[Vwdiesel] *help! bucking & smoking*

[James Hansen]

A dying MAF can run like absolute shit Rolf. A dead one usually just goes to
limp mode, but failure mode can vary.
I have seen a car with what finally turned out to be dying MAF run as you
describe, was in a friend's Dad's 03 Jetta.  Not that I'm so smart, but I
diagnosed it as a dead MAF when he stopped by on the way to the dealership.
He lives an hour away, and stopped in for coffee on his way to get it fixed.
The shop disagreed with my meager efforts, dissed VCDS as useless (yeah
right), milked him for a T belt, timing, rebuilt injectors, THEN replaced
the MAF and it ran properly. He was some pissed, and IIRC, got the injectors
gratis eventually.  Car would smoke like a chimney, and generally run like
it was way late in timing.
In VCDS, check your adaptation settings, and determine if the adaptation has
been lost as well.  If it is, there are some models that require a very
specific train of events to adapt.  Some do it just by driving, some need
you to jump through a couple hoops. If you have to jump through hoops, get
your court shoes on, 'cause it has to be done *exactly* as written and is a
real PITA. 05 Passat is an example of the PITA adaptation.

Did the shop screw up the timing?
Man, anything is possible. It's a world away from the alt belt, but who
really knows unless you were standing there puffing hot breath on the tech's
neck while he worked on your baby. Most are competent, some couldn't install
muffler bearings if their life depended on it.
-james