Passat opinions/issues (and passat mechanic wanted)

AdamOHare

Hi everybody.

Can anyone tell me about

2006 Volkswagen Passat B6 Comf 1.9tdi 105 4DR

I have researched and know there can be caliper issues. And I know there can be some handbrake issues. (actually I think the caliper and handbrake issue are somehow related).

But yes. Is there anything I should especially look for?

Also. I will need a mechanic (in county louth) familar with passats who would be prepared to look at any car that I plan on buying. I havent found it yet, but I will want an independent mechanic to give me his opinion.

Thank you everyone.

George Dalton

There are three main problems with the parking brake setup.

1. The button; common enough failure but very cheap to replace. A 2006 car may also need a software update on the parking brake controller to avoid a repeat failure, many cars will have had this done already so it is something to check for in the history if possible.
2. The rear calipers; not that common a failure and the OEM TRW parts are available from aftermarket suppliers at much cheaper rates than the main dealer.
3. Wiring issues; sometimes what appears to be a caliper problem can actually be corroded wiring at the caliper plug.

AdamOHare

Thanks for that George. So thats the brake covered in very good detail. Are there any other issues I need to be aware off?


Also, can anyone recommend a decent mechanic in Co Louth that could check a passat?

George Dalton

AdamOHare wrote: »

Thanks for that George. So thats the brake covered in very good detail. Are there any other issues I need to be aware off?

As with any car there are lots of potential problems that you need to look out for, some are common across all cars and others will be specific to each make and model.

There is the usual dual mass flywheel issue that affects all diesel cars, the good news is that the 5 speed Passats are pretty much the cheapest of any car to have the dual mass flywheel replaced in at approx €750 for the job which compares very favourably to a Mondeo or an Avensis for example.

Specific Passat issues include:
Parking brake issues as above
Electronic steering lock failure - costs about €350 to sort out
CV joint boots split
Wishbone bushes wear out
Front and rear shock absorbers are prone to leaking
Fuel lift pumps fail
Check that all doors lock and unlock properly and that they open from both inside and out, locks and operating cables are prone to failure

Various sensor and wiring problems can cause power delivery issues but nothing too major once you use a decent garage who won't waste your money by using the "replace expensive parts until the problem goes away" approach to diagnosis.

Timing belt is due every 120,000km or 4 years, whichever comes first.

Regular oil changes using the correct spec oil are important to avoid camshaft wear so look for evidence that this has been done.

AdamOHare

Thanks for that list. Thats perfect. Exactly what I was looking for Too bad you're in bray or I would have asked you to check it out for me. You seem quite knowledable about the passats.