Considering a 2003 VW Jetta TDI ... comments please.

[FATCAT]

Pulled the Trigger yesterday!!

Couldn't resist ... took a few Jetta TDI 5-speeds out yesterday (hard to find these suckers). After the ride in a 2003 GLS model I was hooked. Not the power of my truck, but good enough to get me to work and back just fine on the highway.



Its hard to imagine me ... getting one of these little econo-boxes ... a guy who thought anything smaller than a Crown Victoria or Chrysler Imperial was a toy car. I guess the 50-55mpg was the big catch ... these days.



HoleshotHolset, what is the CCV modification??? Stupid question ... does the CCV stand for Crank Case Ventilation?



How did you do this modification. I would not like to have sludge buildup in the new car in the coming years.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Fat: Yeah, CCV is exactly what you thought... . All I did is take the output of the "CCV" breather deal that would normally be introduced into the inlet of the turbo's compressor housing (via some plastic hoses) and put a length of heater hose on it. Then you have to plug off or put a breather on the part where the CCV hose used to feed the turbo inlet.



Just like what the 24-valve guys do to their trucks for the puke tube... .



Don't forget... . doing the CCV stuff just keeps the oily sludge from going through the intercooler/turbo (which is a BAD thing... ). But you also have to remember that the EGR is putting all kinds of soot into your intake/head..... which also can be reduced/elminated via various software/hardware methods.



Matt

 

[Eric Kahn]

I have had my 2002 New beetle TDI for over a year, it has 28,000 miles on it and the only problem I have had was the ABS controller which was recalled anyways, VW dealer replaced it in less than a day, droped it off on the morning of the problem and it was done that afternoon

it is a great car and I would buy another.

like a lot of the people on the TDIclub forum (Freds) I would like a TDI Passat but we are still waiting for new ones

 

[Skydiver]

I would like to buy a new Passat if I could get my wife to go for it.

I bought a new Diesel Rabbit LS in 1981. I was 21 and it must have been bullet proof. Just don't let the fuel filter get clogged!

I was told by a mechanic that he had once got a call from a lady who says my oil light came on after running the little diesel over a large curb. She had drove it about 20 miles to home with the oil light on. He says "it must have oil pressure or it would surely have locked up the engine after 20 miles,just drive it on to my shop". The oil pan was dented bad and had knocked off the oil pump pick up tube. He replaced the damaged parts(pan and tube) and it ran just fine.

I man that works with me bought a new 2000 bug auto diesel. He was doing his first oil change and pulled his transmission plug by mistake. It is not easy to get the fluid back into the transmission. No dip stick. He had some electrical problems and sold it.

Tim

 

[FATCAT]

Nice little car!

Well, so far it is a nice little car. Great pickup for a 1. 9L engine. You can hear the little turbo come on if you have the window down.



Tough getting use to it though, coming from a Crown Vic and my truck ... but I'm sure in a week I'll be OK ... except for the ribb'en

I'm getting at work. Everyone says what a "cute little car" it is.



CUTE!!! I don't want cute ... Oh well, I'll just laugh as I go past all the gas stations that everyone else has to stop at to fill up their SUV's.



I figure that I'm saving lots of diesel fuel and money (so I can blow it out the tailpipe of my truck )

 

[lschultz]

Just keep going past those stations and going and going and going.

 

[HoleshotHolset]

I can sympathize with your 'cute car' worries... .



Afterall, I drive a '98 New Beetle TDI... and it's bright freakin' yellow... .



No, it doesn't have a vase... . and YES!... It's straight-piped!!



It's going to be blowing a lot more soot pretty soon too..... stay tuned.



Matt

 

[Eric Kahn]

Yellow!!

small world, so is mine

#ad

 

[HoleshotHolset]

Does yours have a "CUMMINS power" cab badge on it?



Mine does... .



Matt

On edit: Nice thing!

 

[Eric Kahn]

I put a TDI emblem on the back under the VW emblem

since VW did not mark NB TDI's in any way

 

[HoleshotHolset]

You can tell mine is a diesel due to the soot and the TDR 'diesel inside' sticker on the rear glass.....



The Cummins power cab badge makes quite a few people chuckle... .



Matt

 

[Chris N5CWM]

FATCAT!

Welcome to the VW collective! I just found this thread and read

every post. Everything to worry about (with time) was brought

up. Have you registered in the forums at www.tdiclub.com/ ?

Look for "bustNfuel" (me).



I recently bought a used VW Jetta GLS TDI 5 speed with 60K miles

on it. I found out AFTERWARDS that the timing belt must be

changed by 60K miles while I was going throught the TDI FAQ. So

I went back to the dealership where I bought it (Certified VW pre

owned) and raised heck. Logically they should be aware of that

fact and not put a "Certified" VW on their own used lot, right?

We went around and around for an hour with various managers

and finally settled. We split the cost 50/50 and replaced it with

the new 80K belt and tensioner.



I have changed the oil & filter, fuel filter, checked the EGR and

intake which is starting to build soot thanks to the EGR ,

replaced the rear brake pads. The rear pads will wear FASTER

than the fronts due to brake bias. Also there is a special tool

required to reset the rear brake caliper piston because it must

be turned and pressed in to reset the self adjuster. Look on the

TDI Club for info on that.



Here are the pics of my Jetta.



How's the new TDI working out for you?