My first TDI. A 2000 Jetta

fatmobile

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 16, 2019
Location
north iowa
TDI
an ALH M-TDI in a MK2, a 2000 Jetta, 2003 wagon
Oh Oh.
Went to start it last night and it would only crank.
I took a look at the glow plug buss,..
and it crumbled when I pulled it off.
I'm getting 12 volts when it's unplugged from the plugs.
And testing showed one bad glow plug. #3.
It warmed up today and started easily.

The glow plug light comes on for a couple seconds
then goes out.
Is that what it's supposed to do?
 

Nero Morg

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Oct 19, 2017
Location
OR
TDI
2014 A6 TDI, 2001 Jetta TDI, 2014 Passat TDI
It's not supposed to crumble... Lol

Yes light comes on for a moment, then goes off. Totally normal.
 

IndigoBlueWagon

TDIClub Enthusiast, Principal IDParts, Vendor , w/
Joined
Aug 16, 2004
Location
South of Boston
TDI
'97 Passat, '99.5 Golf, '02 Jetta Wagon, '15 GSW
If the light comes on and instantly goes back out when the engine is cold that's not normal. It might indicate a failed glow plug relay.
 

BobnOH

not-a-mechanic
Joined
May 29, 2004
Location
central Ohio
TDI
New Beetle 2003 manual
Yea, these cars are unique, but simple. Great time to fix er up, you can still get most parts (car-part.com)
Parts that crumble with age-
GP harness (you can build your own)
dip stick tube
coolant bottle
and other misc. plastic bits
 

wonneber

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Oct 12, 2011
Location
Monroe, NY, USA
TDI
2014 Jetta Sportwagon,2003 Jetta 261K Sold but not forgotten
It brakes nice but I'm going to have to swap the rear calipers see if I can rebuild them.
Until them I'm afraid to pull the emergency brake.
ID-Parts has heavy duty replacement brake cables if you need them.
They were the best upgrade I did to mine.
 

fatmobile

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 16, 2019
Location
north iowa
TDI
an ALH M-TDI in a MK2, a 2000 Jetta, 2003 wagon
I didn't know heavy duty ebrake cables were a thing.
Thanks I'll put some in my cart.
I watched a video on how to rebuild the rear calipers and ordered the long 90 snap ring pliers.
I think when I get into working on the rear
it's going to need shocks too.
The left rear is bouncy after some bumps.
 

fatmobile

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 16, 2019
Location
north iowa
TDI
an ALH M-TDI in a MK2, a 2000 Jetta, 2003 wagon
So I lifted the rear and worked on that.
New tin rock guards were only about $25 each.
I parted another Jetta that had great looking wheel speed sensors
so I swapped one bearing and sensor onto the driver's side.
It was giving me a beep and dash light often until I fixed that.
Passengers side speed sensor looked great, it got a new shield too.
Both sides got calipers that I rebuilt and painted red.
I should have grabbed an ebrake cable off the parts car too because the driver's side cable was rusted through.
So I bought a heavy duty cable but haven't installed it yet.

I lost the key soon after buying it and bought another key.
When I parted some Jettas my buddy was scrapping
I found a center console with cup holders and an AA Rodrigues elbow rest fix.
Swapped it in and there was my original key, it had fallen down behind the ash tray.
So I have 2 keys and need 1 more good fob.

Also found a good, black glove box from a later wagon, a large one and got it installed.

Everything on my list has been fixed.
New timing belt, all the windows doors and locks work.
Good tires on it. All the same size anyway and a matching spare.

Might see if the 6 CD changer I parted can swap into the rear. The plug is there.

