Is this the end??

[Owdjockey]

My avensis 54 plate d4d reached 239,000 miles this week. I have had the car from new and serviced it myself(apart from timing belt changes). It is still on its original clutch and exhaust. I have less  than a thousand miles until its next timing belt change ( which I was going to do myself this time). A few days ago i noticed some coolant on the garage floor and have located the tell-tale pink coolant stain close to the water pump. So I would now require to replace the water pump at the same time as the timing belt. I now wondering if its now time to put the old girl out to pasture?

Anyway, the purpose of my post is to say that I am going to look at another car - a 2009 1.8 v-matic TR T2 Estate petrol with 49k on the clock and would like to know if there is anything I should look out for with this particular model?

I know its stupid and only a car, but I have a strong attachment to the old girl having  driven it all over the UK, including as far as you could possibly drive in the northern Shetlands, I have spent a number of nights kipped in the back and it has been and still is an excellent vehicle.

[mickburkesnr]

Would you put your mother in a nursing home if she let a bit of wee out every now and then?

I don't think it could be denied you have had your money's worth out of the car especially as all of those 239,000 miles have been done yourself. But if the only thing to bring you to the point of contemplating getting rid of it is a failing water pump then I don't think you need to get rid of it. I think it'd be a different situation if the gearbox and the engine and half the car had decided it had enough and it all needed replacing, but a water pump is a £40/£50 part. I'd keep her going until she's falling apart in my opinion.

[Heidfirst]

27 minutes ago, Owdjockey said:

 So I would now require to replace the water pump at the same time as the timing belt. I now wondering if its now time to put the old girl out to pasture?

On certain other cars it is considered good practice to change the water pump at the same time as the belt anyway. What's it going to cost, £60?

Anyway, the purpose of my post is to say that I am going to look at another car - a 2009 1.8 v-matic TR T2 Estate petrol with 49k on the clock and would like to know if there is anything I should look out for with this particular model?

Can't be a TR T2, has to be 1 or the other. ;)  T2 I would say is a bit basic for my tastes (of course that also means fewer electrics to potentially go wrong in the future).

The engine & gearboxes seem very reliable. Some cars exhibit cracking in the doors by the restrictor stay (Toyota has usually fixed these under warranty). The EPB is a potential worry in that they are very expensive to fix if the actuator needs replaced but in fairness it seems that only a very very small no. actually do (certainly compared to the likes of VAG).

 

[avensisd4d786]

1 hour ago, Owdjockey said:

My avensis 54 plate d4d reached 239,000 miles this week. I have had the car from new and serviced it myself(apart from timing belt changes). It is still on its original clutch and exhaust. I have less  than a thousand miles until its next timing belt change ( which I was going to do myself this time). A few days ago i noticed some coolant on the garage floor and have located the tell-tale pink coolant stain close to the water pump. So I would now require to replace the water pump at the same time as the timing belt. I now wondering if its now time to put the old girl out to pasture?

Anyway, the purpose of my post is to say that I am going to look at another car - a 2009 1.8 v-matic TR T2 Estate petrol with 49k on the clock and would like to know if there is anything I should look out for with this particular model?

I know its stupid and only a car, but I have a strong attachment to the old girl having  driven it all over the UK, including as far as you could possibly drive in the northern Shetlands, I have spent a number of nights kipped in the back and it has been and still is an excellent vehicle.

what kind of parts have u replaced, isnt the pedal quite hard to press with the clutch having 239k.

I always change the water pump when changing the timing belt on these engines. 

I wouldn't get rid due to a failing waterpump.

[Owdjockey]

I don't have a problem with the clutch, as yet, the problem with things failing over  time is you  tend to accept them as the norm. My mileage has been predominantly motorway miles, thus considerably less gear changes.The water pump was last replaced (but was not leaking) at the 120,000 service interval along with the belt.

I've replaced : my starter motor at 120k & 200k miles

                     my front brake discs at 60k & 110k miles (amazingly my current disc thicknesses are 25.39mm & 25.21mm) plenty of meat still on them.

                     my rear brake discs at 89k miles

                     my o/s front Front wheel bearing at 207k miles

                     my glow plugs at 110k & 190k miles the first as precautionary the second in response to a P-code

 

BTW, Its not just the water pump, its do I want to do this work and possibly more in the near future. Still abit undecided.