ken.fresno-tdi
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jan 3, 2006
- Location
- Fresno, CA
- TDI
- 95 Eurovan EVC camper with 98 AHU engine (VeganVan02); 01 Jetta ALH engine and parts - waiting for transplant into 97 Eurovan (VeganVan03);05 BEW Beetle
back story: I did a AHU TDI transplant into Eurovan over a year ago. 150K on engine and professionally rebuilt 10mm injection pump. Great running; 4000 trip last summer and almost daily 150 mile r/t in past month to go from Fresno to Yosemite where I am helping build a cabin. Some problem with boost control (separate thread) but generally very nice running van. Three days ago started up fine but died after 5 or 6 seconds, still in driveway. No restart though seemed like it wanted to - engine would catch and stumble but not really go, and then just crank. First made sure 109 was good and that stop solenoid was clicking. Glow plug light works. I have a BEW in-tank fuel pump installed that pushes diesel through fuel filter but still bypassed any possible fuel filter clog or air leak by sticking both diesel lines into jar of diesel. Still no start- wants to and stumbles then dies. Looked for codes and found P1248 - timing issue? Checked to make sure timing was good - all checked out but IP was a bit off center so decided to retime the whole thing. Retimed using proper tools and made sure all was EXACTLY right - flywheel, camshaft, IP all on center and IP in middle of rotation. No sign of start at all after priming several times/cracking IP lines properly. Then I remembered when I first installed engine I had timing problem and had to advance IP sprocket one tooth to get engine running. Strange but apparently documented and true. Redid timing with IP sprocket advanced one tooth. Result is back to original condition - fires up for one or two seconds, stumbles, but not quite starting. Aaghh! Now thinking back to original issue three days ago where it started and then just stopped after running for a few seconds I wonder if some electrical issue in IP is the problem? fuel delivery seems fine. Air intake is fine. timing seems fine. N108 valve? never touched it before... Other things to check? I have VAGCOM and am not afraid to use it but without starting engine can't really check dynamic timing or other possible issues. Where do I go from here? Thanks for any thoughts!