[Vwdiesel] help: eval 85 golf

[Nate Wall]

Figure on a timing belt replacement now, or at some later time (since you'll
have this car for the rest of your life, and invest in the special tools needed
to do the job right.

--Nate

LBaird119 at aol.com wrote:

> > i am going to look at an 1985 golf diesel, 5sp . 160k. still gets 50mpg.
> >  overall good condition. small crack in the winsheild. seller basically
> >  inherited the car, does not know much about it. po supposedly took decent
> >  care of it.
> >  has a/c but  unknown.  'heat works real good.'
> >
> >  aside from the 'usual,' is there anything that i should pay particular
> >  attention to?
>
>   Check for leaky heater core, most of them have been replaced by now
> though.  Look at the coolant stream, into the reservoir at a fast idle.  It
> should be nearly steady, no bubbles.  No bubbles at all is best.  Have
> the injectors ever been replaced, if not it's time.  Grab the front tires
> fore
> and aft and wiggle, check for clunks from inner or outer tie rod ends.
> Rear tires same only push in and out with your foot on the top, check
> for movement or light clunk, loose wheel bearings.
>   Check how well it starts, cold, with the cold start knob out and the
> glow plugs cycled until the light goes off.
>   Look for broken ears on the A/C compressor
> >
> >  one thing i am wondering, how does one check status of the struts?
>
>   Look at the rubber snubbers, kind of accordion like and fairly short on
> an A2 body.  If it's rotted then they'll need replaced.  Once oil starts
> leaking
> out of the struts, it rots the rubber the snubbers are made of.  Nice
> indicator.
> >
> >  is the clutch in these completely manual or are they hydraulic?
> >
>   It's a cable but that vintage was "self adjusting" which didn't work all
> that
> well.  Many have been replaced with a regular cable.  It's cheaper and
> works better.  Mine was already switched but not properly converted.
>      Loren
> _______________________________________________
> vwdiesel mailing list
> vwdiesel at vwfans.com
> http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/vwdiesel