[Vwdiesel] 04 VW Jetta Diesel flywheel defect

[Travis Gottschalk]

I would have to say the older diesels are easier and cheaper to work on as well but with more power, emisions, safety and comforts comes trade offs. Yes there is some dual mass flywheels that are failing and some do come apart and ruin the bell housing as well. But they don't tend to do that overnight as you can hear/feel them from what I have read. The BRM engine cars seem to have the worst luck with the flywheels. And for the Auto tranny people out there you can also have issues as from 04 and latter the new auto trannys have flywheels instead of torque converters and they have been known to fail as well. I love my rabbits but I love my 04 Golf as well since it has much more HP and actually has the best MPG as well and safety and comfort. I also trust it won't rust away as fast as the rabbits would if I were to drive them in the winter. Each car model and each engine/tranny have there own issues. If buying a new model then you might have to learn the issues the hard way if few others own that car. I like used so I know what I am getting into. Google is your friend in that case. 
 
As a side note I bought a winter beater for my wife as she only drives a couple miles a day and I didn't want to destroy the rabbits now that I live where they lay 2500 tons of salt down a winter just in the city limits (another 3500 for the county at $67 a ton). I found a 97 Dodge 1500 4X4 with the 5.9L engine auto tranny. $480 for it with 164K miles on the clock. Someone took a hammer to the body (21 times) so looks isn't the best but it isn't totally rusted either. Tires and brakes are good and I don't think it burns oil. Leaks from the front axle some. Kind of sucks the fuel though from what I was told. So if anyone knows any issues I should watch for on that let me know. I did all the oils except the diffs this weekend (next weekend for them) and will do spark plugs and wires next weekend as well. Had to name the truck - Dimples. 
 
Travis G