Mid Life Crisis - Fettliing A Passat !!

[ChillOut]

My car is 4 years old and around 70K.

Its been having a bad time recently with a number of failures. Ever the optomist, I am hoping its a mid-life blip and once back on the straight and narrow it will be good for another 4 years and 70K.

However, what would people recommend to change around this time to make the car feel a bit newer? Or remove and clean. Things that might fail soon anyway or will affect smooth running etc.

[martin1810]

Suspension bushes and shocks. You'll be amazed at the difference.

[ChillOut]

Suspension bushes and shocks. You'll be amazed at the difference.

Shocks done last year - new rears in particular made a vast improvement.

Still saving my coppers for bushes - quite pricey!

[vincentbob]

I recently had to change the alternator clutch pulley, which had seized and was causing vibration from the engine. The transformation has been dramatic, the car is smoother and altogether a lot nicer to drive than it has been for a long while. The pulley must have been failing for quite some time as I didn't notice a big deterioration.
They normally fail at around 70 - 90k miles and you can see if yours is going by looking at the auxillary drive belt tensioner with the engine running, if the belt pulley is jumping up and down more than just a small amount then this is a possibility.

[boidy]

if it ain't broke.......don't fix it..

[ChillOut]

if it ain't broke.......don't fix it..

Not a bad adage I would agree, but there are sometimes things simple cheap and effective as car gets older.

And no one advises that when it comes to CAM belt rollers and belts, although I remain disgusted they can't (actually just won't) make a belt and bearing that's good for 10 years/150K.

I will throw in one that's worth a go - Car Plan Kleen Air for the air conditioning - won't make it go better, supposed to stop it getting moldy.

I have to say I was very sceptical this could work, but the car has been getting increasingly fusty and I thought "what the hell", so I treated it last night. And this morning when I got in the car, all I could smell was the leather - its been a long time since I have had that pleasure, so I would have to say it seems to work.

£10 or 9 for £45 delivered on E-BAY. They say every six months, but I will do it annually I think.