Hi all,

I bought a 2006 fabia 1.4, with 134000km on it. The first owners have documented the maintenance quite okay, but after 75k, there is nothing to be found.

I have replaced the oil, oilfilter, airfilter, sparkplugs, brakefluid, coolingfluid. The dealer I bought it from replaced the clutch, since that started slipping within 4 hours of purchase. I'm guessing that 15 years, 8000km per year it's just been used for groceries, so lot of city driving and thus clutch wear.

The tires are getting replaced in october, the brakes seem fine for now. Enough pad left, no grooves.

I am worried about the timing belt, I don't know if it has been replaced and if not, I don't know if it needs replacement.

Is there are way to check the condition, and how do I judge if it needs a change? And is that possible for a beginner with basic tools?

 

If there are any other parts I should check, please let me know. The car itself is in great condition, like it has been in a garage it's whole time. I just think that the last owner neglected some maintenance.

13 minutes ago, mk1margreet said:

I am worried about the timing belt, I don't know if it has been replaced and if not, I don't know if it needs replacement.

Is there are way to check the condition, and how do I judge if it needs a change? And is that possible for a beginner with basic tools?

My calculator says, that on UK service schedule, the belt is past due. If it's like other FWD engines I've seen you'll need a trolley jack or a hoist because you have to remove an engine mount to change the timing belt. It may be safer to get an independent specialist to do this.

 

I honestly can't think of much you've not covered on a manual transmission car.

Does the pre-75k record include a timing belt change?

And how many years ago was that 75k reached?

 

There's a plastic cover over the upper portion of the timing belts that releases with just two metal clips if I remember rightly.  Remove and inspect visually (photograph and post) , though you may not be able to tell very much from that.  These are about 7 years old, I think, and maybe 40-50k km since fitting.  

Edited 8 August, 20214 yr by Wino

55 minutes ago, Wino said:

Does the pre-75k record include a timing belt change?

And how many years ago was that 75k reached?

 

No I'm afraid it doesn't. It was around 5 years ago.

Inspect the belts then, as a minimum.  How long into the future do you hope to keep the car?

 

Edited 8 August, 20214 yr by Wino

58 minutes ago, KenONeill said:

My calculator says, that on UK service schedule, the belt is past due. If it's like other FWD engines I've seen you'll need a trolley jack or a hoist because you have to remove an engine mount to change the timing belt. It may be safer to get an independent specialist to do this.

 

I honestly can't think of much you've not covered on a manual transmission car.

Thank you. I think you're right. 

I bought this car for €2150, and expected to need €50 per month for maintenance.

In the first 2 weeks, the clutch replacement (€200,-, dealers favor), and fluids cost me €100, expected front tyres and front brakes will cost me another €200-€250.

Timing belts are expensive! Got quotes for €345.

 

There goes my maintenance budget :(

2 minutes ago, mk1margreet said:

Timing belts are expensive! Got quotes for €345.

Sounds cheap compared to here, but possibly doesn't include water pump at that price?

I paid £350 7 years ago at a UK VW dealership, and that was a special offer. Did include WP though.

Edited 8 August, 20214 yr by Wino

1 minute ago, Wino said:

Inspect the belts then, as a minimum.  How long into the future do you hope to keep the car?

 

Less than 1 year probably. I'm 20, so insurance is way too high (100 bucks per month), fuel is freaking expensive in the Netherlands (€1,85 per liter). And public transport is free as long as I study so it isn't really feasible, but I'm moving to Spain for an exchange period so a car is much more useful there.

I do want to sell the car better than I bought it, in hopes of seeing somewhat of the original 2150 I paid for it (My calculated expectation is 1500, but I'm shooting for 2000)

 

It is however a lot of fun, and I'm learning a great deal about fixing my own car. Fun lesson!

Just now, mk1margreet said:

Less than 1 year probably.

Then I would inspect belts, but unless they look terrible, just drive the car. 

