Been loving my '03 Golf TDI, and it's coming due on a number of maintenance items. My father purchased it new, and I started driving it when I got my license. It became mine after college graduation and I intend to keep it going for hopefully many more miles.
Having known the history since new, the Timing belt was changed at 100k miles, and we're about to touch 200k miles. Trying to decide whether to pay to have someone else (would be a TDIclub recommended shop) do the work or pony up and do it myself.
I've known for a while that the strut mounts are blown, and want a refresh in the 190,000+ mi suspension. I've had a set of Koni Orange struts and shocks plus all bushing/mounting hardware sitting in the closet and it's about time those get installed.
A winter in Michigan showed this Southwest (NM and TX) car what idling was and semi-clogged intakes are. I have a new-to-me intake in my possession that I need to clean up and have ordered block off plates and the EGR cooler bypass line to get rid of the EGR functionality. Yes I know you could just pull the vacuum line to the EGR and it'd do the same thing, but it'll all be out to swap the intake and I want to eliminate possible leak paths (exhaust and coolant) for the future. Race pipe sounds fancy but I definitely want to retain the ASV.
Coupled with all of this I'll need a PC and a copy of the VCDS software to make sure everything works right, and to shut of the CEL for the EGR "malfunction."
Not everything will be done at once, but luckily there's another car I can drive while I have it apart, if I get stuck.
List of other (more minor) updates include:
-*Replace parking brake cable (has been dragging LR brake if engaged) *(Completed 9/9/17)
-*Investigate possible sticky caliper slider/stuck pin in LR corner *(Completed 9/9/17
-*Replace transmission oil *(Completed 9/9/17)
-Replace body plugs that have disintegrated (almost 6x plugs)
-*Check ignition timing (threw code at one point but went away) *(Completed 9/29/17 by shop during timing belt change)
-Check Coolant temp sensor and replace (if it's the old "bad" one, I forget which color is which)
-Bleed brakes (running ABS pump w/ VCDS)
-*Replace sway bar bushing and brackets *(Completed 10/1/17)
-*Replace Struts and Shocks *(Completed 10/2/17)
Possible future work may include a steering rack replacement, as one of the inner tie rod boots has been torn and loose for a number of years now. It loses a little fluid here and there but hasn't lost any in the last couple years, I'm told though that failure may be imminent. I may at least clean up the area and replace the boot for now.
Any advice or guidance is always appreciated and I'll likely start logging the work in this thread to document the process, and apologies for being so long-winded...
First question is on the timing belt replacement. DIY or pay a shop? I'm fairly mechanically inclined and have a good set of basic tools (swapped the engine and transmission on my project car last year w/o a helper on hand).
I'd likely rent the VW specific tools and make sure I got a high-mileage timing belt kit to do the job. Thoughts from those who've done it before? estimated time to complete the job?
Having known the history since new, the Timing belt was changed at 100k miles, and we're about to touch 200k miles. Trying to decide whether to pay to have someone else (would be a TDIclub recommended shop) do the work or pony up and do it myself.
I've known for a while that the strut mounts are blown, and want a refresh in the 190,000+ mi suspension. I've had a set of Koni Orange struts and shocks plus all bushing/mounting hardware sitting in the closet and it's about time those get installed.
A winter in Michigan showed this Southwest (NM and TX) car what idling was and semi-clogged intakes are. I have a new-to-me intake in my possession that I need to clean up and have ordered block off plates and the EGR cooler bypass line to get rid of the EGR functionality. Yes I know you could just pull the vacuum line to the EGR and it'd do the same thing, but it'll all be out to swap the intake and I want to eliminate possible leak paths (exhaust and coolant) for the future. Race pipe sounds fancy but I definitely want to retain the ASV.
Coupled with all of this I'll need a PC and a copy of the VCDS software to make sure everything works right, and to shut of the CEL for the EGR "malfunction."
Not everything will be done at once, but luckily there's another car I can drive while I have it apart, if I get stuck.
List of other (more minor) updates include:
-*Replace parking brake cable (has been dragging LR brake if engaged) *(Completed 9/9/17)
-*Investigate possible sticky caliper slider/stuck pin in LR corner *(Completed 9/9/17
-*Replace transmission oil *(Completed 9/9/17)
-Replace body plugs that have disintegrated (almost 6x plugs)
-*Check ignition timing (threw code at one point but went away) *(Completed 9/29/17 by shop during timing belt change)
-Check Coolant temp sensor and replace (if it's the old "bad" one, I forget which color is which)
-Bleed brakes (running ABS pump w/ VCDS)
-*Replace sway bar bushing and brackets *(Completed 10/1/17)
-*Replace Struts and Shocks *(Completed 10/2/17)
Possible future work may include a steering rack replacement, as one of the inner tie rod boots has been torn and loose for a number of years now. It loses a little fluid here and there but hasn't lost any in the last couple years, I'm told though that failure may be imminent. I may at least clean up the area and replace the boot for now.
Any advice or guidance is always appreciated and I'll likely start logging the work in this thread to document the process, and apologies for being so long-winded...
First question is on the timing belt replacement. DIY or pay a shop? I'm fairly mechanically inclined and have a good set of basic tools (swapped the engine and transmission on my project car last year w/o a helper on hand).
I'd likely rent the VW specific tools and make sure I got a high-mileage timing belt kit to do the job. Thoughts from those who've done it before? estimated time to complete the job?
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