Belts, brake fluid and coolant - servicing?

mmh · Post by **mmh** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 1:59 pm

Hi,

Just buying the parts to get my car serviced by a mobile mechanic.

Just wondering what belts need to be replaced on the engine?

What rating of brake fluid do I need and how much of it as I hope to get it all renewed.

Also what type of coolant (any specific codes, names etc.) is required mine has a blue liquid in the expansion tank I know VW has two types of coolant.

The car's a 1.6GL AEE on 41,000 miles

I'm off to GSF or ECP tomorrow so please let me know.

Thanks

rusty-london · Post by **rusty-london** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 5:24 pm

If I was you I'd ignore GSF or ECP and try a branch of Lloyds motor spares, or Midnight Motors in Wembley. They sell the same stuff as GSF and ECP but at about half the price. I just got oil, air and pollen filters, spark plugs and a cambelt and tensioner kit for Â£50!

They should be able to tell you exactly what you need and how much.

mmh · Post by **mmh** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 5:32 pm

rusty-london wrote:If I was you I'd ignore GSF or ECP and try a branch of Lloyds motor spares, or Midnight Motors in Wembley. They sell the same stuff as GSF and ECP but at about half the price. I just got oil, air and pollen filters, spark plugs and a cambelt and tensioner kit for Â£50!

They should be able to tell you exactly what you need and how much.

So it's a cambelt and tensioner kit I need? I'm not to sure about stuff under the bonnet but I want to get decent stuff for the Mechanic to fit.

Wembleys a bit far mate I'm in SE London ECP in Catford is nearest.

dragon_green · Post by **dragon_green** » Tue Oct 10, 2006 11:56 pm

Cambelt shouldn't need changing until 60,000 miles (or a certain number of years, 3 or 4, i can't remember). Check through your service history to see if it's been done. If there's no evidence of it being done, i'd be tempted to do it, to be on the safe side. If the belt snaps, you can do a lot of damage to your engine in not a lot of time. While you're doing it, it's wise to change the tensioner (has to come off anyway) and the waterpump (if it seizes it will have similar effects to a snapped belt).

Fan belt - check the tension on the belt (haynes manual will tell you how) but most people change them when they start to slip (you hear a squeaking sound when you pull away).

mmh · Post by **mmh** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 12:47 am

dragon_green wrote:Cambelt shouldn't need changing until 60,000 miles (or a certain number of years, 3 or 4, i can't remember). Check through your service history to see if it's been done. If there's no evidence of it being done, i'd be tempted to do it, to be on the safe side. If the belt snaps, you can do a lot of damage to your engine in not a lot of time. While you're doing it, it's wise to change the tensioner (has to come off anyway) and the waterpump (if it seizes it will have similar effects to a snapped belt).

Fan belt - check the tension on the belt (haynes manual will tell you how) but most people change them when they start to slip (you hear a squeaking sound when you pull away).

I've just checked the sevice book the toothed belt (is that the cambelt?) hasn't been changed. The car is a 1999 T reg and has only done 41k do you think it needs changing? Also how much would the parts cost?

I'm a bit short of cash as I'm going for a Black Diamond disc and pad upgrade with braided brake lines. As well as all the other service bits I need to buy oil, fuel, pollen filters, brake fluid , plugs and brake cleaner and oil.

dragon_green · Post by **dragon_green** » Wed Oct 11, 2006 8:39 am

Cambelt, Tensioner, Water pump + labour cost me just under 200pounds when I had mine done.

Difficult to say whether it 'needs' changing - might be best to ask the mechanic while he's there.

rusty-london · Post by **rusty-london** » Fri Oct 13, 2006 10:34 pm

I'd recommend changing the cambelt, tensioner and water pump before I thought about upgrading the brakes.....As nice as it is to have good brakes, there's no point when the car isn't running because the cambelt's snapped!

As for the fanbelt, you shouldn't need to check the tensioner as it should have an automatic tensioner fitted. You will only need to check the belt for fraying and cracking.

warrmr · Post by **warrmr** » Sat Oct 21, 2006 12:04 pm

rusty-london wrote:I'd recommend changing the cambelt, tensioner and water pump before I thought about upgrading the brakes.....As nice as it is to have good brakes, there's no point when the car isn't running because the cambelt's snapped!

As for the fanbelt, you shouldn't need to check the tensioner as it should have an automatic tensioner fitted. You will only need to check the belt for fraying and cracking.

theres no fanbelt on the polo as its an electronic cooling fan
i think the belt you are refering to is the alternator belt ( the one that goes round the alternator and the PAS pump.)

mmh · Post by **mmh** » Tue Oct 24, 2006 9:53 pm

Thanks for the advice, I think I'll have to stretch to a cambelt change.

Should I be buying the bits from VW or ECP or GSF?

Cheers, Mo

dragon_green · Post by **dragon_green** » Wed Oct 25, 2006 12:50 am

Might be worth checking the manufacturer of the ECP and GSF parts, if it's original or a decent make i'd be happy to use em.... depends on how much cheaper they are!