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I've just bought a 2006 Renault Trafic 1.9 dCi 100 LWB Hi-Top ex-mobility minibus with 108k miles on it. Seems to be in good nick, but I'm going to get it looked over/serviced by my local garage to see how much of a mistake I may have made.
If they don't find anything majorly wrong on an initial check I wouldn't mind keeping this for a few years, so I just want to make sure the garage cover everything. What I'm thinking of asking for is:
Full service including:
Oil & Filter
Fuel Filter
Check for any evidence that the timing belt/water pump was actually replaced when the seller said it was (3 k miles ago)
Check glow plugs
Clean EGR Valve
Check gearbox oil
Brake Check
Check/replace air filter
Should I also consider:
Coolant change?
Brake/power steering fluid change?
Change gearbox oil?
Anything I've missed? Anything specific that these vans/engines need looking at? Anything else that should definitely be replaced just in case?
Thanks
Sounds a little bit like you are offering the garage a blank cheque!
2006
That is a *lot* of money to spend on a 2006 wagon.
Would you be better to save it 'in case'?
Check service record that came with it, most places now paint on the timing belt date and miles etc. Brakes you can visual check yourself.
Drive it for a few 000miles to check if anything doesn't work.
IIRC, on those vans at that age,
Gearbox linkage is prone to failure. Water pools on top of the engine and especially around the injectors, meaning they corrode in place and also prone to failure
Your list mainly sounds like a major service anyway, depends when that was last done. EGR valve clean might be an expensive job, depending on location.
At that age, I’d possibly get it serviced but basically expect to fix stuff as and when it breaks.
I'd just get a service done. Your garage would probably point out any problems they find. And sod the EGR valve, fit one of these.
https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F151573491228
Gearbox linkage is prone to failure. Water pools on top of the engine and especially around the injectors, meaning they corrode in place and also prone to failure
when it does, you can ziptie it back on. It's worth having a few zip ties stashed for the day that it does. Mine went at about 180,000. Van continued to live a healthy life until I sold it at 240000.
The gearbox linkage is held on with a plastic ball joint which wears you can buy a clip off ebay which stops it popping off.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_nkw=vauxhall+vivaro+gear+linkage+clip
Most likely expensive items to break or replace once you get to that age and mileage...
Clutch and dmf
Turbo
Cam belt failure if not done..
Gearbox. Ours needed changing when on holiday in Ireland last year.
"Most likely expensive items to break or replace once you get to that age and mileage…
Clutch and dmf
Turbo"
Do you say that about every single used vehicle ?
Not something I've personally had issue with and frankly neither really worry me given how much a new van costs and how many new issues that brings.....
As above.
Service it(filters/fluids Inc gearbox)
Ensure the timing belt and water pump are done.
Ensure injectors are not blowing by -youvmay hear it chuff - you will see black death round them.....let this get too bad and it's new head time.
Drive it for a while and see how healthy it is while in use.
I wouldn't bother asking garage to do all the above you'll spend more than vans worth.
Budget for repairs
be prepared to get hands dirty.