My car has so many issues, need some advice. Mk4 Golf

[TurntableMonkey]

Hey guys need some advice on a couple of things. Ive got a 2001 Auto Golf. First of all my car needs a new upstream 02 sensor, is this something I would be able to do myself ( I have done simple repairs, oil changes etc). Also needs new cv boots, discs and timing belt. A mechanic has also informed me that my car is taking too long to warm up and needs a new thermostat, by this does he just mean the temp sender? Also what should I be looking at while checking my timing belt, it looks pretty good to me, no cracks etc, but my car is at 95,000kms and it hasnt been done. Thanks for your help in advance.

[The One]

Hey guys need some advice on a couple of things. Ive got a 2001 Auto Golf. First of all my car needs a new upstream 02 sensor, is this something I would be able to do myself ( I have done simple repairs, oil changes etc). Also needs new cv boots, discs and timing belt. A mechanic has also informed me that my car is taking too long to warm up and needs a new thermostat, by this does he just mean the temp sender? Also what should I be looking at while checking my timing belt, it looks pretty good to me, no cracks etc, but my car is at 95,000kms and it hasnt been done. Thanks for your help in advance.

All sounds like general wear and tear items to me.

1. Timing belt and waterpump, do them as a kit, don't ask anyone what you should be looking for etc, just do it. 95,000km, they are due at 105,000km/7 years whichever comes first regardless of condition, yours are almost due so get them done and dusted, alot better alternative and CHEAPER than to leave it because it looked 'OK' then having it snap.

2. CV boots are general wear and tear.

3. Brake discs are also general wear and tear, you can go new pads - old discs, but you cannot/not adviseable to go new discs - old pads, so replace both PADS and DISCS if you need to replace your discs.

4. What reasoning/diagnostic process has your mechanic gone through to state that the 02 sensor requires replacing?

5. No a thermostat is not a coolant temperature sensor, google 'thermostat' to get a picture of what it is, best to have your mechanic replace it.

[TurntableMonkey]

Best to get the kit off of ecs and have a mechanic install it? ( Im abit worried with keeping my engine at TDC).

Again are cv boots something you would do yourself? Seems fairly easy to get the axles off.

Already have new pads, any way to retract the rear pistons without the tool?

My car is idling really rough, blowing black smoke, poor power. I believe he used a scantool and saw that the voltage was off.

I know they are different, just wondering if a sender might fix the problem? Cheers.

[TurntableMonkey]

Oh yeah and my accessories belt tensioner squeals and vibrates occasionally, If this fails am I looking at some serious component damage? And again is this something I could attempt to fix myself? Im really broke btw, thats why I would like to do as much of it as I can myself.

[h100vw]

You need a wind back tool for the rear calipers, although you can use a pair of pliers to achieve the same result. Water temp sender or lambda probe could cause your smoking.

Do ECS have a kit for 2 litres? Double check all that stuff before you buy. There's lots of engines they had we didn't and vice/versa.
Gavin

[RubAVeeDubDub]

All sounds like general wear and tear items to me.

1. Timing belt and waterpump, do them as a kit, don't ask anyone what you should be looking for etc, just do it. 95,000km, they are due at 105,000km/7 years whichever comes first regardless of condition, yours are almost due so get them done and dusted, alot better alternative and CHEAPER than to leave it because it looked 'OK' then having it snap.

2. CV boots are general wear and tear.

3. Brake discs are also general wear and tear, you can go new pads - old discs, but you cannot/not adviseable to go new discs - old pads, so replace both PADS and DISCS if you need to replace your discs.

4. What reasoning/diagnostic process has your mechanic gone through to state that the 02 sensor requires replacing?

5. No a thermostat is not a coolant temperature sensor, google 'thermostat' to get a picture of what it is, best to have your mechanic replace it.

Agree with this. OP - The issues you're having are mostly expected things, nothing out of the ordinary whatsoever.

I've done much more work to cars at around the same km's which were wear and tear.

1) Timing belt. Generally in all cars, these need to be replaced every 100,000kms or 5 years (which ever comes first). Not negotiable. Unless you have a non-interferance engine, if the belt snaps, you will have a busted engine with broken pistons and cams. Not something I recommend DIYing either.

If you plan to keep the car for a long time, then it's a great idea to change the idler pulley, tensioner and water pump. Done right and they should last until the next change if not further. If any of these parts go kaput, you'll need to pay labour again to pull off the belt which is a unnecessary expenditure if you can afford not too.

2) Worn CV boots? No surprise. There's only so much wear rubber and bearings can take. I'd expect it at 100k, if not earlier. Don't bother replacing just the cv boot, dirt and crud has likely gone into the cv joint and will likely self destruct soon. Change the entire driveshaft - not that hard to do with the right tools.

3) Worn brake pads. Completely normal. If you're first change is now then you're lucky. Some european cars chew through pads and even disks every 30,000kms. If budget is tight then just change pads, other I'd recommend changing disk and pad at the same times for good measure. Like The One says - don't fit old pads to new disks.
Change is Easy DIY - use a g-clamp and an old brake pad to push the piston back into the caliper (plus remove lid of reservoir and put a rang underneath to soak up the overflow).

4) Unless the O2 sensor has completely stopped working then the car won't know it's faulty. Usual signs of a bad O2 sensor is high fuel consumption and poor idling. Does your exhibit this behaviour?

5) Great advice from The One on this one.
If you are doing to DIY, Do some research on making sure that it's installed and working properly. A stuck thermostat could cause you serious problems.


OP - all cars over time need money to be poured into them to keep running. These are simple maintenance costs that comes with a car being used and wearing out. You will need to get used to paying for some things along the way, however if you keep up with good and preventative maintenance, you should have a car that will last the distance and you won't end up with far more costlier avoidable repairs later on.

[dylan8]

most of the items listed are pretty standard for the km/age.
do them once and they most likely wont need doing again for another 100k km or 7+ years

[Umai Naa!!]

Ring places like Tooley Imports, HSY and Imparts for parts if you don't want to go genuine.

All 3 are in Syndey.

Check for PCV and vacuum leaks, with regards to the O2 sensor fault. Quite often, they'll log an O2 sensor-related code when the air/fuel mixture is outside of specs.

[leighaus]

timing belt isnt that hard to do, just takes a while. Read up on a DIY and if you're confident enough give it a crack. I just did it on my GTI for the first time without a hitch (been swinging spanners for 10 years).

Thermostat is easy to change, there's nothing difficult about that, they can just be in tight places (1.8t for example is a bitch).

Cars need maintenance.. No point getting upset, it's going to continue.