[Crank]

Hi All,

My Vento TDI is now 11 years old. The maintenance after 10 years is always a pain considering the niggles one has to face (based on my Maruti Zen experience). Dealer is suggesting a Suspension overhaul and a few other changes which will cost upwards of 60K. Is it worth doing these upgrades or better sell and go for a new car? Having driven my beloved Vento for 11 years, I am not feeling comfortable with sub-standard build quality or sub-standard driveability. Cars in the market currently are mostly Petrol and cannot match the build quality of Vento TDI. Members of this forum, please suggest and let me know your experience moving away from a Vento TDI.

Thanks.

[Turbohead]

Originally Posted by Crank

Hi All,

My Vento TDI is now 11 years old. The maintenance after 10 years is always a pain considering the niggles one has to face (based on my Maruti Zen experience). Dealer is suggesting a Suspension overhaul and a few other changes which will cost upwards of 60K. Is it worth doing these upgrades or better sell and go for a new car? Having driven my beloved Vento for 11 years, I am not feeling comfortable with sub-standard build quality or sub-standard driveability. Cars in the market currently are mostly Petrol and cannot match the build quality of Vento TDI. Members of this forum, please suggest and let me know your experience moving away from a Vento TDI.

Thanks.

60k is at VW SC or FNG? When we overhauled the suspension, it was done at stages by the FNG since the remaining parts were fine. I'd suggest visiting a competent FNG at this stage - will be cheaper.

Same problem here - 10 years old and no car out there feels like an upgrade when you consider the amount of money that needs to be put in. How many kms done though?

[Crank]

Originally Posted by Turbohead

60k is at VW SC or FNG?

VW SC. But has other things including Steering rack and Timing Kit.

Originally Posted by Turbohead

I'd suggest visiting a competent FNG at this stage - will be cheaper.

Yes, did that. The FNG charges 30K for TRW Shocks - a complete suspension set excluding steering rack.

Originally Posted by Turbohead

Same problem here - 10 years old and no car out there feels like an upgrade when you consider the amount of money that needs to be put in. How many kms done though?

Absolutely in concurrence. My car has done 95K. That's actually low for the years it had been running.

[Turbohead]

Originally Posted by Crank

VW SC. But has other things including Steering rack and Timing Kit.

Yes, did that. The FNG charges 30K for TRW Shocks - a complete suspension set excluding steering rack.

Absolutely in concurrence. My car has done 95K. That's actually low for the years it had been running.

Better to get the timing kit done at the VW SC.

Steering rack and suspension is something that can be easily done outside. We tried sourcing Sachs shocks but could only get Monroe gas charged ones. Slightly stiffer but the ride is flat on the highways. I believe TRW is well documented on the forum.

95k kms is quite less for the age! Don't be surprised if you get a few surprises - we had a few scares between 120k and 140k kms.

[Satkaj]

Originally Posted by Crank

Hi All,

My Vento TDI is now 11 years old. The maintenance after 10 years is always a pain considering the niggles one has to face (based on my Maruti Zen experience). Dealer is suggesting a Suspension overhaul and a few other changes which will cost upwards of 60K. Is it worth doing these upgrades or better sell and go for a new car? Having driven my beloved Vento for 11 years, I am not feeling comfortable with sub-standard build quality or sub-standard driveability. Cars in the market currently are mostly Petrol and cannot match the build quality of Vento TDI. Members of this forum, please suggest and let me know your experience moving away from a Vento TDI.

Thanks.

14 yrs and my Vento still going strong. Unable to find any suitable car which will satisfy at all fronts. Just enjoy your car till you find an alternative.

You certainly don’t need to visit Authorised service station. I am sure Chennai has some of the best FNG’s. Most parts are easily available.

[Crank]

Originally Posted by Turbohead

Better to get the timing kit done at the VW SC.

Do you think it needs a change at less than 100k kms?

Originally Posted by Satkaj

Just enjoy your car till you find an alternative.

Besides the maintenance costs am also worried about the diesel emission rules. Are we expecting a scrapping policy on 15 year+ Diesel cars?

[Satkaj]

@Crank
Better change your timing belt close to 1L km mark.

I am from Maharashtra and as of now there is no such rule anticipated. We are still in much better position to Delhi guys , which has the rule of 10yrs. You have already crossed 11 yrs and there is still a life left in your Vento . The cost of maintaining is much less than buying a new car today. These machines are made to last long enough which now is being proven.

[Turbohead]

Originally Posted by Crank

Do you think it needs a change at less than 100k kms?

Yes. At exactly 1 lakh kms, the water pump started leaking for us which is the weak point of the system. If I'm not wrong, the interval was changed from 120k kms to 90k kms a few years ago because of this. So please go ahead and change the timing belt, water pump and associated parts. It comes as a kit if I'm not wrong.

[Satkaj]

Today my Vento Showed a warning light kind of 2 eyes( Glow Plug )and lost power. It showed ECM processor error while we attached to VCD.

I am told that they will try to repair if possible or might have to change the board. Will wait for further details.

