[Vwdiesel] I got the Rabbit all buttoned up, and...

Fri Apr 3 04:28:29 PDT 2009

One of my two diesels is a 2001 Golf TDI.  I got it when it only had 38k on it.  The power was decent (90HP, 150 ft/lbs torque), but I wanted some more to be able to pass cars safely on a two lane road, so I had it returned to European specs.  So now it's about 150 HP and 263 ft/lbs torque, and I get a solid 47 mpg, no matter what type of driving.  I also changed 5th gear from stock (.771 I think) to .681.  At 65 mph, I turn just under 1800 rpm.  I'm thinking of replacing the ring and pinion with the 3.15 unit, and with that, maybe I'll get solidly into the 50's.  I did that just once 51.7 mpg.  As far as I'm concerned that car is everything I could want.  All the power and handling I need, plus economy. 

-----Original Message-----
From: vwdiesel-bounces at vwfans.com [mailto:vwdiesel-bounces at vwfans.com] On Behalf Of Matt
Sent: Friday, April 03, 2009 2:05 AM
To: Erik Lane
Cc: vw fans
Subject: Re: [Vwdiesel] I got the Rabbit all buttoned up, and...

Gutless as in, can't quite get to 55 mph without getting out to push.   
I'm at 5K feet altitude, and it's murder to the power on the NA  
diesel.  A TD would be great up here.  The TDI is great around here.   
Plenty of power, even up in the mountains.  I really wish the Rabbit had a bit more pull.  The TD would normalize it for the lack of air up here nicely.

I did test drive the 2009 Jetta TDI.  That thing is a rocket.  It's truly a marvel of engineering that they've made a small 2.0L diesel have that much power and still get 40mpg.  The Golf TDI comes out again in October, and funds permitting, I might think about trading in my 2001 Golf for one.

-Matt
http://matt_lisa.home.sprynet.com/

On Apr 2, 2009, at 10:10 PM, Erik Lane wrote:

> What's your reference for 'gutless?'
>
> I ask because I just found more power for my car by turning *down* the 
> max fuel screw. It was blowing a bit too much smoke and I would find 
> that sometimes I would get the max power out of it around 2/3 of the 
> way down and if I pushed the pedal further then the power would drop. 
> After backing that screw out it feels like I have an extra ~10-20% 
> power. And my smoke is practically non-existent. I haven't run a full 
> tank through it yet, but I'm hopeful that the mileage will go up 5mpg 
> or so as I've been stuck around 43 for a while. (Though last tank when 
> I ran to the beach and back was just over 48 and that was before 
> messing with the screw.)
>
> So I *love* the power that my little car has, but I've grown up around 
> diesels and I always get kinda blown away when driving someone else's 
> modern gas car. Cars these days have a ridiculous amount of power that 
> in my opinion is just unnecessary. So I don't know if you're used to 
> something like that and your car is really where it should be for the 
> engine or if more detective work is in order to find issues.
>
> Erik
>
> On Thu, Apr 2, 2009 at 6:24 PM, Matt <matt_lisa at sprynet.com> wrote:
> Ok.  The Rabbit is running again.
>
> The stupid tach sensor had buggered up the belt again.  This time it 
> took a nice chunk out of it.  Great.  Now I need a timing belt.  I 
> pulled all the tach stuff out and threw it on the bench.  I'll find a 
> better way to get that working.  I'll probably just mod the tach to 
> work with the W terminal.
>
> This time, the pump was off by almost 180 degrees.  I flipped it 
> around, redid the belt, and it fired right up.  It sure feels gutless 
> around here.  I really wish there were more TD engines in this part of 
> the world.  I've never seen one in the flesh before.
>
> At least I have a spare car again, as long as I use it sparingly.  The 
> Golf has to go under the knife for some major maintenance (heater 
> core/ struts/door switches), so I'm going to need the ol' diesel 
> again.
>
> Ugh, I hate problems like this.
>
> -Matt
> http://matt_lisa.home.sprynet.com/
>
> On Mar 28, 2009, at 4:50 AM, Bryan Belman wrote:
>
> > Yes, but he said the rabbit had been running fine before, it was 
> > just sitting for a few months, so timing being off 180 can not be 
> > his problem.  Right Matt.
> > You did the timing a long time ago, then ran the car for some time, 
> > all was well.
> >  Something must have changed while the car was sitting.
> >
> > Take a look at your belts to be sure.
> >
> > Now you go to start and you have this.  hummm
> >
> > Stay in there buddy.
> > Part of the "fun" of owning a VW is having to do thing all over 
> > again, just after you did the dam job.
> >
> > my point.
> > Yes, I have to take my dash apart again and get the blower fan out 
> > AGAIN because the impeller squirrel fan slipped down on the motor 
> > shaft now and is rubbing against the plastic base.  I am just going 
> > to glue it on the fan shaft this time.....
> >
> >  Bryan Belman, Pt. Pleasant, NJ
> > 04 Jetta Wagon TDI PD, 100hp, 5sp -- running :)
> > 82 Diesel Westy 1.9NA -- running :)
> > 92 Jetta 1.6 Eco-Turbo Diesel -- running :) 70 Type 1 stock Beetle 
> > -- Not running :(
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > ________________________________
> > From: "LBaird119 at aol.com" <LBaird119 at aol.com>
> > To: vwdiesel at vwfans.com
> > Sent: Saturday, March 28, 2009 2:35:05 AM
> > Subject: Re: [Vwdiesel] I got the Rabbit all buttoned up, and...
> >
> > In a message dated 3/27/2009 9:02:34 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
> > matt_lisa at sprynet.com writes:
> >
> >> I'll recheck the stupid timing again and see what it's at the next 
> >> time I go out there.
> >>
> >>
> > Sure sounds like that's your problem.
> >     Loren
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > **************
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