A little advice please

[mwilson]

The TDI hit the road today for it's maiden voyage.



Got license plates (Tags for those of you in some other states) and insurance coverage, then headed for Bangor with it.



Did pretty good, will maintain 75 mph just fine. Has a front tire pounding, feels like a broken belt. Ordered (4) new Michelins for it today and they will show up in the tire shop tomorrow. Seth and I will mount/balance at least 2 of them before we head home.

Had no A/C on blower high speed, and A/C sans blower on speeds 1-3. Checked my sources and that is a VW habit when the blower resistor goes bad. I don't know why it shuts the A/C down on high but it did. Put a new resistor unit in before heading home tonight and all is well. A/C and fan on all 4 speeds now. I will install a new blower motor over the weekend as there is a reason the resistor fried in the first place. I also suspect that the HVAC filter is plugged as it delivers more air on Recirc than on Fresh air at 75 mph. That would also be hard on the fan/resistor combo as well.



So far, so good. I've paid a lot more and got a lot less in the past.

Will keep you posted.



Oh yes, almost forgot. . 130 miles and the fuel gauge dropped from 1/2 to 3/8. Gotta' love that..... then put $25. 00 of Diesel in and that made it show almost a full tank.



Mike.

 

[mwilson]

I also named it...



From now forth it shall be known as "Gizmo"... ...



Mike.

 

[mwilson]

Congrats! Just be sure to replace the timing belt ASAP if you don't have proof of when or if it was done.

Have all documentation with it, timing belt will be due in another 20,000 miles. Repair history with receipts are all in the glovebox. Nice... .



Mike.

 

[HHhuntitall]

"Gizmo"???!?!?! :-laf he he he. That's funny. It's not uncommon for them to deliver more air on Recirc..... My old '97 does that. I think it's because it's pressurizing the cabin on fresh air, but on Recirc, it's pulling mostly from the cabin. If you remember on the Petes, KWs, and the older Dodges, it's called MAX air!! My favorite!!



On the '85 359, don't try to move the Recirc door knob. It will instantly result in one right XL hand slapping you in the ear, a pair of mice running out of the glovebox in full black Tactical gear, tying you to the passenger seat, and a large electrical shot in your posterierre... ... ... . Not to mention there's thirty-three self tapping screws holding it shut down there. It won't move. Good Lord, the A/C systems suck on those trucks..... When it still had the sleeper and the rear unit in it, I had a hose off a vacuum seed planter run off the rear unit vents up to the front of the cab, pointed from behind the passenger seat at my backside. That helped it cool a lot, but the Sanden compressors didn't last very long... . The KW is much better, but the Recirc button is broke on it, too. I wouldn't touch it, either, if I were you. I've got the ejection seat hardwired to it... ... .

 

[Mikey-KE7LBB]

Have all documentation with it, timing belt will be due in another 20,000 miles. Repair history with receipts are all in the glovebox. Nice... .



Mike.

You're lucky... I didn't have documentation and was on the way to pick up a belt when it broke :{



I suppose I was lucky too with only having to replace the head and purchase a few tools that I had no idea they even existed until I had the WTF?? moment when I started tearing it down :-laf:-laf



I wish I still had the Jetta, but the Dodge(s) will just have to do for now!

 

[HBarlow]

Mike,

Where did you buy the VW TDI - Craigslist, local newspaper ad - ?

 

[mwilson]

We have a weekly magazine in Maine called "Uncle Henry's". It existed long before Craigslist and has been a tool for frugal Mainer's since I was a little fella'



Was thumbing through it Saturday evening and spotted the TDI. It was right in my town!!! The magazine comes out every Thursday morning and I figured that it was already sold. Thought it over and then dialed the number. Well, the voice on the phone sounded familiar and the car was still there. The more I talked the more familiar he sounded. Turns out it belonged to the wife of the mason who built my brick hearth 2 years ago, cleans my chimney every year, etc..... Perfect. It spent one winter in Maine when it was new, from that point on they have taken it to Florida for the winter every year. Even has a Pink Palm Tree Sticker in the back window... ... Oo.



I tried it out Sunday, he told me all that was wrong with it and that he had hesitated to sell it to me in case it broke down or something.

I assured him if it blew up on the way home that I would NEVER hold him responsible for it. I understand the meaning of "As Is". Some people do not.



With that being settled we agreed on $4250. 00, I wrote him a check on the spot and drove it home.



I have no issue with telling my TDR membership what I paid for it, I just won't tell my neighbors... ...



It just doesn't get any easier or better than that..... Oo.



I'll get a picture or two tonight while putting it's new tires on.



Mike.

