Welcome Guest [Log In] [Register]
Posted ImageWelcome to the all new Geo Metro Forum. We hope you enjoy your visit.

You're currently viewing our forum as a guest. This means you are limited to certain areas of the board and there are features you can't use and images you can't see. Registration is simple, fast, and completely free. If you're already a member please log in to your account to access all of our features:

Join our community!




Username:   Password:
Add Reply
Jetta and Golf TDIs - Farfegnugen Cancelled!
Topic Started: Jan 18 2011, 07:12 AM (2,595 Views)
c140flyer


Quote:
 
This is especially true of the Jetta/ Golf IV from the early 2000's


Unfortunately one of the cars I'm interested in is a 2001 Golf TDI. All the others are early 2000s as well. The fact that these cars were made in Brazil might have something to do with their reliability issues.
Larry
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
CityConnection
Member Avatar
Sir, yes sir!

If you must, MUST get a VW diesel, stay away from the PD series engine. These are easy to spot as they don't have an injection pump, the pumps are integral to the injectors. If the previous owner doesn't have proof of every oil change (and that the oil was 505.01 rated, or something like that) then the engine WILL fail. Also if it's still under warranty a claim can be denied if you can't prove that the oil was always the proper rating.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
c140flyer


Hi Folks,
I went to look at a Golf TDI that has had my interest for the last week. It was located 150 miles away, so I was hesitant to go there without good reason.
At first glance,the car looked great. There were just a few paint chips and some minor scratches in the paint and the leather interior looked good. For it's age, the car looked phenomenal.
I'd heard that these cars have very strong engines, but the rest of the car tends to be crap. I found just the opposite.
After examining the looks of the car and checking out the interior features of the car, I took it for a test drive. It started right up and idled smooth as milk. I put it in gear and noticed that the clutch engaged really high. I first figured that that was just an adjustment or quirk. As I accelerated, I "put my foot in it" to test the response of the turbo. It was impressive till I looked out the back window at the huge cloud of blue smoke! My first thought was that it needed a ring job. I expressed my concern to the salesman. He said "they all do that when they've been sitting for a while". He had mentioned earlier that someone had taken it for a test drive, so that didn't add up. I asked if there was any proof that the timing belt had been changed and he told me that "these all have timing chains that don' t need replacement". I know that's not true. I noted that the car had a tow hitch.
The car is for sale on Ebay, but the salesman was willing to sell it to me "right there". I didn't want to commit to it without further research. Three things bother me about this car: 1. Blue smoke 2. Clutch 3. Trailer hitch on a small car
I went to lunch and called a friend that drives VW diesels. He thought that the rings or valve seals were bad and added that he drove VW diesels for 25 years and gave up on them. He has a Corolla now!
I went home and did a little research. It appears that the smoke can also be caused by poor fuel or improper mixture adjustment. According to TDI forums, some smoke is "normal". The clutch is hydraulic, but a high pedal could still indicate excessive clutch wear. Who knows about the trailer hitch.
Bottom line is this... even if the smoke is "normal", I'll never convince my wife how wonderful this new car is considering she complains of diesel fumes every time we take out my sailboat (which has a diesel ancillary engine). She's been fighting me every step of the way. This is the straw that broke the camel's back.
So much for farfegnugen! :smackface
Edited by c140flyer, Jan 20 2011, 09:41 PM.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
Car Nut
Member Avatar


Smart move. They're great if you are rich & have no poor kin. Nuff said?
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
CityConnection
Member Avatar
Sir, yes sir!

You know how you make a decision and then some time later you start to think if it was the right one? How it just keeps nagging at you? Sure, you forget about it sometimes, but for that one second when grandma is blowing out the birthday candles... it'll hit you like a freight train. Yeah, a real doozy.

This won't be one of those.
Offline Profile Quote Post Goto Top
 
1 user reading this topic (1 Guest and 0 Anonymous)
« Previous Topic · The Geo Metro Lounge · Next Topic »
Add Reply