We have a Volkswagen Passat 2.o litre sport (petrol, 2002) which has
done a little over 80,000 miles. It was purchased recently used and a
family member paid for it to be serviced, although a friend of his took
it to the garage. We have no record of this, so don't know who serviced
it, if they did, or what they did.

From what I I have read of the manual, it appears the car tells you
when it needs a service. Is this true? Is it reliable? How does it work?
I assume after it is serviced this information should be updated in a
computer. Is there any way to determine when this was last done? I doubt
this was serviced at a VW dealer, so would anyone outside of VW be able
to do this?

Given it was supposed to be serviced very recently, we don't wish to
waste money on a service if it does not need it. But with no proof it
was serviced, I would like to know if the car 'thinks' it was serviced
recently.

I dont know if the cam belt has ever been replaced. At what mileage
would that be advisable?

We have a Volkswagen Passat 2.o litre sport (petrol, 2002) which has done
a little over 80,000 miles. It was purchased recently used and a family
member paid for it to be serviced, although a friend of his took it to the
garage. We have no record of this, so don't know who serviced it, if they
did, or what they did.

From what I I have read of the manual, it appears the car tells you when
it needs a service. Is this true? Is it reliable? How does it work? I
assume after it is serviced this information should be updated in a
computer. Is there any way to determine when this was last done? I doubt
this was serviced at a VW dealer, so would anyone outside of VW be able to
do this?

Given it was supposed to be serviced very recently, we don't wish to waste
money on a service if it does not need it. But with no proof it was
serviced, I would like to know if the car 'thinks' it was serviced
recently.

I dont know if the cam belt has ever been replaced. At what mileage would
that be advisable?

Why not just get in touch with the garage that your family friend took it
to?

The service indicator is based on mileage (every 10k) or variable servicing
which is based on the condition of the oil and type of driving. Both methods
will notify you on the dashboard but can easily be cancelled. I think the
manual tells you how to cancel the service message

Personally for the cost of an oil change I'd just get it done and since
you've no idea when the cambelt was done, you'd better get it done now as
it's past due. I thiknk VW have revised cambelt change intervals down to 60k

"Dave" wrote in message
...
We have a Volkswagen Passat 2.o litre sport (petrol, 2002) which has done
a little over 80,000 miles. It was purchased recently used and a family
member paid for it to be serviced, although a friend of his took it to the
garage. We have no record of this, so don't know who serviced it, if they
did, or what they did.

From what I I have read of the manual, it appears the car tells you when
it needs a service. Is this true? Is it reliable? How does it work? I
assume after it is serviced this information should be updated in a
computer. Is there any way to determine when this was last done? I doubt
this was serviced at a VW dealer, so would anyone outside of VW be able to
do this?

Given it was supposed to be serviced very recently, we don't wish to waste
money on a service if it does not need it. But with no proof it was
serviced, I would like to know if the car 'thinks' it was serviced
recently.

I dont know if the cam belt has ever been replaced. At what mileage would
that be advisable?

If was done by a VW dealer, all the info will be on the VW computer.
Phone your dealer and they should be able to tell what was done.

Baz

On 21-Feb-08 10:16:41, Dave said

I dont know if the cam belt has ever been replaced. At what mileage
would that be advisable?

People have said to me an inspection at 60k and a change at 80k, but
apparently it maybe more frequent now. I would get somebody to look at it
as soon as you can, with the expectation you'll need to change it.

And find out if the usual new water pump etc applies.


All the best,
Angus Manwaring. (for e-mail remove ANTISPEM)

I need your memories for the Amiga Games Database: A collection of Amiga
Game reviews by Amiga players http://www.angusm.demon.co.uk/AGDB/AGDB.html

Dave wrote:
We have a Volkswagen Passat 2.o litre sport (petrol, 2002) which has done
a little over 80,000 miles. It was purchased recently used and a family
member paid for it to be serviced, although a friend of his took it to the
garage. We have no record of this, so don't know who serviced it, if they
did, or what they did.

From what I I have read of the manual, it appears the car tells you when
it needs a service. Is this true? Is it reliable? How does it work? I
assume after it is serviced this information should be updated in a
computer. Is there any way to determine when this was last done? I doubt
this was serviced at a VW dealer, so would anyone outside of VW be able to
do this?

Given it was supposed to be serviced very recently, we don't wish to waste
money on a service if it does not need it. But with no proof it was
serviced, I would like to know if the car 'thinks' it was serviced
recently.

I dont know if the cam belt has ever been replaced. At what mileage would
that be advisable?

Why not just get in touch with the garage that your family friend took it
to?

