02 VW Jetta TDI questions

[BILLVO]

I am shopping for a used VW Jetta TDI and a dealer has an 02 coming in a couple of days. these things are hard to find and need to make a quick decision. It has 62k miles with 5spd. I had another place tell me that they have a lot of injection pump problems and timing belt water pump problems. Can anyone give me advice on this issue before it is too late to make a deal on it. they fly off lots here before you know they were there. They said it would be around $14500. Does this sound right. don't know anymore details of options condition ect. I have read that the 02 and newer is better is this true?

 

[Jefff929]

As I recall the change interval on the timeing belt is critical.



IMO Jump on it! Oo.

 

[bkroupa]

They have no timing belt issues that I've ever heard of. You do have to change the timing belt & idler at 80K on the 2000 & up if I remember right.

I did my '98 bug & it was easy, check out Freds TDI http://forums.tdiclub.com/



You have to use a scan tool to reset the timing, but it's not hard. .

 

[BILLVO]

Has anyone heard of fuel or injection pump or injector troubles with them?

 

[Jefff929]

nope Oo.







this 10 character thing is not making me happy

 

[BILLVO]

Jeff

How many miles on yours what milage do you get and manual or auto. what are the pros and cons of it to look at when dealer gets it in?

 

[Jefff929]

Jeff

How many miles on yours what milage do you get and manual or auto. what are the pros and cons of it to look at when dealer gets it in?

We just now have ~60k on it.

It is an auto, we tend to get ~40-42 in town.

On the hwy we normally get ~47. When I went to California and tried to keep up with the locals, it only got 43 on the freeway.

We bought our TDI new, and have had no problems. The front got caught at the C-store when we pulled in too far. This is a bad thing, it can split the plastic wheel well liners and expose the under side of the turbo to rocks. We like the cold weather package that it came with. My wife really likes the heated seats.

 

[BILLVO]

Jeff



thanks for the info my wife and I are excited to check it out when the dealer gets it in. They have our name on a first call when it gets here. Helps that my wife is friends with the lady who owns the dealership .

 

[djbobo]

I bought an 00 4 weeks ago yesterday!



The reason that the timeing belt is a big deal is because the TDI's pistons will NOT clear the valves if it breaks.



The 2003's timeing belt change interval is 100,000 miles! That's the year that I was looking for.



I had mine replaced the day I bought it with 102k miles on the od because there was no record of it being done.



Apparently you can buy all the heavier duty parts for the 100k belt and it will bolt right on. (Of course I didn't know untill after it was allready changed)



Mines a 5 speed and get's 47mpg average.



I allready talked a co-worker into one that he got 2 weeks ago. Now all we talk about at work is fuel economy and Bio and such. We even had a hybrid driver come over and complain that he can only get 42mpg babyin it (sticker said 51mpg). Now he's looking for a TDI!



My truck gets a respectable 19-20 mpg (97 5 speed) But at 45+ that the TDI is getting it's like paying a $1. 30 a gallon again. And it's ALMOST as fun to drive as the truck.



Get one - dj

 

[BILLVO]

The dealer just got it in today and is letting us take it home tomorrow for a night to check if its what we want or not. Oo. Its hard to find a good old fashioned dealer like this anymore. You can't hardly test drive one anymore without salesman going with for the ride.

 

[Katman]

I have an 02 jetta wagon (auto) and an 06 jetta sedan (also auto). I had a '00, '91 and '85. Loved them all. There are no timing belt issues that I am aware of other than you must do the recommeded service/ replacement. As part of this service there are some bolts that need to be replaced because reuse is not recommended and the water pump also should be replaced. Even if the pump is fine, it will fail well before the next timing belt replacement is due. I believe '02 was the year they made some changes to the timing belt and tensioner so some cars have the old hardware with a shorter service interval (I think it is 60k). Pretty sure you can have the upgraded hardware installed when you do the service. In 03 or 04 the injection system was changed and a special spec synthetic oil must be used (pretty sure VW 505. 01, 5w40, is the standard). There were some MAF sensor problems that led to diminished performance prior to 60k, but VW extended the warranty and was pretty good about replacements. Only other issue, common to most of the vw diesels, is gradual clogging of the intake manifold, which increases fuel consumption and decreases power. Easily resolved by removal and messy cleaning of the manifold. Oh--my wife hated the dark velour seats in the earlier models. They were comfortable, but lint loved them. Good luck. Check out Fred's TDI site and if you buy the car find someone with a vag-com. There are some simple adjustments that will help reduce the intake clogging issue (depending on your driving style) and also give you a few more MPG. The price may be a little high, but it is hard to find low mile jetta diesels in good shape. Passats are nice, too, but everything is more expensive on a passat.

 

[GOLIATHGMC]

Love my TDI Golf...

I did quite a bit of homework before buying my Golf. We are SOOOOO lucky here in NY - one of only 5 states that will not allow the sale of new VW diesels - but you can buy and register a used one as long as it has 7501 miles or more on it (UGH). I have not heard or read anything about injector pump or belt issues. My car is a '00 2 door 5 speed, triple black and low on options. I have seen 52mpg on summer fuel @ 70mph. I have it all over the hybrid crowd - these things are like the best kept secret going. Just like SKATSANOS and a couple others have said, check out TDI Club - there is a ton of info on everything about these cars from OIL and fuel to Mods and problem solving. I would also point out (in case you missed it), there is a reason these cars are flying off the lots - its the same reason it took me over 9 months to locate the car I bought. You will love it.

GOLIATHGMC

 

[MD500E]

I hate to chime in with a negative but my friend has an 00 TDI that is in my garage for the second time with the head removed. First time was a bad valve at 90,000, a small piece cracked off of the valve and cylinder lost compression. Then last week at 128,000 timing belt idler bearing failed causing the belt to skip and pistons hitting the valves. Other issues were the more normal mass air flow problems and egr plugging up. On the other hand I have 2 other friends with tdi's that have had almost no trouble.

I really don't see why VW does not use a chain or gears to drive the valves and injection pump. I would think the long term savings on not having to replace a belt would cover the extra cost of the engine. Just think, if mercedes used rubber timing belts on their older diesels, you can bet that there would be a lot less of them still running around!

 

[BILLVO]

Update the deal fell through on the 02. But good news is I bought an 03 with 33K miles Jetta GLS 1. 9 TDI with 5spd Loaded. I like the 03 over the 02 because of the egr issues the 02 and earlier have with carboning up intake which I believe the 02 had this problem. 03 updated and fixed this and I really like the updated better timing belt set up for the 03 only needs to be changed at 105K miles versus 80K on 02.

 

[djbobo]

Great!



See ya over at the TDIClub



dj

 

[BILLVO]

Great!



See ya over at the TDIClub



dj

Been ther a few times already. not a registered user yet but will become one shortly.