New Owner of '99 Passat 1.8T: Preventative Maintenance Suggestions??

[navibean]

Dear fellow Passat owners,
I just bought a '99 Passat 1.8T Wagon: It looks great & runs strong - but it has 96,000 miles & I have no maintenance records. I'm intending on keeping this car for many years.
(I changed the engine oil as soon as I got the car.)
Judging from the posts here, it sounds like I should replace the timing belt ASAP. Here's my questions:

1) My (new) mechanic is quoting $700 for the timing belt + water pump. Is that reasonable?
2) At 96000 miles, is there any other maintenance you would recommend?
3) A real novice Q: Where can I find VW's recommended service intervals?
4) In your experience, should any of VW's service intervals be more often / less often ?
5) And a basic novice Q: I have figured out most of the dashboard controls, but do you know of some place I could download or buy an operator's manual? The stalks on the steering wheel must have 85 or 90 switches. With my luck, I'm sure that one fires the ejection seat or initiates a self-destruct procedure.
6) And in case anyone is in the Baltimore area, can you recommend any local shops?

THANKS to each of you for sharing your experiences in this forum! I have learned lots before even posting my first post.
Best Regards,
-Jim (NaviBean)

[kettermane]

VW of America recommends service every 5,000 miles. PLEASE KEEP A RECORD OF ALL YOUR SERVICE HISTORIES. If something happens and you need to fix a problem under warranty, VW will only cover it if you can prove that you have had your services done every 5,000 miles by a licensed mechanic. Oil changes don't have to be done at the VW dealership in your town, but they do have to be done by a pro. If you change the oil yourself or have a friend do it you will void your warranty.

I just went though about $1200 worth of repair work for a oil pressure problem. It was a huge hassle getting the VW folks to say that they'd cover it. I bought my 99 Passat wagon back in January with about 46,000 miles and now after putting 10,000 miles on it this year have had to get the engine flushed. Turbos in Passats accumulate a lot of oil sludge because the engine gets hotter than most and builds the sludge up to the point where you have got to get the engine flushed immediately or you run the risk of the engine breaking down completely. The best thing to do (recommended by VW) is use synthetic oil. VW has an extended warranty on this problem - 8 years, unlimited miles. They should not hold you accountable for not having the service history prior to your purchase. I know this because I called a customer advocate at VW of America to confirm that the warranty will be honored even though I bought it used. You might also want to contact VW of America and let them know you purchased one of their cars. They'll get your name and address and will mail you information regarding extended warranties on this vehicle.

I like my car other than this oil pressure problem, but it is a BIG problem. Just be a pack rat about your service history and you will be ok.

[harthouse]

To address the oil sudge problem, go to www.auto-rx.com and buy a bottle. It is a slow engine cleaner that safely deposits the garbage into your oil filter. I have some in my 99 right now. If you want more testimonials, go to www.clubb5.com and do a search for autorx, they all love it.

[boschmann]

Definitely change the T-belt, I've seen several fail before the recommended interval. $700 is a bit steep for here in the Southeast, but up in Baltimore it may be normal. Bentley sells the original manual for the car, which is the best source of the info you need.

http://www.bentleypublishers.com/product.htm?code=rp99

[00Psst]

Originally Posted by navibean

Dear fellow Passat owners,
I just bought a '99 Passat 1.8T Wagon: It looks great & runs strong - but it has 96,000 miles & I have no maintenance records. I'm intending on keeping this car for many years.
(I changed the engine oil as soon as I got the car.)
Judging from the posts here, it sounds like I should replace the timing belt ASAP. Here's my questions:

1) My (new) mechanic is quoting $700 for the timing belt + water pump. Is that reasonable?
2) At 96000 miles, is there any other maintenance you would recommend?
3) A real novice Q: Where can I find VW's recommended service intervals?
4) In your experience, should any of VW's service intervals be more often / less often ?
5) And a basic novice Q: I have figured out most of the dashboard controls, but do you know of some place I could download or buy an operator's manual? The stalks on the steering wheel must have 85 or 90 switches. With my luck, I'm sure that one fires the ejection seat or initiates a self-destruct procedure.
6) And in case anyone is in the Baltimore area, can you recommend any local shops?

THANKS to each of you for sharing your experiences in this forum! I have learned lots before even posting my first post.
Best Regards,
-Jim (NaviBean)

Good choice on the car - same thing I've got. I'll try to answer your questions in order.

1. That does seem a bit steep but not that far off for the Northeast. You can get the parts and do the work yourself for about half that but its a pretty big job. I paid to have mine done the first time ($600) but will do it myself the next time.
2. You car has about the same mileage as mine - definitely the timing belt needs to be done (should have been done at 60k actually). My guess is that it probably needs a fair amount of maintenance if the timing belt wasn't done, I'm betting some other things weren't either. I'd start with the by changing the air filter and cabin filter. I'd do a brake fluid flush (should really be done every 2 years), check the cv boots for cracks as well as the control arm bushings and tie rods ends.
3. VW service intervals can be found in the owner's manual as well as in the Bentley manual. Most are pretty much right on track but I would change the oil more often than they recommend and the timing belt should be changed every 60k rather than the 105k they suggest.
4. Cannot help with locating an owner's manual except from the dealer - you might want to try ebay, these things do come up from time to time.
5. The stalks on the column are a bit tricky but I'm guessing you've got the same set up as I do so I can try to clarify. On the left side are your cruise control settings. They should be labeled but the switch on the front side of it is to turn it on and the button on the end is to set it. On the left side, the button on the end is actually a toggle type and if you look at the readout on the left side of the dash under the tach, as you toggle through, you'll see what each is for. I believe the functions are clock, outside temp, avg. speed, mpg, trip distance. There may be more, I'm not in the car now to check. There is no ejector seat - though there have been times I wish there were.
6. Can't give you a shop in the Baltimore area but suggest you check out www.clubb5.com - great resource for all things Passat.

Mike

[Rammstein]

I'd recommend to use good synthetic oil like us diesel guys have to use.

It's more a turbo thing.

Your turbo ball bearings are cooled by oil, so it has to withstand some heat.

Also, change your habit when shutting the car down.

The main reason the oil cooks in the turbo or in the oil line is because shut the engine down after taking a "good ride".

Just let the engine idle at least a minute when you are going to shut it down.

Simple thing that can save your turbo.

[Rammstein]

Also, just use a good synthetic oil, but no oil additives.

Oil additives can be more harmful than good. When do you know if it won't react with the oil and do your engine some bad?

Mobil 1 is quite easy to find and very good oil.