New project 2001 Golf tdi 2 door

casey823

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2015
Location
Middleton, ID USA
TDI
2002 Jetta sedan, 2002 golf tdi
Just bought this car at the auction, it was a donation. It was supposed to be a non runner but I got it home checked fluids, pulled upper timing cover and did a visual on timing belt. Battery was dead, so threw in a spare I had and car fired right up. I pulled off the dolly and let the car get to operating temperature and cel was on. I hooked up vcds and have 5 codes.


5 Faults Found:

16629 - Solenoid Valve for Boost Pressure Control (N75)
P0245 - 35-10 - Short to Ground - Intermittent
18027 - Glow Plug Relay (J52)
P1619 - 35-10 - Open or Short to Ground - Intermittent
17849 - EGR Valve (N18)
P1441 - 35-10 - Open Circuit or Short to Ground - Intermittent
16600 - Commencement of Injection Valve (N108)
P0216 - 35-10 - Circuit Malfunction - Intermittent
16764 - Glow Plug/Heater (Q6) Circuit
P0380 - 35-10 - Malfunction - Intermittent

Thoughts?
The IP looks fairly new, the Egr looks new, n75 new along with vacuum hoses. Is there a junction where these wires all go to that I can look at? Thanks in advance.
 

BobnOH

not-a-mechanic
Joined
May 29, 2004
Location
central Ohio
TDI
New Beetle 2003 manual

casey823

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2015
Location
Middleton, ID USA
TDI
2002 Jetta sedan, 2002 golf tdi
Thanks bob, looks like after a bit of research this may be an ecu. Anut helped a forum member with exact same codes and ecu was toast.
 

wonneber

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Oct 12, 2011
Location
Monroe, NY, USA
TDI
2014 Jetta Sportwagon,2003 Jetta 261K Sold but not forgotten
I would not suspect the ECU first, they seem to be very reliable.
I agree with BobnOH, check for a bad ground.
The one under the battery tray has been mentioned many times and the one in the plenum where the ECU is.
Also a quick test is check for AC voltage with the car running, lights & fan on.
 

casey823

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2015
Location
Middleton, ID USA
TDI
2002 Jetta sedan, 2002 golf tdi
I will clean all the grounds first and if that doesn't fix it I will ohm test the ecu. I have an ecu that needs the immobilizer deleted anyway so that will get sent out. It will be a few days before I get back to this. Work out of town sucks!
 

maxmoo

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 19, 2011
Location
Lakefield, Ontario, Canada
TDI
2000 golf, 2001 golf, 2000 beetle, 2003 wagon, 2004 golf, 2004 jetta, all diesels
Wow, sounds like it could just be simple neglect.
Not unusual for the glow plug system to get wonky in old age.
Other codes could be bad grounds, general wiring.
Here are some links to help you along.
Look up your codes here, Ross Tech wiki, you will get some clues.
A nice user contributed search engine. Use the box center left on the page.
Typically start with recording the codes, clearing them, then run it a bit see what comes back.
Have you done this?
How is the car running?
 

casey823

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2015
Location
Middleton, ID USA
TDI
2002 Jetta sedan, 2002 golf tdi
Unplugged ecu, plugged back in. Cleared codes with vcds. Started car and no codes came right back. Car feels a lot smoother and will rev now, which it wouldn't do before and there was some white smoke before which has also cleared up. I will let it warm up and see how it goes.
 

casey823

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2015
Location
Middleton, ID USA
TDI
2002 Jetta sedan, 2002 golf tdi
After the car warmed up I logged into vcds and checked IP timing and IQ(the pump looked like it was recently replaced) the timing was very retarded at 17 degrees. I adjusted that up to around 50, and then moved IQ from 2.8 up to around 4.8. I then took the car out for a drive and wow it runs great! Man what a great buy for $600, Now I will get a timing kit ordered change the oil and fuel filter and do a once over on suspension and brakes and should be good to go. Thanks for all the advice you guys gave.
 

casey823

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2015
Location
Middleton, ID USA
TDI
2002 Jetta sedan, 2002 golf tdi
Took the car through a couple drive cycles and all codes returned, guess I spoke too soon haha! Back to the drawing board. All the codes are intermittent, so I wouldnt think it would be the ecu. Why did it last 4 or 5 drive cycles and then all the codes popped back up?
 

wonneber

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Oct 12, 2011
Location
Monroe, NY, USA
TDI
2014 Jetta Sportwagon,2003 Jetta 261K Sold but not forgotten
Took the car through a couple drive cycles and all codes returned, guess I spoke too soon haha! Back to the drawing board. All the codes are intermittent, so I wouldnt think it would be the ecu. Why did it last 4 or 5 drive cycles and then all the codes popped back up?
Could be frayed wires, a poor connection, bad grounds.
The one under the battery is not the only one.
There's one (or more) in the plenum and the right side of the dash kick panel area.
Long shot, with the car running, lights and fan on measure the battery for AC voltage.
A bad diode can raise havoc.
 

oilhammer

Certified Volkswagen Nut & Vendor
Joined
Dec 11, 2001
Location
outside St Louis, MO
TDI
There are just too many to list....
ECU problem. I have seen this several times before. Something inside like a bad solder joint most likely, but may not be easy to find. An electronics specialist could open it up and go over the components and their solder connections with their super magnifying glass and maybe find something.

My dad used to do that sort of thing.
 

BobnOH

not-a-mechanic
Joined
May 29, 2004
Location
central Ohio
TDI
New Beetle 2003 manual
^and there is your answer.^
I would pop the lid of the ECU and examine carefully.
If you need one, car-part.com will have one, prices are all over.
 

casey823

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2015
Location
Middleton, ID USA
TDI
2002 Jetta sedan, 2002 golf tdi
Thanks oil hammer, that's what I had been going back to. Ecu seemed like the most logical thing. Good thing I have a few parts cars. I will pull the ecu out of a 2000 beetle and get it off to kerma. Thanks a bunch guys I will report back after I get the ecu back.
 

casey823

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 17, 2015
Location
Middleton, ID USA
TDI
2002 Jetta sedan, 2002 golf tdi
I got the ecu back from kerma on Tuesday and got it installed and codes cleared. I have about 12-15 drive cycles with it so far and everything is good as of right now. I just have the p0380 glow plug circuit code, which I'm sure is just a harness issue. The car runs very good, now I will get a tb kit coming and some front end parts. Feels like lower control arm bushings are shot.
 
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