Info plz on flywheel and clutch problems

[asif]

Firstly Hello to you all I'm new to the club and just bought a 02 plate Gttdi 130 on Saturday just gone, it has done 69k and needs a cambelt as the service history doesn't suggest it's done.

I have a question about this problem I keep hearing about from other owners i've spoke to outside this club.
I've been told that this car has a common problem where the flywheel, clutch and possibly the gearbox commonly mess up and fail on drivers.
I've also been advised that when you do get this problem it costs in the region of £800 to sort out.

How true are these statements and any info you can give me on this is greatly appreciated as i'm crapping it now.
Also how do you know you got this problem coming? and how to you prevent it from happening?

My broother has already had this problem on his 130 and he has done 67k, it happened about 65k.

Many thanks
in advance.

p.s please don't rip me apart if it's a sh!te question as i'm a virgin to these cars

[Rhyso]

flywheel is the most common form of failure

cost wise a new clutch and flywheel and fitting from VW is approx £1000

for that money you can fit an uprated clutch - have a search for Sachs clutches; you'll find the info on what i've put in mine

symptoms are normally rattling at idle and it sounds like a bag of spanners

only thing you can do is not load the engine i.e don't floor it from 30mph in 4th gear - make sure you're in the right gear at all times.  Ideally you only want to floor the accelerator from 1800rpm as thats when you have peak torque

[asif]

Cheers for the info Rhyso.

basically yesterday and the today morning when I start the car from cold and let it run for a little while before I drive the idle seems a little jumpy and can feels it sitting in the car.
No real noises that I can hear although every now and again I hear a faint few knocks, nothing loud at all just if you listen out for it.

Is this something that will most certainly goes on every Gttdi if so when does it roughly happen? as in in which miles range.
If it isn't something that goes on all our tdi's is it just down to driving habits like you've stated, flooring in 4th when doing 30mph.

Thanks again mate, no doubt alot of my Tdi knowledge will come from you.

[Rhyso]

should always jump in and drive straight away if you can mate as it gets the oil and fuel flowing nice and quickly around the system    i did read somewhere that one of the worst things you can do is let it idle from cold because of the high pressure system involved - how true this is i'm not entirely sure but i find mine drives better if i get in and drive straight off

mileage wise you can't really place it as as you've stated its mainly down to driver's habits 

my clutch lasted approx 84K, 2K of which was after being remapped.  Other's like Steve_PD have done over 100K and his is still intact    it really does seem to be luck of the draw 

clutch / flywheel will give way eventually as its a wear and tear item - its life span really does depends on how you treat it

[nadlad]

since my remap ave done 30k miles and the cluth is still cool