vw tdi?

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vw tdi?

Postby stillsmokin » Fri Oct 05, 2012 8:25 am

I need to replace Marge pretty soon. Marge is my legendary daily driver, a 1991 olds cutlass ciera that my grandfather bought new. I've been working on it since I was 14, it curently has 247,000 miles. It will do anything you ask of it including hauling greasy Cummins parts and it has some decent off road capabilities due to the heavy front end weight.

So for those who own vw tdi's a question. What are the pros and cons of 02-03 tdi's? I am leaning toward a jetta, but beetles go cheap. I would consider the older 98-99 models too. I am going with the 5 speed for sure. I don't give a crap about cupholders, electronic bull pudding, and other hackey sack crap. How long will it run if I take as good of care of the vw as I have of Marge. FWIW Marge as the 3300 Buick V6 gas engine and gets 32mpg.

FWIW I won't even consider a newer model anything, there is too much emphasis on electronic sh-t, the EPA, and durability / cost effective maintenance isn't even on the radar. I really wish I could find a BMW 524 Td from 84-85 on the cheap.
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93 W350LE EXT CAB, dually, 5 speed
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Re: vw tdi?

Postby oldestof11 » Fri Oct 05, 2012 3:30 pm

2000 to 04 are the same engine, computer, and bodies. Make sure the timing belt service has been kept up, clean the intake off the egr crap, bypass the egr, make sure the vanes on the turbo don't stick, and i have seen 500k miles in my readings.
Jon
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Re: vw tdi?

Postby meby » Fri Oct 05, 2012 5:33 pm

oldestof11 wrote:2000 to 04 are the same engine, computer, and bodies. Make sure the timing belt service has been kept up, clean the intake off the egr crap, bypass the egr, make sure the vanes on the turbo don't stick, and i have seen 500k miles in my readings.



Don't the 03' - 04" have the pump Dusse v. the electronic VE in the 02' and earlier models?

From what I hear 99.5' to 02' (alh engine ) get the best mileage. For what its worth, I drive a 00' and its been a decent car. Best mpg at 58 mpg on a 851 mile tank.

Ditto on the timing belt. Get verification when it was last done. Otherwise plan on spending to get it done immediately.
-1991 D-250 bone stock
-2000 Ford Windstar TDI Diesel 5 spd
-1997 Civic Hatchback
-Case 530 CK
-Old Huskee Garden Tractor w/Cub Cadet deck, Simplicity Snow-blower, loaded tires & chains - is it weird the tractor is modded more than my truck?
-Speedex Walking Tractor.
-BCS Walking Tractor


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Re: vw tdi?

Postby PToombs » Fri Oct 05, 2012 5:36 pm

meby wrote:Ditto on the timing belt. Get verification when it was last done. Otherwise plan on spending to get it done immediately.


Or be like my buddy and ignore the fact that he knew nothing about when the belt was done and spend $12-1300 when it pops on the highway. ;)
pete

Just enough power to break everything behind the crankshaft.
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Re: vw tdi?

Postby meby » Sat Oct 06, 2012 3:41 am

PToombs wrote:
meby wrote:Ditto on the timing belt. Get verification when it was last done. Otherwise plan on spending to get it done immediately.


Or be like my buddy and ignore the fact that he knew nothing about when the belt was done and spend $12-1300 when it pops on the highway. ;)


If you're lucky. If it smacks valves, i've heard of people spending $2500 - $3000. :shock:
-1991 D-250 bone stock
-2000 Ford Windstar TDI Diesel 5 spd
-1997 Civic Hatchback
-Case 530 CK
-Old Huskee Garden Tractor w/Cub Cadet deck, Simplicity Snow-blower, loaded tires & chains - is it weird the tractor is modded more than my truck?
-Speedex Walking Tractor.
-BCS Walking Tractor


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Re: vw tdi?

Postby oldestof11 » Sat Oct 06, 2012 10:27 am

I thought 04 is when the pump deuce came out...
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Re: vw tdi?

Postby CumminsPower59 » Mon Oct 08, 2012 5:35 pm

Jeff, 99-03's are the ones to get, ALH engines, pretty simple. A close second is the 04-05 BEW or PD "pump deuce" engines, little more advanced, very minimal intake soot buildup, and just as easy to work on. There are a select few 04's with ALH engines. I own a 04 Jetta wagon 5spd with 190+k on it, drives like new, pretty basic car. Consitantly nets over 45mpg. Timing belts are a must, and with oe vw parts and the few special tools, it can be done for around $400, and in a afternoon.
Ike

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Re: vw tdi?

