Dinky22 wrote: »

I honestly can't say that I heard the screeching as I listen to the radio. I was told last year that I needed 2 new tyres which supprised me as well. I am now beginning to feel like an utter FOOL - They saw me coming!

2 new tyres with 11k on the clock?? Tyres should be good for atleast 50k depending on
driving style!!
If the brakes were screetchin I'm fairly sure you would have heard them even with the radio!!

alan1990

alan1990 wrote: »

Tyres should be good for atleast 50k depending on

50K miles for tyres on the front of a fwd car, not a hope.
50K kilometre on the front of a fwd car, maybe if the thing was driven very gently on mainly long spins and it had f all torque.

bazz26

Dinky22 wrote: »

I honestly can't say that I heard the screeching as I listen to the radio. I was told last year that I needed 2 new tyres which supprised me as well. I am now beginning to feel like an utter FOOL - They saw me coming!

Amazing how they always seem to recommend changing things that they happend to sell.

maidhc

bazz26 wrote: »

Amazing how they always seem to recommend changing things that they happend to sell.

Well said.