sptsailing
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Jul 9, 2010
- Location
- Safety Harbor, FL
- TDI
- 2006 Jetta Manual, stock with Panzer Plate & Franko6 modified EGR cooler & CAM
I am in a funk now and thought commiserating with others who love and hate these cars might be helpful.
My Florida 2006 MKV 5-speed Jetta appears to have finally succumbed to cam failure at 147K miles. Only additional item is the Panzer plate. I acquired this silver sedan from the first owner in February of 2010 when it had about 50K miles on it. For awhile, I was able to get up to 50MPG, but that did not last long. The MPG had been disappointing but still way better than a gasser for the last several years. At present, its only 6 other significant issues appear to be: aging plastic and rubber parts, something making a noise in the interior A/C air blower, yet another tempermental A/C RCV, a coolant thermostat stuck open, the usual stock radio deterioration and the port rear door lock non-functional. She's due for a timing belt at 160K, so there could be worse times for a cam expiration.
Items replaced over the years include:
trunk latch
Driver door lock assembly
Driver door switch assembly
Other window switches too
MAF
Alternator pulley(s)
Idler pulley
Successful timing belt replacement including everything required at 80K miles
Driver door wiring harness
Starboard rear door lock assembly
Valve cover gasket
The coolant hose to heater (that gets oil dripped on it by the leaking valve cover gasket)
EGR Valve Air Regulator Flap Throttle
Engine cooling fans
DMF & Clutch
Engine rear seal (preemptive with DMF job)
Headliner (VW company provided)
other things I don't happen to remember
... pretty much everything on the problems list except the cam
The car has never been hit except for me backing into a mailbox post, so paint body and interior are all still pretty good.
So if I decide to keep this car because both my wife and I greatly enjoy driving it and not having to buy ethanol contaminated fuel for it, I am looking at yet another significan VW repair project, which would now take place in a Florida summer in my garage, which lacks air conditioning. I can do it, but having just signed up for medicare, I am somewhat losing enthusiasm for this sort of thing. On the other hand, if I go through renewing and replacing all the problematic items, I would have a really nice 2006 Manual 5 speed Jetta TDI when I am done, which is enticing.
So I am throwing my thoughts out here to the group that made owning this car only possible in the first place, as it apparently consists of those who are both psychologists as well as mechanics, and I am conflicted.
Suggestions?
Steve
-Safety Harbor, FL
My Florida 2006 MKV 5-speed Jetta appears to have finally succumbed to cam failure at 147K miles. Only additional item is the Panzer plate. I acquired this silver sedan from the first owner in February of 2010 when it had about 50K miles on it. For awhile, I was able to get up to 50MPG, but that did not last long. The MPG had been disappointing but still way better than a gasser for the last several years. At present, its only 6 other significant issues appear to be: aging plastic and rubber parts, something making a noise in the interior A/C air blower, yet another tempermental A/C RCV, a coolant thermostat stuck open, the usual stock radio deterioration and the port rear door lock non-functional. She's due for a timing belt at 160K, so there could be worse times for a cam expiration.
Items replaced over the years include:
trunk latch
Driver door lock assembly
Driver door switch assembly
Other window switches too
MAF
Alternator pulley(s)
Idler pulley
Successful timing belt replacement including everything required at 80K miles
Driver door wiring harness
Starboard rear door lock assembly
Valve cover gasket
The coolant hose to heater (that gets oil dripped on it by the leaking valve cover gasket)
EGR Valve Air Regulator Flap Throttle
Engine cooling fans
DMF & Clutch
Engine rear seal (preemptive with DMF job)
Headliner (VW company provided)
other things I don't happen to remember
... pretty much everything on the problems list except the cam
The car has never been hit except for me backing into a mailbox post, so paint body and interior are all still pretty good.
So if I decide to keep this car because both my wife and I greatly enjoy driving it and not having to buy ethanol contaminated fuel for it, I am looking at yet another significan VW repair project, which would now take place in a Florida summer in my garage, which lacks air conditioning. I can do it, but having just signed up for medicare, I am somewhat losing enthusiasm for this sort of thing. On the other hand, if I go through renewing and replacing all the problematic items, I would have a really nice 2006 Manual 5 speed Jetta TDI when I am done, which is enticing.
So I am throwing my thoughts out here to the group that made owning this car only possible in the first place, as it apparently consists of those who are both psychologists as well as mechanics, and I am conflicted.
Suggestions?
Steve
-Safety Harbor, FL