Postby stillsmokin » Thu Oct 11, 2012 9:16 am

Well that's pretty good info. I'm thinking I don't want a common rail motor since they are prone to injector problems. I was thinking of doing an M-TDI conversion eventually on whatever I end up getting.

Back in 03 my sister in law called and asked me what I thought. About the new Toyota hybrids, I steered her towards the TDI, 5 speed. They still have the jetta, it gets 48mpg in metropolitan Denver!
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Re: vw tdi?

Postby Mark Nixon » Thu Oct 11, 2012 11:48 am

LOL, if you really want to go backwards and get a diesel car, I know where there's an '81 Rabbit 4 door with a Diesel for $500.
Or you could just find a Mercedes with an OM617 diesel, virtually indestructible and decent mileage.

TDIs are just another version of the Dodge Commonrail scourge, tinker, tinker, tinker and it costs out the wazoo when you do.

Mark.
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Re: vw tdi?

Postby 1STGENFARMBOY » Thu Oct 11, 2012 7:59 pm

Ike is right on, I changed the belt in our 03 ALH TDI 5 spd at 80k, put 25k on it and BAM ! ! ! i don't know if it was from
my incompotence as a mechanic or a cheap belt, soooo i'm 1,048 in to a compleat head rebuild with german parts this time,
pretty simple little engine but after your done you "MUST" hook it up to a VAG_COM and reset the injection timming.

thats where i'm at now, i should be picking it up tomorow.

worst MPG over 70k miles is 42 best is 49, well bilt little car and most parts are about the same price as any other car.

i believe the injection pump changed in 04 like Jon said.
93 W250 STD CAB, AUTO 3.55, GAUGES, 80HP DDP STICKS, DENNY T ,16CM HOUSING, 60MM GILLETT, VE MAXED,BHAF, BHFF, 366 SPRING,P/S INTERCOOLER, TIMS COOLER TUBS, TIMMING 1/8 BUMP,4in TURBO BACK TO DUEL 5IN STACKS,33 12.50 BFG, HOLLEY BLACK, CONVERTER COOMING.
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Re: vw tdi?

Postby stillsmokin » Sun Oct 21, 2012 9:44 pm

Mark Nixon wrote:LOL, if you really want to go backwards and get a diesel car, I know where there's an '81 Rabbit 4 door with a Diesel for $500.
Or you could just find a Mercedes with an OM617 diesel, virtually indestructible and decent mileage.

TDIs are just another version of the Dodge Commonrail scourge, tinker, tinker, tinker and it costs out the wazoo when you do.

Mark.


Mark, I want a diesel car for the highway mileage, I put on a minimum of 50 miles a day during the week daily driving. Ask Schaf about those old 1.6 vw engines, they have toothpicks for connecting rods. They got 50mpg or so but took a year to get up to speed. The merecedes 300d is decent, but find an affordable one that has a body. The BMW 524TD had a real decent direct injected VE motor, again find a decent affordable one. Early TDI engine are more like a 24V electronically, of course if you M-TDI it then the electronics lose intervention ability with the motor. Once they go Pump Douche :lol: they are not on my radar.

I saw an 84 olds 98 with a 5.7 diesel in it on craigslist, (crazy) thought about running it till the 5.7 popped and swapping in a 6.2 with a TH400 and a gear vendors overdrive. A 6.2 would probably live forever in a car, run smoothly, and be pretty quiet on the road. It would be about as un electronic as possible that way, and would haul my friends and a 12V in the trunk (with air shocks or bags) in diesel mafia style, probably get 25-30 MPG since that olds probably has 2.33 gears.
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Re: vw tdi?

Postby dazedandconfused » Mon Oct 22, 2012 6:04 am

http://cincinnati.craigslist.org/cto/3342033442.html
If you are willing to travel this seems like a nice one.
Big Andy
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Re: vw tdi?

Postby oldestof11 » Tue Oct 23, 2012 2:58 pm

Nothing wrong with the connecting rods in the 1.6l. Stock they are holding 160hp, or nearly 4 times its original power.
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