I tend to side with John. Cambelts don't deteriorate much with age, more with how much stressful work they have done. So IMHO the miles on the clock is more important than the 5 years. We haven't been told that ?

And main dealers have been known to mess up a cambelt change, as well as independents. Maybe if it ain't broke, leave well alone. On the minus side a recent cambelt change would make your car easier to sell later.

Edited by Andrew-T on 20/01/2023 at 09:40

When we bought our Leon in 2013 the 1.4 TSi engine was a new introduction and the Seat dealers had little info. However, the VW Golf brochure had a full page on how the new engine had a special Conti belt that was designed for the life of the car, no need to change. Same engine in the Golf and Leon so considering I expected to keep the car 5 years max no change would be needed.

Car went in for first service after a year and on the Seat dealers wall was a menu price to replace the cambelt with a time/distance recommendation of 3 years/30,000 miles. When I got home I looked on the Seat website and there was nothing about changing the cambelt whatsoever so I contacted them. Got an e-mail back confirming the interval was check annually after 60,000 miles but regardless of mileage change at 6 years or 120,000 miles. Very different to the menu at the dealer, never went back there.

Ford designed a cambelt for life for its Focus 1.6 Zetec engine in the last century

I have had 2 x 2.0 Zetecs in the Caterham, the first was a well used early Mondeo one, the 2nd a brand new late Mk1 Focus one. I swapped the Mondeo belt before I fitted the engine in the car, no idea of mileage plus I needed to change the water pump to a different impeller type and that required the belt removing. No idea of the mileage (car was written off due to dash fire), the belt was clearly worn but not cracked.

Since Ford recommends 10 years/100,000 miles I replaced the belt on the Focus engine when it was 10 years old. I had done under 20,000 miles and expected looked pretty much new but there was a hidden surprise. The tensioner bearing was pretty much knackered, had it failed it could well have trashed the engine.

The 10 year anniversary is next spring, rest assured I will be spending the £150 or so +1/2 a day in the garage to repeat the exercise. Only £15 a year, on average probably spend that much a week on coffees.

As for the Fabia, its 5 in April but with its low miles I see no need to change it just yet, we will probably sell it before its needed. A quick visual before the service might be a good idea.