[Vwdiesel] (no subject)

[Patrick Dolan]

Paul:

As with any other car, if you can do your own work and know where to get aftermarket parts, it is a good proposition.

The MkIV Jetta has a few simple issues that you will have to handle.  The front door window regulators will fail (should have been replaced under VW goodwill waranty by now), and the front struts will have failed long ago (best excuse to upgrade to Euro spec struts and springs).  They seem to go through a lot of tail light bulbs but that's about it for the body (and a burned out bulb sets a CEL).

Engine wise, the ALH is the preferred one for simplicity, reliability, economy and ability to modify cheaply (relative).  The timing belt and idlers as well as water pump should be changed out with top quality stuff (again, easily available aftermarket) when due.  The original on that car would have been good for 100,000 kms, but the latest upgraded belt and idlers are rated for 160,000 km replacement.  It's a fairly good size job (full day) but not particularly difficult.  You will need some special tools (available from the same vendors as belt kits).  Don't make assumptions on the belt.  If you can not document when it was done, and with WHAT quality/source of parts (and ALL of the required parts) you should plan on doing it soon after buying the car.

The intake manifold (and inlet ports) are subject to terrible clogging by oil vapour from the PCV getting baked in there by the EGR.  That is a genuine PITA to clean out - and will need to be done if it wasn't recently (usually same time as belt change).  You can get a very nice PCV filter (made in Canada) and eliminate the EGR ("race pipe" made in US) to prevent that.  Shutting down the EGR from the ECU won't accomplish anything.

For reference:  visit Fred's web pages (www.tdiclub.com) for best source of information, vendors, etc.  Of course, buy a Bentley manual and follow it to the letter for work.

200,000 kms is just getting nicely run in.

Good luck, and let us know how you make out.

----- Original Message -----
From: paul lew <biovolks at yahoo.com>
Date: Monday, July 26, 2010 0:10 am
Subject: [Vwdiesel] (no subject)

> Hi Guys
> I've been driving my 1991 jetta diesel happily for about 6 years, 
> and it's time to replace it, as it's almost 20 years old and 
> showing it's age. 
> Most of the service I have been doing myself.
> 
> What can you tell me about the 1999 jetta tdi 1.9 litre, there's 
> one on a small lot in town for $4990 canadian, it has 206,671 
> kilometers on it. Manual transmission.
> I haven't checked it out yet ,because they were closed, but from 
> the outside, and what I can see inside, it's in nice physical shape.
> 
> Any warning signs, common problems etc.? I've been told the VW gas 
> is more reliable these past years since about 1995.
> Thank you
> Paul
> 
> 
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