[Vwdiesel] sudden TDI death

[H.Hagar]

I thought to do the old trick where you 
loosen injector lines one by one and see which cylinder is the problem.  
Turns out you can't do that on a TDI.  Higher fuel pressure makes for a 
regular fuel geyser.   

and that the crank and 
cam are still in harmony with each other.  I'd love to be able to check 
whether the pistons got introduced to the valves

-Shalyn  

I have no hands on experience with VW 2000 TDI ,  but I read your thread  carefully
with some interest.  I saw the word that cost was important.   --- You might as well start
your DIY operation NOW.  The Bentley is worth every penny over time.With that and this
forum you are sure to win in the long run.

I am almost finished making a "NIFTY" belt tension tester , that assures the belt is close
to VW specs.Will post when finished.

Q:  Was injection 21 BTDC ? or what for sure. A drastically advanced pump will limp home
if you go really easy on acceleration and load , use lots of revs in lower gear.Adjust idle
as high as you can before limping. This information is based on the fact that ignition point
does not change in a diesel. Fuel knock will be considerable if you use too much pedal
in relation to RPM  --- fuel is pooled before ignition.
If it was 21 ATDC then is runs on pooled fuel and RPM and power may be too low for limping.

More worrisome are the bicycle spokes being cut. Last part of your trip you said engine was getting
noisy ?   like fuel knock ? ---and did she smoke ?

The basics of Diesel are not beyond anyone in this forum ---- so ones you got that down , then
a couple of years on the finer points ----the 1976 -to 1986 models are mastered.

I shall write a separate thread about Boiler Gauge versus Transistors.

Why do you have to remove PAN ? ----  IMHO  all you have to do is use timing mark on
flywheel and remove # 1 glowplug to make sure # 1 piston is compression top.

By the way I am NOT a mechanic ---but I am good at analytical troubleshooting ---if you know
Boolean logic you will understand.

I appreciate all the advice and offers of help from the list (shaylan).--- it is a win win situation.

Us old geezers get the gray matter exercised --we need that.

Hagar.

PS:
.   Kind of a 
bummer because I really like the shop that did the work and I'd hate for 
events to change my opinion.  (shaylan)------- indeed be careful not to blame them too
fast. A good relationship is important if you by chance found a good VW shop.
Stealerships do a good job ----but very expensive.And few can be trusted.