What needs replacing in a 5 year old car?

PizzamanIRL

I know it's a broad question but I know feck all about cars and long term maintenance.

I have a Seat Ibiza coming up on 5 years old. What parts usually need replacing after a certain amount of years or kilometres? The timing belt?? Spark plugs?
There's 82,000km driven so far.

I've done nothing but service it and replace tires since I bought it and it's given me no problems.

Interslice

Timing belt wouldnt be far off. Normally 5/6year interval. What engine is it someone will know? You should stick in new coolant at the same time.

youll get a list as long as your arm but you should start adding to jobs being done at this stage like changing the brake fluid next time its in for pads and disks. Fuel/pollen filter at next service. That type of thing.

CiniO

PizzamanIRL wrote: »

I know it's a broad question but I know feck all about cars and long term maintenance.

I have a Seat Ibiza coming up on 5 years old. What parts usually need replacing after a certain amount of years or kilometres? The timing belt?? Spark plugs?
There's 82,000km driven so far.

I've done nothing but service it and replace tires since I bought it and it's given me no problems.

Generally servicing should cover everything which needs to be done... But that's only assuming you service your car up to manufacturer's schedule. Probably main dealer would stick to list of stuff that needs doing at certain time/mileage, but if you service it at independent garage they might just do oil + filters and don't bother with extra stuff.

Usually after 5 years, you should start thinking about changing coolant and braking fluid assuming it wasn't done yet.
Timing belt - depends on car.

PizzamanIRL

Thanks.

It's a 1.2 Petrol.

I've got it serviced every June/July so far, with the last 2 years through a local mechanic.

Focus_sligo

You should have a timing chain and not a belt, so as long as it's not noisey your ok. Car should by manufactures recommendation be on it's second brake fluid change, spark plugs are 60k intervals, air filter the same. Fuel filter 90k and pollen filter 30k intervals.

Atlantic Dawn

I'd replace the fan belt too.

cantdecide

Just a thought- what is the consensus on changing brake fluid (and power steering fluid if applicable) and other coolant? In the bike world, it's reasonably common to change fluids (and flush rads etc) once the age starts creeping in. IN fact I was thinking about getting my cooling systems flushed in my old Stilo as a precaution.

Interslice

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

I'd replace the fan belt too.

How can you say that without seeing it? Could be grand.

Personally I change brake fluid with brake discs and coolant with the water pump/tb. Power steering fluid I'd only change if it was already out for some reason.

Atlantic Dawn

Interslice wrote: »

How can you say that without seeing it? Could be grand.

It's a cheap part, about €20/25 most can be done DIY, I replace mine every 5 years regardless.

*Kol*

cantdecide wrote: »

Just a thought- what is the consensus on changing brake fluid (and power steering fluid if applicable) and other coolant? In the bike world, it's reasonably common to change fluids (and flush rads etc) once the age starts creeping in. IN fact I was thinking about getting my cooling systems flushed in my old Stilo as a precaution.

I think changing brake fluid is a good thing. Definitely brake fluid absorbs moisture over time and air may get into the system. It good to change the fluid and bleed the system. As regards how often I don't know. I had it done on a camper I have and the difference was noticeable.

CiniO

*Kol* wrote: »

I think changing brake fluid is a good thing. Definitely brake fluid absorbs moisture over time and air may get into the system. It good to change the fluid and bleed the system. As regards how often I don't know. I had it done on a camper I have and the difference was noticeable.

How did you notice the difference? What were the visible advantages?

gctest50

Flexible brake hoses too

CiniO

gctest50 wrote: »

Flexible brake hoses too

Would you really think that changing flexible brake hoses after 5 years is necessary?

B00056718

cantdecide wrote: »

Just a thought- what is the consensus on changing brake fluid (and power steering fluid if applicable) and other coolant? In the bike world, it's reasonably common to change fluids (and flush rads etc) once the age starts creeping in. IN fact I was thinking about getting my cooling systems flushed in my old Stilo as a precaution.

Just be careful. If it's the 1.2 Stilo, the cooling system will have to be bled properly and only water-less coolant should be used. Those are great engines, assuming the maintenance is done properly, but can start overheating if the correct procedures are ignored.

homer90

Just check the manuals that came with the car, a servicing schedule should be outlined in that.

CiniO

OSI wrote: »

Stiffer pedal. Earlier bite. Better feel. etc etc

That would indicate to me, that there was something wrong beforehand (f.e. air in the system) if I'm right.

Old braking fluid would cause that on it's own.
Even if you poured clean water into braking system it should still feel the same, until it would reach boiling temperature.

CiniO

CiniO wrote: »

That would indicate to me, that there was something wrong beforehand (f.e. air in the system) if I'm right.

Old braking fluid would cause that on it's own.
Even if you poured clean water into braking system it should still feel the same, until it would reach boiling temperature.

Water isn't very compressable. But when you have more water in the system, as naturally happens over time due to absorption by the brake fluid, you get oxidation which allows impurities into the water and causes it to become more compressable.

ianobrien

CiniO wrote: »

That would indicate to me, that there was something wrong beforehand (f.e. air in the system) if I'm right.

Old braking fluid would cause that on it's own.
Even if you poured clean water into braking system it should still feel the same, until it would reach boiling temperature.

That's true, water could do, as long as the temperatures at the callipers didn't cause any vaporisation of the water (water can vapourise at 0.01C, the triple point of water). Brake temperatures can easily go above 100C from ordinary driving and then you'll get steam pockets in the fluid. The vapour pockets are compressible, meaning you press the pedal and no movement in the caliper.

The thing is brake fluid is hydroscopic so naturally absorbs water from the air. The water absorbed has dissolved oxygen, causing degradation and oxidation of components internally.

If you want to see the temperatures of your brakes, when you finish after a normal drive, immediately after stopping the car throw a small bit of water on the brake disc and caliper.

OP, if you want to know what to change, check the service schedule in the owners manual. Once you follow that you should have no real problems (touching wood)

cantdecide

Will changing brake fluid increase the life of components?

*Kol*

cantdecide wrote: »

Will changing brake fluid increase the life of components?

It should do as it will take any absorbed water out of the system and help prevent internal corrosion.

H3llR4iser

PizzamanIRL wrote: »

I know it's a broad question but I know feck all about cars and long term maintenance.

I have a Seat Ibiza coming up on 5 years old. What parts usually need replacing after a certain amount of years or kilometres? The timing belt?? Spark plugs?
There's 82,000km driven so far.

I've done nothing but service it and replace tires since I bought it and it's given me no problems.

It depends on the state of the car.

The first thing I would look at are the tires, if you never replaced them before. At 82k km, they're bound to be at the end of their life - and in any case, 5 years is a longish time for rubber, which decays over time. Check them for cracks and signs of wear and tear on the sides, especially where the thread meets the wall.

Still talking about rubber decay, service belt. It might look fine, but it'd be old. It's really cheap - no reason not to do it.

If the engine is belt driven, then the timing belt needs to be done. Rubber decay is again the reason why most makers specify "X miles/5 years" intervals. If it's chain driven, then you should not need to do anything in these regards unless there is a specific issue.

Sparkplugs are another cheap service item that makes no sense to skimp on - for most cars, you can get the full set for around 30 euro and replacement is an extremely easy, 15 minutes DIY job if you have some basic manual skills. Since you are at it, take a look at the sparkplug cables - again it's the plastic/rubber casing you want to check.

If you didn't do it before, gearbox oil wouldn't hurt - even 'though most newer cars claim to never need it changed. Same goes for brakes fluid - recommended interval is usually 2 years, as it's an hygroscopic substance.