new old VW

[JR]

Well its a lot older of a vehicle than what I was looking for but couldn't pass it up given the history. Found an 01 Beetle TDI with a 5 speed with 118k well maintained highway miles. Black with tan leather interior and owned by an elderly lady. Acquired all the service records (dealer serviced as well). The only thing I can see this car needing in the for seeable future is a set of tires and an oil change in the next thousand miles. I bought it for the wife for a commuter car as her new job is almost 40 miles each way (depending on which office she has to go to that day) and we've been pounding the miles on our new family vehicle. Like I said its a little older than what I was looking for but this car is a sweet heart and after speaking with the lady we bought it from and given the service records I have no concerns about putting her in it. I figure for what we gave for it were certainly not going to get hurt on it. If I can get the keys from her I plan on driving it as much as I can, this car is actually a blast to drive and just sips the fuel! I put on 105 highway miles yesterday filling up before iI left and topping off again when iI got home and used just under 2. 4 Gallons..... not too shabby.
Now I need to get tuned up on these cars, find a good service manual, etc. Anybody got any advice on where to locate a FSM or something close?

 

[GCroyle]

DFL,



Not sure where to begin but take a look at http://forums.tdiclub.com/ I have been to two informal GTG's and each time learned a whole bunch from these guys YMMV.



Got mine with 38K on it and have already cleaned intake manifold, made repair to the variable nozzle turbo, and PLEASE PLEASE consider a suitable engine pan guard. I put a 2" by 1" hole in my engine pan just pulling into my driveway at a bad angle. It now sports a Panzer Plate . 2" aluminum guard.



Timing belt servicing is a critical from my research.



Consider almost all plastic parts as not yet broken, but expect casualties.



I'm stock and staying that way, running 43-45MPG.

 

[JR]

Thanks Gary. 38K miles that's incredible! Did you make your own skid pan? I'll have to look into that. I admittedly don't know much about this car, but it won't stay that way for long!

 

[mwilson]

Find someone with the VAG-Com software. Get the intake cleaned out and the EGR cycles minimized. If it has never been cleaned expect a mess.



Check the fan operation right now, push A/C button and put blower fan on low speed. With key on, engine not running both rad fans should be turning.



Perform a ventectomy, just did mine. Huge difference when fueling up.



If it has not had a timing belt it needs one right now. Avoid aftermarket timing belts and related parts in my opinion. Go VW in this instance.



Mike.

 

[mwilson]

You can run Rotella T 15/40 with a 5,000 service interval in that 2001, no worries.



Mike.

 

[GCroyle]

DFL,



Check www.dieselgeek.com for the Panzer plate, I've been doing pretty good with www.idparts.com for VW unique stuff like Mike is stating about the timing belt kits. Ventectomy removes a WTF from the filler neck, extends range. I don't know how to do it, a guy did it at a GTG before I could say whachadoin?



The caution about the plastic, you'll find out.

 

[JR]

Find someone with the VAG-Com software. Get the intake cleaned out and the EGR cycles minimized. If it has never been cleaned expect a mess.



Check the fan operation right now, push A/C button and put blower fan on low speed. With key on, engine not running both rad fans should be turning.



Perform a ventectomy, just did mine. Huge difference when fueling up.



If it has not had a timing belt it needs one right now. Avoid aftermarket timing belts and related parts in my opinion. Go VW in this instance.



Mike.

I'm pretty sure I saw something about the intake being removed for something or other in my book of receipts I got, I'll have to double check. How often is that recomended? I gotta get ahold of an FSM so iI know what I need to do for maintenance intervals and such.

On the oil, Rotella specifically? Or any 15/40?

Timing belt was done at 90k and change.

 

[JR]

DFL,



Check www.dieselgeek.com for the Panzer plate, I've been doing pretty good with www.idparts.com for VW unique stuff like Mike is stating about the timing belt kits. Ventectomy removes a WTF from the filler neck, extends range. I don't know how to do it, a guy did it at a GTG before I could say whachadoin?



The caution about the plastic, you'll find out.

Ventectomy?? Almost sounds like a painful surgery :-laf. I'll have to look into that one a little more on the TDI forum. I just registered over there.

Thanks for the pointers guys, if there's anything else you can think of that needs to be looked at sooner than later, I'm all ears.

 

[GCroyle]

Intake manifold cleaning can be a one time event if you block off the source of schmuck. Lots of info out there.

 

[GCroyle]

Ventectomy?? Almost sounds like a painful surgery :-laf.

It's a whole lot simpler than a DMFectomy.

 

[JR]

Find someone with the VAG-Com software. Get the intake cleaned out and the EGR cycles minimized. If it has never been cleaned expect a mess.

Check the fan operation right now, push A/C button and put blower fan on low speed. With key on, engine not running both rad fans should be turning.

Perform a ventectomy, just did mine. Huge difference when fueling up.

If it has not had a timing belt lt it needs one right now. Avoid aftermarket timing belts and related parts in my opinion. Go VW in this instance.

Mike.

OK, just got home and tried the a/c test, a/c on, fan on low speed, key to acc position... . neither fan turns. Obviously they should be, but what does this mean?

 

[mwilson]

OK, just got home and tried the a/c test, a/c on, fan on low speed, key to acc position... . neither fan turns. Obviously they should be, but what does this mean?

Try "ON" rather than accessory. See if that makes a difference.



Mike.

 

[JR]

Now that you mention that, I'm not completely sure which position I had the key in. Will try again first thing in am.

 

[JR]

OK, fans do not operate. Period. Not even with the car running and the a/c on. The lady said the a/c did work but this car has not been driven much in the last several months. I have a receipt from June when the tires were rotated and there has only been 400 miles put on since then not including what we have put on. I never tried it for myself personally as it was raining and 35* when I looked at it. The days of a/c have been gone for several weeks around here.
I am registered over on the TDI forum and am trying to educate myself as time permits. Fortunately from what I can see the big ticket items have been addressed, IE timing belt and intake cleaning, both which have been performed in the last 2OK (highway Driven) miles.
So far I like it, and better yet the wife likes it.

 

[mwilson]

It may not be the A/C, it could be the fan control unit. Mine failed this spring.



So the fans may not work for cooling the engine either right now. When I get a few minutes this weekend I will find you the troubleshooting DIY that I used.



For now don't go off and leave it idling if warm without keeping an eye on it.



Mike.

 

[JR]

Thank you Mike, it would be greatly appreciated. I have been trying to use the search function on the TDI forum, but regardless of what I type in the search menu the most recent posts show up so I'm not making a whole lot of headway. It seems like a great site and I've come across some good threads already, but I need to figure out the search function and I'll be good to go.

 

[GCroyle]

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=242699&highlight=fan



DFL,



If this thread doesn't send you diagnosing, well not sure what to say. Dan is an uber guru, he diagnosed stuff on my car in seconds.



Gary

 

[JR]

I printed the fan test out and will be arming myself with it this weekend. Thank you Gary that's exactly what I need.