2001 VW Golf Major Service Decision HELP PLEASE!!!

Yeah lowonoptions,
I priced out a 028-903-028D alternator (90 amp) for a 2001 Golf at the
dealer last week and found that they charge $500 for a remanufactured one
with a $200 core charge. OUCH!!
I told the owner of the car to buy a NEW one from ebay, like item #
130200638067, which he did and I will see later this week. The ebay one
will only cost $140 shipped and saves him $360. 8^)
Only takes 1 hour to change out in real time, but you might get charged 1.5
hours to switch pulleys over!

Are you sure that you need BOTH Oxygen Sensors?
What are the DTCs stored in the ECM?
Post them here!!!

NO the timing belt should not cause any damage if it breaks, but replacing
the water pump with the timing belt is a good idea WHEN YOU NEED ONE!
Your timing belt could last to about 165K miles, but if the tensioner is
making noise now then it is your call!

I vote you do the repairs over several different visits or stages.
1. Replace that alternator so the vehicle is drivable again.
2. O2 sensors or whatever is causing that Engine Check Light to remain on.
3. All belts (Serpentine & timing belt), tensioner, crank and cam seals and
water pump, thermostat with coolant flush.

Do # 1 now and if your Serpentine belt is bad they can slap a new one on
when the alternator is being replaced.
then
#2 after awhile but post those DTCs for us to read first.

Then before next winter do #3, or maybe next year. Now if the squealing is
bad you might want to do it sooner. If you are frugal you could just do
what is needed, timing belt and tensioner. Seals if they are leaking.

It might be me, but it seems like that shop might be charging you a little
more than they need to.
It would be better if you broke down the estimates and posted them here.


JMHO
--
later,
dave
(One out of many daves)

<lowonoptions.RemoveThis@aol.com> wrote in message
news:cd8701b0-3f2f-489c-a2bb-82782f191272@f47g2000hsd.googlegroups.com...
> Hi All,
>
> I have a 2001 VW Golf 2.0L manual transmission with 107,000
> miles. The car has performed well until this recently. I now need a
> new alternator, fan belt, and both o2 sensors to just drive and pass
> emsissions, with taxes and fees this comes in around $1,200 USD. The
> shop (which I've been happy with) also recommends that I do the timing
> belt / tensioner (as its noisy, original, and interfering when it
> breaks), spark plugs / wires, water pump, oil seals, coolant flushes,
> and the like (which have never been done) for a total cost of around
> $2,400 (including the alternator and o2 sensors). My question is... I
> think that the car in good shape is only "worth" $3,500 trade-in /
> $4,500 retail. Would any of you do $2,400 repairs / preventative
> maintenance on this kind of car (if you weren't attached to it
> emotionally) or would you just put the money towards a new cheap, but
> reliable car (from a long-term breaking even stand point).
>
> Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated, thank you, lowonoptions
 >> Stay informed about: 2001 VW Golf Major Service Decision HELP PLEASE!!! 

On Feb 25, 6:35 pm, "dave AKA vwdoc1" <vwdoc1nos... RemoveThis @pleasehotmail.com>
wrote:
> Yeah lowonoptions,
> I priced out a 028-903-028D alternator (90 amp) for a 2001 Golf at the
> dealer last week and found that they charge $500 for a remanufactured one
> with a $200 core charge.  OUCH!!
> I told the owner of the car to buy a NEW one from ebay, like item #
> 130200638067, which he did and I will see later this week.  The ebay one
> will only cost $140 shipped and saves him $360.  8^)
> Only takes 1 hour to change out in real time, but you might get charged 1.5
> hours to switch pulleys over!
>
> Are you sure that you need BOTH Oxygen Sensors?
> What are the DTCs stored in the ECM?
> Post them here!!!
>
> NO the timing belt should not cause any damage if it breaks, but replacing
> the water pump with the timing belt is a good idea WHEN YOU NEED ONE!  
> Your timing belt could last to about 165K miles, but if the tensioner is
> making noise now then it is your call!
>
> I vote you do the repairs over several different visits or stages.
> 1. Replace that alternator so the vehicle is drivable again.
> 2. O2 sensors or whatever is causing that Engine Check Light to remain on.
> 3. All belts (Serpentine & timing belt), tensioner, crank and cam seals and
> water pump, thermostat with coolant flush.
>
> Do # 1 now and if your Serpentine belt is bad they can slap a new one on
> when the alternator is being replaced.
> then
> #2 after awhile but post those DTCs for us to read first.
>
> Then before next winter do #3, or maybe next year.  Now if the squealing is
> bad you might want to do it sooner.  If you are frugal you could just do
> what is needed, timing belt and tensioner.  Seals if they are leaking.
>
> It might be me, but it seems like that shop might be charging you a little
> more than they need to.
> It would be better if you broke down the estimates and posted them here.
>
>
> JMHO
> --
> later,
> dave
> (One out of many daves)
>
> <lowonopti... RemoveThis @aol.com> wrote in message
>
> news:cd8701b0-3f2f-489c-a2bb-82782f191272@f47g2000hsd.googlegroups.com...
>
>
>
> > Hi All,
>
> >     I have a 2001 VW Golf 2.0L manual transmission with 107,000
> > miles.  The car has performed well until this recently.  I now need a
> > new alternator, fan belt, and both o2 sensors to just drive and pass
> > emsissions, with taxes and fees this comes in around $1,200 USD.  The
> > shop (which I've been happy with) also recommends that I do the timing
> > belt / tensioner (as its noisy, original, and interfering when it
> > breaks), spark plugs / wires, water pump, oil seals, coolant flushes,
> > and the like (which have never been done) for a total cost of around
> > $2,400 (including the alternator and o2 sensors).  My question is... I
> > think that the car in good shape is only "worth" $3,500 trade-in /
> > $4,500 retail.  Would any of you do $2,400 repairs / preventative
> > maintenance on this kind of car (if you weren't attached to it
> > emotionally) or would you just put the money towards a new cheap, but
> > reliable car (from a long-term breaking even stand point).
>
> > Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated, thank you, lowonoptions- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Thank you Dave / VWDOC1, You really know your stuff! The codes (and
testing) confirmed that both o2 sensors were dead. Taking your
advice, I found a much better price on the alternator and will look at
the repairs in stages. Thanks again, you really helped me out!
lowonoptions
 >> Stay informed about: 2001 VW Golf Major Service Decision HELP PLEASE!!!