 

[Bill Stockard]

We have a weekly magazine in Maine called "Uncle Henry's". It existed long before Craigslist and has been a tool for frugal Mainer's since I was a little fella'



Was thumbing through it Saturday evening and spotted the TDI. It was right in my town!!! The magazine comes out every Thursday morning and I figured that it was already sold. Thought it over and then dialed the number. Well, the voice on the phone sounded familiar and the car was still there. The more I talked the more familiar he sounded. Turns out it belonged to the wife of the mason who built my brick hearth 2 years ago, cleans my chimney every year, etc..... Perfect. It spent one winter in Maine when it was new, from that point on they have taken it to Florida for the winter every year. Even has a Pink Palm Tree Sticker in the back window... ... Oo.



I tried it out Sunday, he told me all that was wrong with it and that he had hesitated to sell it to me in case it broke down or something.

I assured him if it blew up on the way home that I would NEVER hold him responsible for it. I understand the meaning of "As Is". Some people do not.



With that being settled we agreed on $4250. 00, I wrote him a check on the spot and drove it home.



I have no issue with telling my TDR membership what I paid for it, I just won't tell my neighbors... ...



It just doesn't get any easier or better than that..... Oo.



I'll get a picture or two tonight while putting it's new tires on.



Mike.

WOW!! You can't beat a deal like that... original owner with all the details about what's good and bad and the price ain't bad either. No payments!!



Bill

 

[HHhuntitall]

That's awesome. I prefer to buy when I know the car/truck. It's usually cheaper, as they see it go to a place where it will get used, and then the money stays in my community. I like that, too. I can't say as I've ever been burned locally. It's usually so cheap, if it does blow up, I still come out ahead or even. I sell a lot of stuff to neighbors and friends. They like for me to say it's good to go, which it is. I've sold one, years ago, an old Chevy K20, and told the guy I'd warranty the engine. He let his kids drive it, and they floated the valves and bent one on the little smallblock. He acted madder'n hell, so I fixed it. After I opened it up, I got mad. But I said I'd do it, so I did, and when I returned it, I told him about it. He acted innocent, but he wouldn't look me in the eye, so I knew he knew. I walked it off, but didn't forget about it. A few years later, he had a Dodge gasser, W150, for sale for $1500. I was reluctant, but I went to talk to him about it, and he instantly took $500 off the price, saying he owed me anyway. I guess he was hard up the first time..... What goes around, comes around.

 

[GCroyle]

Mike,



Gizmo got 2 pedals or 3 pedals?

 

[mwilson]

Gizmo has only two pedals which makes him a little less valuable than a three pedal. But I did my research and as long as it has had fluid changes with VW fluid the odds are good that it will live. I have records showing at least one fluid and filter change from a local VW expert so it should be good.

It shifts smoothly and shows no signs of confusion so far.



If the Auto does crap out, I will convert to a stick. At that point Gary, expect a few e-mails from me asking for clutch and flywheel advice... ...



Mike.

 

[mwilson]

I must confess I had a Mitsubishi Fuso vacuum operated Exhaust brake in my hand yesterday wondering if I could splice it into Gizmo's exhaust pipe... .....



Mike.

 

[HHhuntitall]

I must confess I had a Mitsubishi Fuso vacuum operated Exhaust brake in my hand yesterday wondering if I could splice it into Gizmo's exhaust pipe... .....



Mike.

... and so it starts..... :-laf

 

[HBarlow]

Mike,

I'll give you $5000 for it unseen.

I'd be careful about adding an exhaust brake. The back pressure the engine wasn't designed for may hold exhaust valves open, perhaps even allow piston - valve contact. It might also accelerate wear and cause early failure of the tiny and probably light duty automatic transmission.

 

[mwilson]

Mike,



I'll give you $5000 for it unseen.



I'd be careful about adding an exhaust brake. The back pressure the engine wasn't designed for may hold exhaust valves open, perhaps even allow piston - valve contact. It might also accelerate wear and cause early failure of the tiny and probably light duty automatic transmission.

Yes, I sadly put the brake back on the shelf figuring I might cause a problem or two.....



However, Seth is insistant that I straight pipe it... ... . Diesel Fuel Systems up here had a TDI Passat that they squeezed a 4" exhaust onto a while back. That sounded pretty rowdy.



Mike.

 

[GCroyle]

#10 plate coming up.

 

[mwilson]

Mike,



I'll give you $5000 for it unseen.

If we weren't halfway across the USA from each other I'd let you borrow it on rainy days... ...



Mike.

 

[RSchwarzli]

This is an amusing thread.

 

[Simplysmn]

This is an amusing thread.

Just think you could Alway trade the crewcab for a jetta LOL

 

[HHhuntitall]

Just think you could Alway trade the crewcab for a jetta LOL

The crew gets better mileage... . it hasn't used a drop of diesel or had to change the oil in several years... .