New list:
headlights they are covered in old laminex that fogged and cracked.
I have some to swap on.
There is a bumpclunk in the front. Still have to find it.
There is a very slow coolant leak I have to add coolant and I can sometimes smell it when I get out of the car after driving.
But haven't found it yet. I'm going to pressurize the system while cool so it drips instead of evaporating away.
D-side e-brake cable
Needs a second stage cleaning of the seats and plastic
Worst problem is it feels real slow and only gets 40MPG at best
I'm not sure how to fix this. I took a ride in my buddy's ALH Jetta and it had lots of power. I reset the timing to just above the center line and IQ to about 4. No noticeable change.
ABS light is on not sure what/where to check on that.
Check engine light is on only fault that shows is glow plugs. Comes back when I clear it.
I like driving it. Great for road trips. Kind of normal and incognito compared to the hopped-up old Rabbit.
I'd like to sell it and get to fixing/driving the 2003 wagon project.
 

fatmobile

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 16, 2019
Location
north iowa
TDI
an ALH M-TDI in a MK2, a 2000 Jetta, 2003 wagon
I pressurized the cooling system and let it sit like that for awhile. Found the coolant leak. It's the radiator.
Bought a new one, haven't installed it yet.

I saw the vacuum line routing post. This car came with and EGR and ASV delete and the N75 valve wasn't connected right.
Got it connected and what a relief, now it has good power, we'll see what the MPGs are.

Looks like I have to pull the front bumper to get the headlights off and put better/clearer one on.
Might as well do the radiator at the same time.
 

Judson

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2001
Location
Cheyenne, WY
TDI
2001 Jetta
Yeah the bumper cap has to come off to change the headlights. I am in the middle of changing my stock, 21 year old radiator. Very simple to replace thermoswitch and fans while you’re at it. I have been following Humble Mechanic’s advice in his video on youtube. I am changing a few hoses as well of course…..
 

Judson

Veteran Member
Joined
Jan 18, 2001
Location
Cheyenne, WY
TDI
2001 Jetta
Here's the Humble Mechanic youtube video. He does the radiator replacement on an R32. On my car I had to take off the bumper itself to access the screws holding the condensor to the radiator. Otherwise, everything's the same.

 

Zak99b5

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2021
Location
Albany NY
TDI
2003 Jetta TDI
And IDParts sells service position bolts.

When I did my rad, i just used extensions in place of bolts (because i hadn't bought them yet). They did not work very well; the rad support kept sliding off them.
 

fatmobile

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 16, 2019
Location
north iowa
TDI
an ALH M-TDI in a MK2, a 2000 Jetta, 2003 wagon
Thanks for all the great info.
I watched the video but there's a lot of small stuff to remember so I'll watch it again before I swap radiators.

I thought I could just swap radiators but it looks like I should get some more parts before trying it.
Radiator mounts and maybe some connector seals at least.
Those service position bolts look like 8 m 1.25. If they are I have some around.
 

fatmobile

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 16, 2019
Location
north iowa
TDI
an ALH M-TDI in a MK2, a 2000 Jetta, 2003 wagon
I did have some long 8x1.25mm bolts to use as service position bolts.
Then I removed the whole support.
I found a frostheater to install,
The negative battery cable had one of those clamp-on ends,
so I swapped in a good negative cable from a car I parted this summer.
Having the rad support out of the way made it pretty easy.
The headlights had old laminex on them.
And the 1/16" thick laminex fogged and cracked so much worse than the stock headlight could.
I got some headlights from the parts cars too.
Oh yeah and the new radiator.
2 new o-rings, for inside the hose connectors, came with the Nissans radiator.
Put on a new fan thermoswitch and radiator mounts.
Found a grill for it, I think dark blue will look good on it.

It's great to have the pile of parts in the car actually on the car.
Got my rear seat and trunk space back.

