Test Drove A VW TDI

[MN Cummins Lvr]

I have convinced my wife that diesel is the way to go so yesterday we test drove a 2003 New Beetle to replace her 2000 New Beetle gasser. It was a little louder at idle than I expected (that's a good thing ) but as far as performance goes, IMHO it didn't seem to be that much "doggier" than her gasser. The part that really worries me is that it may sound louder than the new ISBe??? Anyhow, other than timing belt to replace at 60K, anything to watch out for on the TDI? Hope Holeshotholset is reading this



Paul

 

[BCFAST]

Of the TDi's, the NB is the one I wouldnt want, personally. It has, by far, the worst aeros of the VWs, and thus the poorest mpgs. Stock-for-stock, the tdi motor has the same torque as the VR6! Big difference is, the VR6 isnt easily bombed (or cheaply), makes very little hp, and gets crappy mileage! The tdi motors behave like our Cummins motors in that, the mileage goes up as you bomb them. There are plenty of companies out there making hot boxes and injectors for them now. The belt-change intervals recommended to me by my VW chief-of-tech friend is 40k for automatics, and 50k for manuals. Expect 52-55mpg from a 5-spd Jetta after it's broken in.



Brian

 

[nickleinonen]

egr there are ways of disabling them but i have not researched that [yet... ]

 

[B9Mile]

New Timing Belts ...

Starting with engine serial number 500,000, in the mid-2001 model year production, VW introduced an 80,000 mile timing belt for atotmatic transmissions AND manuals as well. Its now listed as having a 100,000 mile lifespan.



Check out these maintenance schedules from the Fatherland.



http://www.vw.com/SP/SchedMaint.jsp?makeCode=BEETLE

http://www.vw.com/SP/MaintSchedule.jsp



Just so your wife isn't put off by the "noisy" TDI during the warmup period on those cold mornings, remember this engine has the timing manipulated by the ECM as things warm up.



While you are poking around under the hood, take a look at the driver's end of the engine near the head gasket. There you will see 3 electrode looking things protruding from a coolant line. These are heater elements to help the coolant warm faster during cold weather starts. I think these are only on the manual transmission equipped cars.



The VE 37 pump in these cars does not require a lift pump, but its still lubricated and cooled by the fuel it pumps. I would use an additive for the usual reasons.



The fuel filter is preheated by the fuel returning from the pump to the fuel tank. There is a thermally controlled Tee fitting type bypass valve in it. So, you will need to make sure your fuel is properly winterized to prevent fuel filter clogging prior to startup. Once the engine is running, the fuel filter stays nice and warm.



Cruise on over to these sites for more info:



http://www.tdiclub.com/

http://www.vwvortex.com/



You can go here and purchase diagnostic software which enables you to scan AND clear codes, as well as manipulate just about any electronic parameter on the engine as well as the rest of the car. i. e. door locking features etc... This is just what we need for our ISB-s.



http://www.ross-tech.com/

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by BCFAST

Of the TDi's, the NB is the one I wouldnt want, personally.



Brian

This is the one my wife wants in "Yellow". Black I could be seen driving it, but not yellow . I've done some research on the new beatle and they did best in class for crash tests. I would still not want to get hit by a CTD in one . To get one we would have to sell the 95 Landcruiser, I will try and stall as long as possible . If we got one I would think that the diesel would be the best way to go. I have heard that the weak link is the dealers, very bad warranty service!!!

 

[emarsh]

We have a 03 Jetta wagon TDI on order and it should be in sometime after thanksgiving. Spend a little time at the two web sites and you can gain very valuable information, just like here. We went for a stripper 5 speed manual. I too have driven about 8 of these new at the dealer, they move out just fine. A few little bombs later and you really have something. My wife should just be recovering from her mastecomy (cancer) by then and we are planning to go to Yosemite and have some fun again.

 

[BCFAST]

As a past-VW pusher, my dealership experience has been like any other marque: hit or miss. It's the individual store that's good or bad. I did learn that VW cut the drivetrain warranty in half to only 50k!! Buying a used one gets you half of new... so a used '01 has the same warranty as a new '03!! @ 50k.

 

[DieselB59]

I have a 99. 5 Jetta IV. I can't complain about it much at all. In the three years we've owned it, it's had the following go wrong. A relay in the ECM needed to be replaced under warranty, replaced the battery due to slow cranking (engine needs 250 RPM to fire), replaced two coolant temperature sensors which were causing the car to have hard starting when hot. What I've done to the car performance wise are in the order that they were done: Boost and EGT gauges, K&N air filter, retrofitted a fuel filter from an older VW diesel which does not incorporate hot fuel recirculation (hot fuel is aerated and should go back to the tank, not to the pump, which is cooled and lubricated by fuel alone), disconnected the EGR in two ways: reduced the duty cycle and incorporated a system with a couple diodes and a vacuum switch to bypass the EGR, while sending a voltage of an operating system to the ECM, then finally the Hermann Tuning Box, which is adjustable for extreme fueling enhancement. Anything more and I'll need a different clutch. It's fine for my wife, who is the primary driver and with her heavy foot she still manages to hit 50 MPG on average with fill ups around the 650 mile mark. I purchased the VAG-COM system from Ross-Tech, and must say that it's the way to go for this system. This way the stealer will not get their grubby little mitts on the car until you already know what's wrong with it. So, that's my opinion, which I backed with the above facts.