[Vwdiesel] Non-dealer shop in MD, USA? - 98 TDI Intermittent turbo

[chochie at comcast.net]

Greetings,

I am wondering if anybody know of a good place to take a 1.6L IDI or 1.9L TDI in Maryland (preferably within 50 Miles of Towson).  I have an '86 Golf I swapped an '84 Jetta 1.6L Turbo into; and a '98 Jetta TDI.  I used to do all my own work but am too busy these days (don't have garage - do have HOA!); plus, the problem is with the TDI and I don't trust the dealer (Valley Motors).

My TDI has about 160K on it now and the Turbo goes in and out.  When the problem started happening, my wife was driving the car regularly and told me the idiot light came on.  I drove it and was sickened by the non-acceleration (my '86 Golrf could run circles around it - slower than a lawn mower).  I took to private garage I know (AC Automotive) and he found the TSB describing what happened - glow plug short circuit - replaced all 7 plugs (4 startup + 3 heater) and the wiring had burned up to the ECU.  After that it still had no turbo function; but that came back after I drove it for a while actually using the accelerator (unlike my wife).  I chose to take to dealer to do timing belt and look into intermittent turbo function.

Dealer said I needed MAF unit and charged me plenty for it (even though my car has the Pierpont which is almost never at fault as opposed to the Bosch which failed frequently) and it made no difference.  Then they told me I needed a new ECU (idiot light came back on 15 miles from dealer) at $1900.  It is absolutely criminal that they should be able to charge that amount for a glorified calculator with some firmware for TDI specifics which probably costs less than $20 to produce.  I really think they just want me to buy a new VW.  A week later I got a marketing letter from them about how they need vehicals like mine and are paying retail value for them (fine print indicates I'd be lucky to get $1000 for this fine workhorse).

I want to check for intercooler sludge and replace all turbo to ECU air lines, etc...  I also never felt comfortable with the service manual telling me that no adjustment to the injection pump is necessary - the ECU takes care of all that!

Thanks for any advise.