Hello,

 

So my fabia vRS SE has been giving me alot of headaches recently (mainly around the steering rack and ECP lack of a decent supplier). Because of this it's got me thinking that I've had this car since new and I'm wondering what I should be looking out for. I've read that turbo's can give people trouble around this mileage and also clutches (which mine is pretty low on the pedal).

 

The car is serviced as and when the light pops up and the cam belt was replaced around 65k (along with the water pump). So besides the usual service parts what else is best to do?

Other than keep it well serviced and maintained there isn't much you can do. Do you do the services yourself DIY or pay someone to do them?

 

I run some of the Forte diesel treatment through a tank every year just to help keep things clean, I don't do many miles during the week so I like to think it helps. 

 

Have you changed the gearbox oil? - some like to do this, you don't have to but it can help with notchy changes. You can also adjust the linkages, there is a guide on here somewhere. 
When was the fuel filter last change? - I think it's recommended to be changed every 3 years or 30-40k from the top of my head. 

Brake caliper service? - basically the same process as changing the pads but get a few cans of cleaner, plenty of cloths and a flat head screwdriver, clean them up as best you can and re-grease the sliding pins to prevent them seizing up, check the condition of the rubber seal on the piston also. 

Maybe you could have the coolant tested to see if it's still good before winter sets in (sometimes when they change the cam-belt they re-use the old coolant!).

 

Depending on how fussy you want to be you could get a few cans of WD 40, jack the car up and clean the suspension components. This will also give you an opportunity to check things like bushes, ball joints etc for play. Could look at upgrading the console bushes and little things like that. 

Most if not all the work has been done by myself, so the services, cam belt change etc etc has been done on the drive and fluids have been replaced and not reused. I haven't done a gearbox oil change but the brakes have recently been done. The fuel filter got done at around 70k so might need doing soon. As for items like bushes etc, I've fitted powerflex rear wishbone consoles and the ball joints and droplinks have been done this year (after failing the MOT).

 

My main concern is the turbo. Besides driving carefully is there anything that can be done to increase a trubo's life - would items like a catch can help?

Edited 5 November, 201510 yr by wilsonian

I hear a common cause of failure for turbos is oil starvation so i guess you could replace the the oil feed and return pipes to ensure enough oil is getting to the turbo Mines on 120k and is still going strong (touch wood!)

Andy

I would have thought most where from booting when cold, so the oil is thicker and not travelling to the turbo as it would if hot.

I changed the turbo and clutch before either actually failed. I also replaced the entire Eibach/FSD setup because after 1000,000 miles they weren't as good as when they were new, and where's the point in that? Bump stops, bushes, if you have a Jabba RARB check for damaged bushes and corrosion and replace if necessary.