Cambelt Service Interval - FR184

[Kaiju]

I know there have been posts in the past, but I'm getting mixed messages. When should I be replacing my cambelt (and water pump)?

I've seen
5 years / 70,000 miles
7 years / 120,000 miles
I've even seen as high as 140,000?

I've seen other posts where seat dealers are saying 5 years, but then others who have had their dealers say 140,000? My local dealer has also said 5 years but hasn't specified a mileage limit.

What is the true time and mileage limit for the cambelt to be replaced?

 

[BillyCool]

I was told 5 years or `up to` 120,000 miles.

I agree that there seems to be some variation in advice given.

 

[Sean Ryan]

My seat dealer who I last serviced the car with, (didn't buy it from them originally) said 5 years or 200'000km. (125'000miles for those who still measure things using 2000 year old Roman footsteps)

 

[black_sheep]

The workshop guides are here:

General maintenance - Leon Mk3 Official Seat Workshop Manuals Link

Hi All! I obtained these a few months ago, and they've been a great use so far. Here's a link to all of the Seat Workshop manuals for the Leon Mk3 3dr/5dr. https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1M4ofxxMgsFjE7hNWg6l4KuifelmdMUu0?usp=sharing...

www.seatcupra.net

Have a look at the maintenance document:

210000 km (c.130k miles, but had 140k miles quoted by Skoda and SEAT with this engine). Note that no time limit - this is imposed by UK and is set at 5 years.

 

[SteveW]

Mine is five years old in January, with around 62,000 miles - but I've decided I'm just going to get it done after Christmas. £588 at Seat for the cam belt and water pump change, but guaranteed for five years. Normally I wouldn't bother and would take it to a trusted independent garage, but the extra money is probably worth it for the five years peace of mind in this instance?

 

[black_sheep]

Mine is five years old in January, with around 62,000 miles - but I've decided I'm just going to get it done after Christmas. £588 at Seat for the cam belt and water pump change, but guaranteed for five years. Normally I wouldn't bother and would take it to a trusted independent garage, but the extra money is probably worth it for the five years peace of mind in this instance?

The cost between the dealer and independent VAG specialist isn’t much to be honest, and most dealers will price match any local garage completing the task with VAG approved spares.

In terms of the 5 yr guarantee, as stated above, there is no time limit on the belt in other markets so it is a good incentive to keep you in the dealer network. However, it was the water pump on very early 2013/14 models was the weak link in the system.

 

[SteveW]

The cost between the dealer and independent VAG specialist isn’t much to be honest, and most dealers will price match any local garage completing the task with VAG approved spares.

In terms of the 5 yr guarantee, as stated above, there is no time limit on the belt in other markets so it is a good incentive to keep you in the dealer network. However, it was the water pump on very early 2013/14 models was the weak link in the system.

I did find this with regard to servicing cost, I'm getting a full service done at a trusted independent later this week and it's only going to be around £30 difference between them and Seat, but I do trust them and although they're not the cheapest around they have been going for years and very rarely have a bad word said about them. My dad has used them for 30 plus years! I usually use a small one man type garage local to where I work and he's been brilliant for the six years I've used him, but given that I'm working from home now it's inconvenient to get to him 24 miles away from where I live.

The one advantage of using the indy over Seat is I don't have to then explain to them that I don't want them washing my car

I've budgeted for the dealer to do the cam belt anyway so will probably go ahead with it, just to keep the paranoia away

 

[RUM4MO]

Just make sure that you are getting your car serviced in accordance of the SEAT outlined do's and don't's if you don't then I'd think that in the event of you needing to make sure of that 5 warranty on parts and labour you would need to "sing for your money".

 

[Speedbird]

Just had the cam belt and water pump replaced on my 65 plate, 58k mile Leon 184 TDI. £475 at Midland VW. Personally I wouldn't let a Seat garage do the work, much prefer a reputable independent specialist.

 

[SuperV8]

Just done my own cambelt/water pump/coolant @ 91K miles and 6 years.
The idler bearings would spin for ages but no play, and the tensioner pulley had some slight play, the back of the belt had hairline cracks and the water pump sheild action felt a little sticky/not very positive (could imagine this getting stuck at some point - which seems a common issue). The coolant had a fair amount of particles in it, however it was still pink - hadn't gone brown.

All in all, glad I did this now and wouldn't want to wait another 40K miles.

 

[SteveW]

Just had the cam belt and water pump replaced on my 65 plate, 58k mile Leon 184 TDI. £475 at Midland VW. Personally I wouldn't let a Seat garage do the work, much prefer a reputable independent specialist.

What's your reasoning for not going to Seat? Main dealer's reputations not always being the best? I must admit I have no idea how good our local Seat dealer is - the only experience I have of them is when I took the step son down to get his 20 plate Ibiza FR Sport Motability car in July. Oh and the fact that they never bothered to call me back when I was asking for prices of service and MOT for my Leon last month, hence why it's now booked into the independent garage I mentioned earlier in the thread!

