New to owning a TDI

I just got my TDI almost a week ago on 1/15/10
It's a nice little car, got it for fuel econemy, style, and fun of drive.

The car has just over 93,000 miles and is a 2006 automatic.

I am completely new to diesel, turbos, DSG transmissions... so any helpful advice would be great! The guy I bought from also gave me a VAG-COM cable, which I don't have software for yet, but have read there are free options. Can't really locate them, though.

If you have any helpful tips, or things I should make sure and take care of, please let me know! I got about 38 MPG at my first measurement, and 40 on the second. On the second time, I didn't go over 70 MPH, and tried to drive fuel effeciently, and was expecting slightly higher.

Anyway, I look forward to being part of this community!

-spiderjedi

If its a genuine Ross Tech cable you can download the latest software from here http://www.ross-tech.com/vcds/download/ if its a cheapo clone cable you will be restricted to an earlier shareware version 409

Welcome aboard!!
No personal experience with the PD (and newer) TDIs, all mine are '03 and older VE injection type models.
Tons of good info here, so check out the various related sub forums.
Sounds like the prior owner was familar with the car, so hopefully he knew how to maintain it and used the Correct oil in that model.
But, if you have a "genuine" Ross Tech Vag Com Diagnostic Software cable go to the Ross Tech website and download a "full" version for free. If it's a "copy" cable then you will have limited use with the shareware free version. Help with using the VCDS can be found in the OBD sub forum, and the Ross Tech guys themselves are on regularily. Very helpful, but try searching first, most things have been covered many times. The search funtion doesn't work that great, but you'll get a lot of good reading.

Forgive the hijack...

I'm a newb here too and I figured my new to me Jetta was close enough (06 w 5 speed/75k miles) that i would chime in.

Constructive info.... getting started here can be a challenge. was looking for a beginners cheat sheet but struggling, even with 10 hrs in lurking. I am or I've been active on the TDR forum (Dodge/Cummins) Pirate 4x4 (offroad gearheads) and Offshoreonly (fast boat gearheads) so it's hardly my first rodeo.

This post actually was the first thing to clue me in on what a "vag-com" is. I'm still trying to figure out if my enigne is an a4, mark 5 or whatever the lingo is. Do I have a vari vane turbo?

I'm a pretty techie gearhead and i've been reading about mileage and maintenance practices etc. a lot of the mileage/diesel stuff comes to me as I've got about 350k towing miles racing, jeeping or camping since my first diesel 10 yrs ago. My current rig rolls down the road at about 36k loaded when towing my buddies 28' race trailer, my jeep goes in the back and the front is a crude but comfortable living quarters. driving a road ranger 10-speed is humbling at first, but seat time prevails and you learn to work the lights way in advance and to get to top gear fast so you can lumber along in top gear in the meat of the torque curve.

Back to construtive info, a lot of the FAQ is dated well before the existance of my car, so you can't help but feel you are missing stuff pertinent to later generations.

My commute alone will have me doing 36-38k miles annually for the next 2.5 yrs (good job in the next state/joint custody thing) so while I've always admired the TDIs (had a gasser NB and Audi A4 before) I never owned one. now I need one. My commute averages 72-73 mph with a lot of time in the 72-80 range depending on posted speed (65-75). Trip is 240 miles round trip, done 10-12 times per month.

I take delivery next week, good dealer in Houston, an ebay/tdi specialist, Steve Salazar. I'll be playing with speeds, not sure i want to give any up, but I'll save time with less fillups so maybe i can rationalize some. Plan to look into the taller 5th gear and maybe hydrogen/water injection, realize payback may be mute, we'll see.

thanks in advance for any help
Kenny AKA Rockcrawler

OH yea, race jeep has a tweaked 3.8SC

Yea same here but am new to diesel. Have been a domestic/tuner in the past but could not pass up on the chance to own a Euro long life economized sports car.
Purchased car like a week ago. been scrolling through the forums (am not new to forums for have made several, admin a few, and have been member of many over the years)
Alot of good reading but would be nice if the FAQ and the Jargon section be updated.

I mean I have learn about this Secret Diesel thingy is bad. I have learned of the VAG-COM , just havent found a local that has responded to activate the menu on my dash for the phone book so I dont have to memorize the number "dial number" blah blah... but there is a few things I havent learned yet and that is where these people find (physical) the bluetooth code. Someone had posted picture of it. also the thing with the 9w2 9w3 - I think it has something to do with bluetooth hands free package - what I dont know how to tell which you have..
or if it is premium 8 stereo or rcd-510 setero. I know the rns-510 is the touch screen with navigation but is there a difference between the rcd-510 and premium 8 system or are they the same.

Sometimes you can collect enough and read enough about these things and across they way someone could have been posting information on it and accidentally misrepresent what was being said and we the readers can get confused.

But there is much to learn and plenty of time to learn it.

Thanks

balkor2 said:

I have learned of the VAG-COM , just havent found a local that has responded

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If you want to make the trek to Suffolk, you can borrow mine as often as you like.

spiderjedi said:

I am completely new to diesel, turbos, DSG transmissions... so any helpful advice would be great!

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Review any maintenance records you have and make sure the car is in compliance. Make sure they have been performed. DSG fluid/filter every 40K, Timing Belt/Water Pump replacement coming up, brake system flush, etc. Enjoy.

Also for the 04-06 car owners, You might want to inspect your cams. The BEW and BRM coded engines tend to have cam issues and it is even more likely if the car didn't get the correct oil in it since they are Pump Duse engines. I have an 04 and its cam is fine but some have issues is all I am saying. Yes there is a lot of jargon to be learned. One thing is almost never go to a dealer. They could mess up a wet dream. MPG depends a lot on your foot. There is a lot of power potential in the cars for those looking to mod. Chipping is one of the first things on the power thing to do. Gauges for Boost and EGT are next if you go past a stage 1 tune (beginning tune). I wouldn't mess with water-meth injections untill you have done other things. That is one of the last things to do as there is so many other things first. These engines can get a LOT of HP. It actually gets to the point of keeping it together it can get that much. Then there is the clutch issue if you go too much. These cars also tow very nicely.

arne487 said:

If you want to make the trek to Suffolk, you can borrow mine as often as you like.

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WOW nice!
I really appreciate the offer! I might be your way this weekend. Not sure what gunna happen

I am thinking of having a dealer perform the 100k maintanance. Anything I should make sure to ask, and what is a good price?

Do yourself and your car a favor. Get the job done right and (probably) cheaper by a guru from the trusted mechanics list:

http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=130044

I would, but there are none nearby...

"Illinois" is sort of a broad location, but it might be worth the drive depending on where you really are. For example, there are probably over a dozen VW dealerships closer to me than the nearest guru, but I still drive 3 hours to my guru. It is well worth it to have someone work on your car who cares about his work and has the right experience, knowledge, tools, etc. Maybe look up any reviews of the dealer you're planning on going to and see if they're at least respected?

Edit: I just checked, and there are 9 that are closer to me than my guru.