Had a long time customer come over yesterday for a timing belt and injector update.....
And, only 556,000 miles!
LOL, Yeah, ONLY 556K!
I was asked to add any words of wisdom....Hmm....
Well for sure, I think it has made it this far because it was well maintained. Don't buy one if you cannot afford to give it the love that it needs. I changed my oil using Amsoil HD Diesel oil 5W30 every 10K. I didn't know at the time that I was supposed to be using the 5W40 5.01 oil, but once I figured it out it was at 450K. I have NO lobe wear so I am continuing to use it. Also, every 10K I would change out my fuel filter and blow out my air filter. Every 60K religiously I replaced my timing belt, t-belt tensioner, water pump, rollers, flushed the power steering system, changed the gear lube with Amsoil 75X90, flushed the coolant system, replaced the thermostat and gave her some Moly Diesel Purge. Everyone says not to let it warm up. They also say never let it idle excessively. Well, I do both. I start mine up in the morning and then go back inside for 5-10 minutes even when it is warm out. I don't ever shut it off or less I am going to be inside a store for a while or I am at home for the day or work for the day. Hundreds of times this car has been run from 5Am to 10PM because it was cold and I wanted to keep the interior warm while I was away for 5-60 minutes. In the summer, it would sit and idle for two hours keeping me cool while I waited for my next route to start. I would sit there and take a nap or play on my computer to pass the time, all the while it was idling away. Sometimes I will be on my way home from a courier run and get caught in a snow storm and have to pull off at a rest area or exit ramp. I will let it idle the entire time. There was one night I became stranded outside of Des Moines, IA, I stopped at a rest area to prevent a crash because the blizzard was so bad. Well, that was around 7PM. I didn't get back on the road until 8AM the next day. That was 13 hours of idling!! And guess what? I have NEVER had a problem with the car. The injection pump is original, as well as the injectors and turbo. Any time something has started to break, I will fix it. I won't put cheap after market parts on it either. I buy OEM parts for everything. Well, almost everything....I use aftermarket brakes!
My oil, air and fuel filters and even my Bosch warning indicator wiper blades are all bought from the dealer. I have a connection there so I use it! 25% off anything I need!
My only big complaint on the car is the lack of being able to align it. This car will tear a tire that was supposed to last me 80K in 50K. I was told by shop after shop and even the dealer that they cannot adjust the "camber" alignment setting on the front. Because of this, it makes my tires lean slightly inward. The result is the tires go bald on the inside tread. The rear tires have a problem too. There is not ONE SINGLE change that can be made to the rear end. Because of this, it makes my tires become "feathered" on the outside tread. I rotate frequently, but after 20K you can start to hear the "wa wa wa wa wa wa" sound from the feather tires and after 30K it becomes hard to balance them perfectly with the inside tread being so warn out compared to the other side of the tire. Bottom line, if VW would have made it possible to make changes to the alignment where they needed to be, I could prevent this from happening! It drives straight down the road, no problem! But DAMN does she tear tires up!
The timing belt used to make me mad too. Having to dump big money in it every 60K upset me. However, I just now found out about the new 100K t-belt from a TDI mechanic in Sioux Falls, SD. Now that I know this, I don't feel so bad having to spend the money.
As for things wearing out....Here is what I can remember:
Struts and shocks @ 150K
Clutch @ 375K
Manual Transmission @ 440K (5th gear went out)
Instrument Cluster @ 360K
ECU @ 370K
Fan blower motor resistor replaced like every 100K
Heated seat element has caught on fire three times over the last 9 years. Results in trip to dealer for new fabric/heating element and switch every time it happened.
That's really about it! I can't complain. When I bought this car new in 02, gas prices were $1.40 and diesel was $1.22 a gallon. My Nissan pickup was giving me about 20mpg. I didn't have a car payment on the truck, but I got into one with the Jetta. Funny thing is, this car was free! SERIOUSLY! Even after having a car payment and higher insurance, I STILL saved money every month because diesel was cheaper and I went from 20MPG to 50-55MPG. Gotta love it!!! I have kicked the idea around as to selling it because it is starting to "feel" wore out. I'm sure it has plenty of life left in her.....and every time I get close to doing it, I change my mind and kcik myself for even considering it...lol
Well, that's my story and "wisdom". Please feel free to PM if there is something else you want to know. Also, please click on the link in my original post so you can read the story on my car!