[Vwdiesel] sudden TDI death

[Val Christian]

As a kid I disected animals, fixed TVs, and took apart an automatic
transmission.  Taught myself chemistry, and learned about computers
before schools had computer science programs.  Somewhere around 18,
when I was trying to get service done on a vehicle, and I found I
was spending tons of time from work trying to get things fixed, my 
frustration level hit the critical point.  Fortunately, I ran into
a guy who wanted to teach, and had "retired" from a career as a service
manager at a Volvo dealership.  His love was indoor motorcycle racing
and rally cars.  And I suppose teaching.

I decided that I would time and money ahead if I fixed cars, and tooled
up.  Probably $400 back then.  Probably $14000 now.  I figured that 
if nothing else, downstream I'd have more knowledge and would be better
able to get service.

Over the years, I've found that vehicles seem to require about the same 
amount of time servicing, regardless of age.  Everyone seems to argue 
with me on that, including my family.  However, my 03 Jetta TDI certainly
qualifies as a hangar queen.  18 visits to the dealer under warranty.
Each visit has taken 2 to 4 and sometimes more time out of my day.  
I will say that the head tech at the dealership seems very competent,
and the service writer very reasonable.  So it's reassuring that I could
get competent service, although affordability might be an issue.

The oldest vehicle I have on the road right now is a 92 Caravan, and I
can safely say that has taken much less time in the last 18 months than
the 03 Jetta.  Over an order of magnitude.  Oilchanges, filters, and a
pending job of the rear wiper motor, tires, and two headlamps for the 
92 Caravan.  The Jetta has had me do all the routine fluids, filters,
etc. plus, radio, speaker, rattles, plastic shrouds, front end alignment,
tires, steering wheel, horn switch, brake rotor cleanup, and so on.
I realize that a small sample is not realistic, but this has been my
general experience over the years.  Now if you neglect a car, then the
queue builds and an older car can become more work than a newer one.

I read the TDI pages pretty throughly before buying the 03 Jetta.  I really
didn't want to buy a new car, but my family pressured me.  

The conclusion I came to was that the TDI was servicable, although it 
requires more tooling.  A laptop becomes highly desired.  To run the manual
(at the time, I could only get a CD service manual) and to run VAG-COM.
So since I was busting the bank, and ruining any chance of being debt
free, I brought the Bentley CD and the VAG-COM cable shortly after getting
the car.  I played with VAG-COM once, and took the laptop driving with
my 16 yo son.  From the graphics, he decided that I really did know how 
to shift.  The package is pretty neat.

The integration of computers into machinery has been with us for 30 years,
and will continue to increase.  Those of us who want to continue to fix
things instead of prematurely retiring them, or paying someone (and the
infrastructure) to fix them, will simply have to add the right tools to 
our kits.   

TDIs and their technology are here, and some of us on this list are 
starting to have to deal with them.  In 76, I started learning about
a diesel Rabbit.  It was different and fun.  Early on, I figured that
one of these, pulled from a rusted car, running at 1800 RPM, would 
make a great genset and house heater.  I've never built one, but I 
might someday.  Meanwhile, my diesels have saved 50 tons of oil 
from being burned, and given me a contrarian position at the lunch
table.

Val


> 
> >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.
> >  
> >
> Well, I've benefitted from the wisdom of this forum since its creation 
> and I have a well greased Bentley for my '85 TD, but by the time I add 
> up the VAG-COM and the new Bentley, that's about $300 US.  A little 
> steep at the moment.  Still on layaway at the plasma centre.  I'm trying 
> to get by on the cheap using the TDIclub.com archives. 
> 
> >I am almost finished making a "NIFTY" belt tension tester , that assures the belt is close
> >to VW specs.Will post when finished.
> >  
> >
> 
> For the TDI, apparently, there's a pair of marks on the tensioner that 
> takes the guessing out of it.  Not sure whether the shop knew that....
> 
> >Q:  Was injection 21 BTDC ? or what for sure. 
> >
> Memory best recalls 21 BTDC.   It was limping with no smoke. 
> 
> >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.
> >
> >  
> >
> You have to remove the plastic belly pan to get to anything really.  If 
> it had a steel oilpan, I'd throw the stupid thing on a bonfire and cook 
> up some toxic hot dogs over its smokey flames.  I had pulled it off 
> before I got in that wreck and the shop put a new one on.  Sure wish 
> they'd called me, I would have told them to leave it off so I could put 
> one of those steel skidplates on.  I have to remove that so I can remove 
> the side covers and then turn the crank.  yippee. 
> 
> 
> >By the way I am NOT a mechanic ---but I am good at analytical troubleshooting ---if you know
> >Boolean logic you will understand.
> >
> 
> Myself, I'm a pretty good microbiologist, cook, fencer, and literati.  
> Not sure where that intersects mechanicking, but hey. 
> 
> >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.
> >
> 
> I will still buy my parts there and all, but I have awful luck when 
> other people work on my cars.  I mess up too, but I don't want to pay 
> other people to mess up my car.  I can do that at home.   I only went to 
> a dealer once.  Stupid, stupid, stupid idea.  That dealer was so crooked 
> VWOA came with some car carrier trucks and hauled off every car on the 
> lot and shut them down.  And, they messed up my car to boot.  I think 
> the only difference between the dealer and a random shop is about 
> $35/hr.  I will continue to cherish the relationships I've developed 
> with mechanics I trust, but all trust needs to have an intellectual limit. 
> 
> Tomorrow, I go in. 
> 
> -Shalyn
> 
> 
> _______________________________________________
> Vwdiesel mailing list
> Vwdiesel at vwfans.com
> http://www.audifans.com/mailman/listinfo/vwdiesel
>