My service schedule booklet states that the belt should be 'inspected' at 90,000 km (60,000 miles), there is nothing at all stated about changing it.  It suggests at least 75,000 without any worry and thousands of miles more after further inspections.

 

My own opinion is that it's a money making opportunity for dealers and garages. I had a Fat Strada that did in excess of 250,000 miles without any attention, on the original belt..

 

My 1.4 16V is still on the road at 21 years old on the original belts, my 2.0 is at 125k and 18 years old on the original cambelt.

 

I never advise people against it because it's preventative maintenance.

 

But I don't bother.

4 hours ago, mk1margreet said:

Timing belts are expensive! Got quotes for €345.

Well, I paid GB£350 for a full belt kit and water pump on a 1.9TDi  (where not changing the water pump is a false economy because your expected life for the pump is about 1.5x that of the belt, and the belt needs changing if you have to replace the pump) at an independent specialist (labour rate about half what a Skoda dealer would charge).

35 minutes ago, KenONeill said:

Well, I paid GB£350 for a full belt kit and water pump on a 1.9TDi  (where not changing the water pump is a false economy because your expected life for the pump is about 1.5x that of the belt, and the belt needs changing if you have to replace the pump) at an independent specialist (labour rate about half what a Skoda dealer would charge).

 

Yeah, PD engine, totally different proposition, belt works REALLY hard on a PD, but not on a petrol Ken.

 

Apples and Oranges dude.

1 hour ago, sepulchrave said:

My 1.4 16V is still on the road at 21 years old on the original belts, my 2.0 is at 125k and 18 years old on the original cambelt.

 

I never advise people against it because it's preventative maintenance.

 

But I don't bother.

 

Wow, that surprises me

44 minutes ago, TMB said:

 

Wow, that surprises me

 

I should perhaps add AFAIK, because I haven't owned them from new but I have sufficient experience to make my own decisions and I inspect them once a year whether they need it or not 

4 minutes ago, sepulchrave said:

 

I should perhaps add AFAIK, because I haven't owned them from new but I have sufficient experience to make my own decisions and I inspect them once a year whether they need it or not 

 

Good for you.

1 hour ago, sepulchrave said:

 

Yeah, PD engine, totally different proposition, belt works REALLY hard on a PD, but not on a petrol Ken.

 

Apples and Oranges dude.

I guess you didn't bother to read my profile before trying to start a fight? It says "TDi 110", which isn't a PD engine. Also, it's rejected heat that cooks a plastic water pump impeller, and that's always higher on a petrol engine than a diesel.

53 minutes ago, KenONeill said:

I guess you didn't bother to read my profile before trying to start a fight? It says "TDi 110", which isn't a PD engine. Also, it's rejected heat that cooks a plastic water pump impeller, and that's always higher on a petrol engine than a diesel.

 

Not looking for a fight Ken, just trying not to muddy the waters with irrelevant information 

On 08/08/2021 at 12:35, Wino said:

There's a plastic cover over the upper portion of the timing belts that releases with just two metal clips if I remember rightly.  Remove and inspect visually (photograph and post) , though you may not be able to tell very much from that.  These are about 7 years old, I think, and maybe 40-50k km since fitting.  

Hey @Wino,

I finally found the time to check it.

These are some photo's, more on the link, https://imgur.com/a/IlHvIg0

As far as I can tell the date says 270905, or about 4 months before the car was initially registered, so I'm guessing it's from the factory.

The condition to me seems good, but I have no idea.

 

Thanks for taking the time to check it out!

They look fine, no oil contamination but I'm not going to recommend you don't replace them.

 

I wouldn't bother though.

 

I feel like I'm repeating myself, can you ask the same question again and I'll try a different answer you might like better?

30 minutes ago, mk1margreet said:

I'm guessing it's from the factory.

The condition to me seems good,

Good guess.

 

And yes, I'd agree it looks good, but it's way cheaper to replace the belt than the entire engine. Your call.