Help me out here

[The patriot]

I found a 2010 vw jetta TDI with a 6 speed stick locally pretty reasonable. I havent seen it in person yet. It has 150K+ miles on it. The seller has NO maint info on it.
I'm concerned with the timing belt.
It has a few dents & scrapes. I dont really care about that. It does not appear to have been beaten on. It's reasonably clean etc...
Do you think this is worth say 5500?
How hard is it to do the timing belt & water pump etc? If it's hard, how much does this typically cost?
TIA

 

[mwilson]

I don't think it is too bad if you have the tools. If I had kept Gizmo I would have had the belt done by a local shop that I know as opposed to doing it my self simply for the purchase price of the tools and probably never using them again. I would factor a timing belt change in right now, get it done and over with.
There are several levels of aftermarket kits, but I would have used genuine VW parts without question. Too critical an area for me to use aftermarket stuff.
$5500.00 sounds good, if you add another $1000.00 to that for the timing belt/water pump/idler pulley repair it's still not bad. You might be able to beat him down some more where there are no records at all.
Others will offer insight on the fuel system issues that some of that vintage had. I think the proper engine oil is critical as well from what I remember. I don't know if the 2010 will gook up the intake like the 2003 vintage would but I would certainly check. That's not a real fun job either.


I buy what I need for the Cummins as there will probably be at least one in the driveway until I am gone.

 

[The patriot]

Thanks Mike.
I'm pretty sure all the diesels with an EGR will need intake maintenance.
I wasnt aware special tools were needed. Guess I wont be doing that.
I was also wondering if there were any specific issues I should look for.
From what I read, the 2010 is a good year being that it was before VW "cheepened up" the interior.

Edit: I'd be using OEM parts. I've found that Gates makes the belts for VW.
The oil....from what I've researched, the oil specific to VW's has more to do with keeping the particulate filter clean than pretty much anything else. I'd be using the 507.00 spec oil, but who knows what's been used in the past. It's something to consider. It's an out of state car, and I have no idea what NJ's inspection is like anymore. I do however know if there are ANY lights on the dash lit, it will fail.

 

[mwilson]

Here is one from id that is fairly priced.

http://www.idparts.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=2748

Mike.

 

[mwilson]

Here is a DIY, looks to be well written...

http://www.myturbodiesel.com/wiki/cbea-cjaa-vw-jetta-golf-jsw-tdi-timing-belt-removal-part-1/

Mike.

 

[The patriot]

Thanks Mike.
I pretty much skimmed through it. Seems like a substantial job. I'll price it out before going to see the buggy.
Eric

 

[DonFitzwater]

Don't be afraid of doing it yourself......I almost talked myself out of the diesel Liberty I just purchased but took it on just to prove to the local dodge dealership it DIDN'T need a new engine after all. If you live in an area like I do without emissions testing you can just delete all the crap that plugs up the intake.

 

[JR]

The intakes aren't a super big issue. I'm not sure if the recommendation is the same for 2010 but generally the intake gets cleaned when the TB is done. Im sure its still quite a bit cheaper to buy the tools and do the TB yourself unless you know a good competent shop that knows VW's, which brings up another point. If you dont plan on doing any wrenching look around and see who is in your area that knows TDI's. VW in general is different than most domestic and Jap imports and the diesel is that much more different again. Taking it to your run of the mill repair shop could have some unfavorable consequences. There is virtually nobody around me that knows squat about them but fortunately mine is old enough (2001) that I have been able to handle what little repairs its needed. Overall its been a great little car.

On a side note, Ive ridden in cars with the EGR blocked off and a mild Malone tune, wow, these little cars can really scoot with just a little tweaking!

 

[The patriot]

JR fortunately there is at least 2 shops not too far from me that knows TDI's.
Don, I have degenerative disc disease, along with a few other physical limitations. The Dr's give me meds to deal with the pain, but it's basically synthetic heroine. If I take enough to help with the pain, the detailed thinking takes a hit.
If something can be done in a days work, I usually can do it. This seems like it would be a few days for someone like me. Too much.

 

[The patriot]

OK, I got the est from the 1st TDI specialist.
TB= $1300`ish
clean intake + $400 (should be done every 60-70K)
"should do thermostat, flush oil & coolant sides yada yada yada $2000 +
This is no longer my cheap beater.
I think I'll pass.

 

[GCroyle]

Just for grins, this is an active VW TDI forum http://forums.tdiclub.com/ and IDParts is also an active diesel parts supplier. I have used them quite a bit, TB kit, oil pan, filters etc.

W/O seeing a pic of the car, that price off the top looks interesting.

IMHO the VW has a habit of wanting specific fluids, might be required, might be some VW BS, I haven't tested that theory yet.

 

[The patriot]

Thanks. I'm a member of that forum. I know about idparts, the kit is $319 + the special tools.
The TDI's require specific engine oil that (at least in my research) is to protect the particulate filter for the most part. I have no idea how the engine oil is related to the particulate filter,,,,,but this is what I've researched.
The car itself dont look too bad. It's not prefect, just not beat to hell.
The ad has been up over 2 weeks, I'd guess they would have to be flexible by now. I called and asked if they had maintenance history. They do NOT!
Here's the ad:
http://cnj.craigslist.org/cto/4970887658.html

 

[mwilson]

That looks like a Florida license plate, maybe it hasn't been in the salt and crap.

That would be a huge plus for me timing belt or not.

 

[JLEONARD]

We have a 99.5 Jetta TDI. My son does the belt etc at his shop, but it's not a bad job. I cleaned the intake once at about 80K it was really loaded up. He cleaned it last time the belt was done about 2 years ago. This time I plugged the inlet to the intake and I am dumping the PVC via a hose to prevent the intake from clogging in the future. I know it's not green but neither is the reduced power you get for tens of thousands of miles as the intake slowly clogs. Maybe I'll rig a container to catch the drips. Only has 160+K on it but still gets 50 mpg.

 

[The patriot]

I dont know what's involved in inspection in my state. My truck is over 5000 lbs so requires no state insp. The wifes car is new, so we havent been to inspection in a few years. So much has changed in a few years.
Disabling the PCV will get you a check engine light. This I know will NOT pass nj state inspection....no matter what it's for. If a light is lit, it fails.
I'm told there are ways to change the "duty cycle" on the PCV through the computer...this will keep the intake cleaner longer. They say almost for the life of the car.
The VW dealer here in town has been sending me $5000 vouchers towards a new TDI.......maybe it'll work.
Only down side for me is, I want a Passat TDI SEL with a stick shift. I dont think they make the SEL with a 6 speed anymore.
Had my eye on an 08 BMW 535xi too.......spendy but nice.

 

[JR]

Check into the reliability side of VWs automatics if you choose to go auto. I dont know how they are now but there was a time when the DSG could have qualified for the reputation of worst auto trans ever. Very complex problematic units that were very costly to fix. Even the maintenance intervals were rather short and costly.

 

[The patriot]

From the little I've read the more recent models have a good rep. The service interval (oil & filter change) is 40K miles.
I dont know if they require a more in depth service down the road further. With how much I drive anymore 40K miles will be way out of warranty anyway. I just prefer changing my own gears.
In 2 years I think I put about 4K miles on my pickup, and almost all of that has been going to or from my parents house in Maine.
I'm really doing this more out of boredom than need.....