VW Golf Mk4 1.4, revs high....?

[JumboBeef]

I drove my partner's 2002 Golf 1.4 for the first time the other day. I was surprised that, in 5th, it was at 3,000 rpm at 60mph. This seems really high to me, is this normal? She says it isn't very good on fuel.

The car is going in tomorrow to a garage for, at 13 years old and 110,000 miles, for it's first cam belt change....

Poor car hasn't seen any sort of service for the last three years (only bare minimum to get through the MOT) and very little for the five years before that. Testament to VW that it is still going.

It has a number of silly problems which I can sort but the biggest is that it can be stiff to get into 1st. Any ideas?

Thanks.

[JumboBeef]

Thanks.

It had 2x new tyres at the weekend and today it is going in for cam belt (very overdue), first oil/filter in three years and new plugs and air filter in maybe 8 years.

Anyone got any idea how to get into a locked/seized tailgate?

[JumboBeef]

Not been able to open it with the key for at least two years apparently.....

[JumboBeef]

Thanks.

So, got the car back. This photo shows the guide (?) which goes around the tensioner (sorry if I'm getting my terminology wrong....)

It has snapped as you can see, and had wedged sideways, with the 13 year old cam belt running across it: see the gouge marks......

Very lucky escape I think.......