Advice for repairment

[genonashi]

Hi guys,

Today, I went to dealer to have a regular maintainance. After the process, the assistant came to me and told me there were things needed to pay more attention:
1. Serpentine belt cracks (ask for $180 to replace)
2. Cooling bottle cracks (ask for $180 to replace)

How do you think of these two problems? Are they urgent? What do you think of the price? Thanks a lot~

Update: My car is 2001 Passat, 2.8L. It runs 115,000 miles. I replaced the timing belt at around 90,000 miles. I checked engine room. I can see the crack at the coolant bottle, but can't see the problem at serpentine belt (the assistant told me the crack was in the back side).

[bill1975]

Did you look at the belt and coolant tank yourself?

The serpentine belt isn't a major concern. Have you looked at it? A few light cracks are not a big concern. It is generally changed during the timing belt service. What is your mileage? When was the timing belt done last?

If the coolant tank is cracked you will be leaking coolant and get a low coolant warning on the dash. $180 is a lot. I paid about $40 for a new one and changed it myself in about 20 minutes.

[genonashi]

thanks for your advices, bill1975. I think I should add my car's information at the beginning. My car is 2001 Passat, 2.8L. It runs 115,000 miles. I replaced the timing belt at around 90,000 miles. I checked engine room. I can see the crack at the coolant bottle, but can't see the problem at serpentine belt (the assistant told me the crack was in the back side).

Is it there any tutorial to show how to replace the coolant tank?

Did you look at the belt and coolant tank yourself?

The serpentine belt isn't a major concern. Have you looked at it? A few light cracks are not a big concern. It is generally changed during the timing belt service. What is your mileage? When was the timing belt done last?

If the coolant tank is cracked you will be leaking coolant and get a low coolant warning on the dash. $180 is a lot. I paid about $40 for a new one and changed it myself in about 20 minutes.

[ylwagon]

Both of those items are fairly simple to do yourself, and cheap. $18 for belt, $25 for tank at autohausaz.com. To save over $300 I'd spend a little time to do this myself. There may be online tutorials or Youtube videos, or you can get a Chilton manual at the auto parts store.

[genonashi]

thanks, ylwagon. i will check it out.

Both of those items are fairly simple to do yourself, and cheap. $18 for belt, $25 for tank at autohausaz.com. To save over $300 I'd spend a little time to do this myself. There may be online tutorials or Youtube videos, or you can get a Chilton manual at the auto parts store.

[bill1975]

I don't know of a writeup on how to replace the tank, but it seemed pretty self explanatory to me just f on looking at it.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using AutoGuide.Com Free App

[ylwagon]

The tank is about a five-minute job, you'll just need a catch container for the coolant, screwdriver, and maybe pliers for the hose clamps. The belt also takes just minutes, especially if you've done it once or twice before. The only tool necessary, at least on my early 2.8, is a 17mm socket on the end of a ratchet or 3/8"breaker bar.

[genonashi]

thanks~~

I don't know of a writeup on how to replace the tank, but it seemed pretty self explanatory to me just f on looking at it.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using AutoGuide.Com Free App

[genonashi]

Thanks! Is the hose clamp one time which means I need to get some new ones?

The tank is about a five-minute job, you'll just need a catch container for the coolant, screwdriver, and maybe pliers for the hose clamps. The belt also takes just minutes, especially if you've done it once or twice before. The only tool necessary, at least on my early 2.8, is a 17mm socket on the end of a ratchet or 3/8"breaker bar.

[ylwagon]

They can be reused.

[B5passat8]

Serpentine belts cost like 15 dollars and can replaced in a couple hours

[ylwagon]

Serpentine belts cost like 15 dollars and can replaced in a couple hours

Couple hours? You torque the tensioner's spring with the breaker bar/socket to release belt tension, then slip the belt off the pulleys, starting with the steering pump. You have to work the belt off around the mechanical fan and so forth to get it out, but I can do mine in a couple of minutes. You just need a compact socket and swivel breaker bar to get the socket on the tensioner's stub hex-shaped post.