I was taken by someone else on his behalf, and for reasons I dont know,
he cant recall where. (I know this sounds silly, but it is what I am led
to believe).

The service indicator is based on mileage (every 10k) or variable servicing
which is based on the condition of the oil and type of driving. Both methods
will notify you on the dashboard but can easily be cancelled. I think the
manual tells you how to cancel the service message

OK, thanks for that. The fact the message can be cancelled is of course
useful to know.

Personally for the cost of an oil change I'd just get it done and since
you've no idea when the cambelt was done, you'd better get it done now as
it's past due. I thiknk VW have revised cambelt change intervals down to 60k



In that case, I think it will deserve a full service.

Baz wrote:
"Dave" wrote in message
...
We have a Volkswagen Passat 2.o litre sport (petrol, 2002) which has done
a little over 80,000 miles. It was purchased recently used and a family
member paid for it to be serviced, although a friend of his took it to the
garage. We have no record of this, so don't know who serviced it, if they
did, or what they did.

From what I I have read of the manual, it appears the car tells you when
it needs a service. Is this true? Is it reliable? How does it work? I
assume after it is serviced this information should be updated in a
computer. Is there any way to determine when this was last done? I doubt
this was serviced at a VW dealer, so would anyone outside of VW be able to
do this?

Given it was supposed to be serviced very recently, we don't wish to waste
money on a service if it does not need it. But with no proof it was
serviced, I would like to know if the car 'thinks' it was serviced
recently.

I dont know if the cam belt has ever been replaced. At what mileage would
that be advisable?

If was done by a VW dealer, all the info will be on the VW computer.
Phone your dealer and they should be able to tell what was done.

Baz



Thanks for that. I'm not sure where it was done, but I doubt at VW. But
I guess there is no harm in asking.

Angus Manwaring wrote:

People have said to me an inspection at 60k and a change at 80k, but
apparently it maybe more frequent now. I would get somebody to look at it
as soon as you can, with the expectation you'll need to change it.

And find out if the usual new water pump etc applies.


All the best,
Angus Manwaring. (for e-mail remove ANTISPEM)

I need your memories for the Amiga Games Database: A collection of Amiga
Game reviews by Amiga players http://www.angusm.demon.co.uk/AGDB/AGDB.html


OK, so it needs changing unless we can determine it has been done. What
is the issue with the water pump? I'm just about to order a haynes
manual on it (is that the best choice?) I dont intend doing any major
work myself now, but it is useful to have one around.

OK, so it needs changing unless we can determine it has been done. What is
the issue with the water pump? I'm just about to order a haynes manual on
it (is that the best choice?) I dont intend doing any major work myself
now, but it is useful to have one around.

Depending on the engine, some were fitted with water pumps with plastic
impellors. These can crack and then spin on the input shaft which means no
coolant circulation and an overheating engine. Since it's driven from the
cambelt you may as well change it if the belt gets done as it'll save quite
a bit of cost against doing it separately.

Dave wrote:
OK, so it needs changing unless we can determine it has been done. What is
the issue with the water pump? I'm just about to order a haynes manual on
it (is that the best choice?) I dont intend doing any major work myself
now, but it is useful to have one around.

Depending on the engine, some were fitted with water pumps with plastic
impellors. These can crack and then spin on the input shaft which means no
coolant circulation and an overheating engine. Since it's driven from the
cambelt you may as well change it if the belt gets done as it'll save quite
a bit of cost against doing it separately.


Also, for the cost of a pump, if it's dome 60-80k miles then it will be
at least partly worn, and it takes very little extra labour (as stated
above) to change it. As it is driven by the timing belt you don't want
it to fail and break/strip the belt.

Chris Bartram wrote:
Dave wrote:
OK, so it needs changing unless we can determine it has been done.
What is the issue with the water pump? I'm just about to order a
haynes manual on it (is that the best choice?) I dont intend doing
any major work myself now, but it is useful to have one around.

Depending on the engine, some were fitted with water pumps with
plastic impellors. These can crack and then spin on the input shaft
which means no coolant circulation and an overheating engine. Since
it's driven from the cambelt you may as well change it if the belt
gets done as it'll save quite a bit of cost against doing it separately.

Also, for the cost of a pump, if it's dome 60-80k miles then it will be
at least partly worn, and it takes very little extra labour (as stated
above) to change it. As it is driven by the timing belt you don't want
it to fail and break/strip the belt.


Thanks, we will probably get that replaced then.

VW wanted an extra 90 pounds to replace the water pump at the same time
as the cambelt, but i think we will not use VW for the service. Their
preices seem a bit excessive.