I've had my vRS from nearly new, since 2005 on a 53 plate, and until about a year ago everything was great, general wear (brakes, tyres etc) aside. But recently the costs have started to mount up.

The latest being last night, when I started the engine, it started making a whirring noise. I drove it tentatively for a bit but the noise was getting louder so I pulled over and knocked it off. When I tried restarting it, I got nothing. It was dead. So got the bro to come and jump me. When I started it up there were sparks coming from the cog/belt going in to the alternator. I switched the engine off and on closer look, there's a shard of something lodged between the cog and alternator. I can't get it out and I'm now worried its doing more damage taking it to a garage.

Anyway, sorry for the novella! Anyone have a rough idea how much problems in this area would cost? It's definitely not the alternator, but obviously the cog needs to come off to fix whatever's gone wrong inside!

You can probably pick up a decent 2nd hand altenator for minimal cost locally and just swap them over.

You can probably pick up a decent 2nd hand altenator for minimal cost locally and just swap them over.

A breaking Silver Fabia? :P

I second that, no point getting rid for an issue as small as that.

A breaking Silver Fabia? :p

I second that, no point getting rid for an issue as small as that.

 

I am no longer posting stuff because it's too much hassle.

Hence "locally".

I am no longer posting stuff because it's too much hassle.

Hence "locally".

I'd agree, it's a pain. A local scrappy is a good bet, is the part shared with the 1.9Tdi PD100?

I'd agree, it's a pain. A local scrappy is a good bet, is the part shared with the 1.9Tdi PD100?

 

As i've never owned a PD100 in my life I have no idea.

As i've never owned a PD100 in my life I have no idea.

the only Fabia you've never owned?

the only Fabia you've never owned?

 

No.

Where in Wales are you.  There's a guy on here from Blckwood, he's got a white VRS, he's got an original Fabia alternator for £50 (i think).  Give him a shout.  i'll see if i can find him now for you.

 

**edit**

 

Its Steveopc send him a PM

Because of the urgency, I had another jump and limped to the nearest garage. I was right about it being the cog (clutch), but because it's been spinning like a mad one, it's knackered the alternator too. So parts and labour, £230. A week before Christmas. Happy days.

A breaking Silver Fabia? :P

I second that, no point getting rid for an issue as small as that.

I'm also after a silver passenger side mirror console, if there's one going

Edited 17 December, 201411 yr by cufcrob

I take the principal that replacing your car with a new one or even a used one thats a complete unknown quantity could (or will) be more expensive in the long run.
Unless quite a few things are wrong, if its that simple, just fix it !

 

I guess you are looking for excuses because the love affair is maybe ran out for you? But its up to you if you want to change the car, don't use a minor issue like this decide it. Plus repaired its worth more in P/X or for sale.

 

I also find it quite odd when people complain about faults with their car and get cold feet but repair them anyway so the cars perfect and then sell up nowt strange as folk

 

Sorry just to add, reading the latest, £230 is unfortunate but could be a far bigger bill for maintenance, look at the longer term picture if you plan to keep the car and that will become small change so long as she stays reliable

Edited 17 December, 201411 yr by dominorising

id supply and fit a genuine low miles one for £70

That's nothing, I paid almost that (over £50) x2, for just having my aircon refurb on 2 fabias but it was a decent local specialist I felt I can really trust and build a relationship with (they don't just do aircon also which could become handy), not spanner monkeys who did a cracking full refurb badly needed in the case of my mk1 (Been burned by too many "deal" type sites, wasting my time and petrol etc).

 

When it comes to car servicing I can definitely say its worth finding a place you can trust first and foremost, the actual cost itself should be secondary (not to say it can't be cheap also but you should establish you are satisfied by the service quality first and foremost).

 

Since I don't really go crazy on tuning stuff which is a bit unusual for a mk1 owner, I'm more than happy to "invest" in keeping it on the road. Cars are expensive and don't run themselves. I'd break it down to the yearly (or even monthly or weekly or daily) cost and then you will see that few hundred quid or there, so long as it doesn't become a frequent pattern, is bugger all for the overall servicing and cost of ownership of your car.

People want/need a reliable car to get them where they are going. The first time your car breaks down, your confidence in it takes a major hit. If it breaks down 2 or 3 times in short order then in your mind it's become an unreliable piece of junk and it has to go.

Be honest. If you were seriously late for work twice in a month you'd very likely change your car too.

As regards cost, if I miss an appointment, it can cost my company tens of thousands of pounds. So I get a new car on a regular basis and the company pays for the privilege.

Free wheel alternator clutch is common on vags. Fortunately noticed mine going last week and changed it before it got like yours. £30 for genuine INA part from ECP and 20 quid for the tool kit required to hold the shaft from amazon. I attempted to change it with alternator in situ however them pulleys are TIGHT. Quick two bolts to remove alternator, took it to work on air gun and it soon spun off.