[ninjatalli]

Originally Posted by Crank

Dealer is suggesting a Suspension overhaul and a few other changes which will cost upwards of 60K. Is it worth doing these upgrades or better sell and go for a new car?

Head over to Perambur and visit Jai Prakash's garage (related thread). He comes highly recommended from VW & Audi owners in Chennai.

I got my suspension overhaul from him (details here). He's the perfect FNG to tell you what all changes are required. As for the timing belt, I concur with the others - would be good to get it done now. Ask Jai Prakash about it - he's probably the best person to advice you on this.

[rkv_2401]

The lock button on my key remote has broken. I have a spare key, but I have no idea how to program it to work with the car. Does the car auto-lock after a certain amount of time? Is there any trick to get it to lock without manually locking with the key? The central locking button doesn't do anything if the driver's side door is open.

[Satkaj]

Originally Posted by Satkaj

Today my Vento Showed a warning light kind of 2 eyes( Glow Plug )and lost power. It showed ECM processor error while we attached to VCD.

I am told that they will try to repair if possible or might have to change the board. Will wait for further details.

My trusted FNG took my car to his trusted garage who is quite experienced with all major German cars and their software’s.

My ECM showed few black spots and was repaired. He quoted 15k😩 as of now. Will try and bargain a bit. Hope this will last till life on my car.

[Crank]

Originally Posted by Turbohead

Better to get the timing kit done at the VW SC.

Any reasons why? The VW SC is quoting ~20K. FNG is quoting 12K.

Originally Posted by Turbohead

Steering rack and suspension is something that can be easily done outside. We tried sourcing Sachs shocks but could only get Monroe gas charged ones. Slightly stiffer but the ride is flat on the highways. I believe TRW is well documented on the forum.

I did read that TRW was a bit stiffer. As you may be aware, the original shocks in Vento has stiffer ones on the front and softer ones on the rear. But TRW is all around stiff. Any suggestions you have to make here?

Originally Posted by Turbohead

95k kms is quite less for the age! Don't be surprised if you get a few surprises - we had a few scares between 120k and 140k kms.

Can you please give an heads up on these shocks / scares for me to be prepared?

Also, I read this post in this forum - https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/techn...pension-3.html (How do you know when its time to overhaul the suspension?)
Did a checklist as below.



I did this as my co passengers and other drivers of my car felt there is nothing wrong with the suspension except for the noise that they hear on bad roads. However I know that the bushes have worn out as you can see in the pictures below.

Rear Shocks - RHS


Rear Shocks LHS


Rear Coil Spring - RHS


Rear Coil Spring - LHS


Front Struts - RHS


Front Struts - LHS



Do the above pictures point to a Suspension worn out and needs a complete replacement?

[Satkaj]

You will only realise once you remove your suspension and check compression. I am sure with age and ride they certainly need to be changed. I paid appx 25k for front suspension/ steering rack kit.

Service station will always be far expensive and please don’t ask why as they have their own mark up/ Service costs etc .

As suggested above just take your car to reputed FNG and trust me you will be sorted in 24hrs.

[Turbohead]

Originally Posted by Crank

Any reasons why? The VW SC is quoting ~20K. FNG is quoting 12K.
I did read that TRW was a bit stiffer. As you may be aware, the original shocks in Vento has stiffer ones on the front and softer ones on the rear. But TRW is all around stiff. Any suggestions you have to make here?

Can you please give an heads up on these shocks / scares for me to be prepared?

Going to an FNG depends on the reputation of the place and the quality of parts sourced. Depends on your risk appetite. I did it outside at the FNG.

I personally go to Jai Prakash for all the work. He'll tell you exactly what needs to be done for the suspension. Most likely, he'll just replace the bushes if everything is fine.

His job is thorough and if something's wrong (very rare) he'll acknowledge it and fix it. Been going there since 2018 ever since warranty expired including service and stuff.

Surprises/Maintenance we had so far post warranty expiry:
1) Water pump leak at 1 lakh kms - replaced the whole kit.
2) Water pump seizure at 1.2 lakh kms. This nearly tore off the timing belt. Thankfully engine didn't get damaged. The water pump designed by VW is very famous for its failures. This was the only time we got stranded on the highway
3) EGR electric coolant pump failed around 1.2 lakh kms. This was tricky - we couldn't get the a proper replacement and had to go to the VW SC to get the original part. Jai Prakash couldn't source the original part and suggested us to go to the service center.
4) High pressure fuel pump leak at 1.4 lakh kms. It was refurbished by someone known to Jai Prakash.
5) Oil cooler started leaking around 1.4 lakh kms. Replaced.
6) AC compressor failed around 1.15 lak kms. Replaced.
7) Suspension bushes overhauled at 85k kms along with replacement of steering rack.
8) Front suspension shock absorbers replaced at 1.2 lakh kms
9) Rear shock absorbers replaced at 1.3 lakh kms.

Today it's been exactly 10 years and 1.55 lakh kms since purchase. All worries vanish once you drive and have fun on a long trip.