Hey guys

 

My fabia vrs 1.9tdi 2005 is at 183k miles.  full service history which shows timing belt kit was done at 119k.  I have read on here that it's meant to be don every 60kish which would be... well... now!

I'm in two minds though - it's not the cheapest of jobs to have done so being realistic... Is it worth getting it done in terms of how much longer I can potentially get out of the car?  Or is it highly likely that it's on it's way out fairly soon and isn't worth doing and just gamble it?

I realise this is a "do what you want" kinda thing - I suppose everything is really!  But if it was your own car what would you be thinking?

PD engine is notoriously hard on cambelts, I'd change it rather than risk a head wreck.

If it smashes the head up then you've basically written the car off.

 

Your call.

Changing the belt is cheaper than a decent replacement car

As above, if the car is still fit for purpose even if it's just because it puts a smile on your face, any ' essential ' maintainance is worth doing OR you take the I'll run it into the ground approach and stop maintainance full stop !! not many would do so as I guess we all want to be as safe in our mode of transport as possible, especially if we carry passengers, Sod's law also states it will break down on the very occasion you have to arrive on time

 

its a bit of a no brainer really maintain or get rid 

This is exactly why I'm asking here

People will have a lot more experience than myself with expected engine survival rates at this mileage haha

 

1 hour ago, Shneeki said:

This is exactly why I'm asking here

People will have a lot more experience than myself with expected engine survival rates at this mileage haha

 

Ah, but there's the rub, no one can actually predict when the mechanics of your can are likely to fail far to many parameters to be taken into account

183k on a 130 pd will possibly be on the high side ( however the 1.9 tdi is easily capable of doing that again ) but it's still only 15k per year so average miles for a diesel, you could ask for a compression test or do one yourself obviously things like using oil losing coolant smoke on start up, over-run ought to be known to you, then balance on how old other consumables are, exhaust brakes tyres water pump etc, may give a financial guide

alternatively what's the car worth if you choose to sell or probably more crucial how much to change to something else 

2 hours ago, Shneeki said:

This is exactly why I'm asking here

People will have a lot more experience than myself with expected engine survival rates at this mileage haha

 

 

It's the head and the turbo that let go, not the bottom end, protect the head by changing the cambelt and the oil, protect the turbo by changing the oil, at 183k it's obviously been looked after so why stop now?

Thanks for the posts guys

I'm not up on all these things which is exactly why this forum is a godsend!

I'll get it booked in asap

Yeah sepulchrave - it's got a full service history that doubles my library of reading material haha!  Oil changes every 5k - turbo was upgraded 100k ago to an Allard one along with many other upgrades.  Very well maintained mechanical wise.