I'm in two minds the more I think about it. I've always steered clear of using main dealers in the past, but then most of my cars have been quite old when I've bought them so there seems little point using the main dealer.

The only reason I was thinking of going to Seat was for the warranty - but I guess if the job is done properly using genuine parts by a trusted independent then it should last the five years it's supposed to anyway?

I've got about a month before it hits 5 years old, so I have a few weeks to think about it......

 

[Kaiju]

I'm struggling to make a decision. Do I go with a SEAT main dealer for £549 or use a friend, who I trust completely, to do the job with original VAG parts? It would probably save me in the region of £200.

Is there much incentive for this 5 year guarantee the dealer provides? What could go wrong, other than wear and tear which they wouldn't cover?

 

[SuperV8]

Judging that Seat state:

Exclusions from Warranty
Accepting our standard warranty terms; Enhanced Cambelt Warranty claims are excluded in cases where the claim is directly related to:

• Failure of the water pump.
• Failure of ancillary drive belts.
• Outside influences, contamination or associated items causing the failure of the cambelt kit components and related parts.
• The customer failing to act as soon as it became apparent following on an advisory or reported defect made aware to them, that has a direct impact on the cambelt kit components and related parts, or not allowing the required repairs to be carried out as soon as possible.

I'm sure the majority of timing belt failures are water pump related and they are saying this is excluded from their warranty!

 

[SteveW]

Judging that Seat state:

Exclusions from Warranty
Accepting our standard warranty terms; Enhanced Cambelt Warranty claims are excluded in cases where the claim is directly related to:

• Failure of the water pump.
• Failure of ancillary drive belts.
• Outside influences, contamination or associated items causing the failure of the cambelt kit components and related parts.
• The customer failing to act as soon as it became apparent following on an advisory or reported defect made aware to them, that has a direct impact on the cambelt kit components and related parts, or not allowing the required repairs to be carried out as soon as possible.

I'm sure the majority of timing belt failures are water pump related and they are saying this is excluded from their warranty!

OK, so reading between the lines, the water pump should be covered as standard for 12 months anyway - so I may as well throw away the warranty after 12 months anyway?

Mine goes in for its service at the independent tomorrow anyway so I might just ask them for their price at the same time and take it from there I think

 

[Kaiju]

OK, so reading between the lines, the water pump should be covered as standard for 12 months anyway - so I may as well throw away the warranty after 12 months anyway?

Mine goes in for its service at the independent tomorrow anyway so I might just ask them for their price at the same time and take it from there I think

SEAT wanted £549
Independent wanted £449 (not really a big drop)
VW wanted £449 (cheaper than SEAT? ?)

I've managed to source parts from TPS for £165 all in and then have a friend do the labour.

 

[SuperV8]

SEAT wanted £549
Independent wanted £449 (not really a big drop)
VW wanted £449 (cheaper than SEAT? ?)

I've managed to source parts from TPS for £165 all in and then have a friend do the labour.

That sounds cheap for the belt kit and water pump. Is it the electro mechanical pump? The price for the pump alone is around £110, and the kit (belt and pulleys) is around £143 - I presume they also have the locking tool for the EA288?

Strange VW quoted £449! They have a standard timing belt + water pump cost of £549.

Volkswagen Pricing | Volkswagen UK

Learn about fixed price servicing, available for all Volkswagens between 3-15 years old. Fixed priced servicing, offering no nasty surprises.

www.volkswagen.co.uk

 

[black_sheep]

OK, so reading between the lines, the water pump should be covered as standard for 12 months anyway - so I may as well throw away the warranty after 12 months anyway?

I believe that parts and accessories are guaranteed for 24 months.

https://tps.trade/genuine-parts

 

[black_sheep]

That sounds cheap for the belt kit and water pump. Is it the electro mechanical pump? The price for the pump alone is around £110, and the kit (belt and pulleys) is around £143 - I presume they also have the locking tool for the EA288?

TPS often have ‘taxi club’ deals for the EA288 Diesel engine cam-belt kits, including the pump.

 

[SteveW]

I believe that parts and accessories are guaranteed for 24 months.

https://tps.trade/genuine-parts

I've had a price from the independent garage that I got the service and MOT done at on Friday. It's not that different to the Seat price to be honest, very little in it.

But based on the above and the parts having 24 months guarantee anyway, I think I'd feel happier with the independent doing the work if I'm honest. The ONLY reason I was considering the main dealer was for the 5 years cover. I think I'd trust the independent more than the main dealer - they've been around for years as I've said before, he's already said to me that they'd be using genuine parts and they've done plenty of them in the past so are more than happy to do the work.

As a bit of background, they're all older guys (more my age (I'm 48) than youngsters I mean) that work there and they own the business after "inheriting" it from the original owner when he retired. He sold off the breakdown/recovery side of the business when he retired and gave the garage/MOT part of the business to his employees at the time and they've been running it ever since.