Still on the list:
Left emergency brake cable.
There is a clunk in the front. A search suggests sway bar bushings/links.
Found a working in-dash cupholder for it.
Found a 6 CD changer to install.
Get the remote key working.
Still has the ABS and check engine light.
Scan shows a bad glow plug circuit. I found a good glow plug harness. Might just be a bad glow plug?
It's getting an average of 44MPG so maybe I can tune it to get a little better.
Seems like the list is getting longer.
 

fatmobile

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 16, 2019
Location
north iowa
TDI
an ALH M-TDI in a MK2, a 2000 Jetta, 2003 wagon
April 24th 2020 is the date I started this topic.
Doesn't seem like it's been 2 1/2 years since I was dragged into the 21st century technology.
Barely squeaking in with this 2000 Jetta.

Today I got the 6CD changer installed and crossed off the list.
It works great, pretty easy install.

I also have a working in-dash cupholder now.
 

Zak99b5

Veteran Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2021
Location
Albany NY
TDI
2003 Jetta TDI
April 24th 2020 is the date I started this topic.
Doesn't seem like it's been 2 1/2 years since I was dragged into the 21st century technology.
Barely squeaking in with this 2000 Jetta.
Technically, the 21st century didn't start until 2001....;)
 

fatmobile

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 16, 2019
Location
north iowa
TDI
an ALH M-TDI in a MK2, a 2000 Jetta, 2003 wagon
Really?
Oh.
I picked up a 2003 wagon project also.

The 6 CD changer is fun
and I sprayed the cup holder with food grade silicone so it pops out pretty fast.

More things for the list:
The ABS light is on, but the brakes work great.
I rebuilt the rear brakes and have a set of front calipers I can rebuild, paint red, then swap on.
The airbag light is on.
When I start up the check engine light is off, when I start moving it comes on.
 

fatmobile

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 16, 2019
Location
north iowa
TDI
an ALH M-TDI in a MK2, a 2000 Jetta, 2003 wagon
I have a VCDS dongle and an old laptop.
Figured out timing and IQ but have much more to learn.
 

fatmobile

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 16, 2019
Location
north iowa
TDI
an ALH M-TDI in a MK2, a 2000 Jetta, 2003 wagon
Like I mentioned.
I lost the key, then bought a new one, then found the old one down behind the center console.
It turns the ignition but when I try to start the car the immobilizer keeps it from running.
It starts briefly then dies.
I tried holding my new key close to the old one while turning it and it still didn't work.
Should I get a new RFID chip for it or what else could be wrong?
 

wonneber

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Oct 12, 2011
Location
Monroe, NY, USA
TDI
2014 Jetta Sportwagon,2003 Jetta 261K Sold but not forgotten
There was a way with the original key in the ignition and turned on but the engine not running.
You then put the new key in the drivers door and use it to lock the door then unlock it.
Not sure if I have the keys in the correct location or if it's the other way around.
I did do it once many years ago.
 

fatmobile

Veteran Member
Joined
Jul 16, 2019
Location
north iowa
TDI
an ALH M-TDI in a MK2, a 2000 Jetta, 2003 wagon
I'm surprised the old key doesn't stop the immobilizer.
What changed?
The RFID chip doesn't go bad does it?
And even if it did I should be able to hold the new, working key near it and get it to work right?
Maybe remove the old RFID chip and try holding it next to the working key and try it again?
Or swap the RFID from the good key into it and see what happens?
If it works that would mean the old RFID is putting out the wrong signal?
 

BobnOH

not-a-mechanic
Joined
May 29, 2004
Location
central Ohio
TDI
New Beetle 2003 manual
Some have reported the immo stuff just gets kerfangled. Sometimes simply putting the key in the ignition, on, for an hour or 2 will fix.
Keep in mind you don't program the key, you marry the key to the car. Slightly different procedure for different models. You also need to tell the ECU how many keys.
Topic has been well covered.
VW TDI Search Engine
 

jokila

Vendor
Joined
Dec 3, 2004
Location
Houston, Texas
TDI
2003 Jetta GLS, Manual
Really?
Oh.
I picked up a 2003 wagon project also.

The 6 CD changer is fun
and I sprayed the cup holder with food grade silicone so it pops out pretty fast.

More things for the list:
The ABS light is on, but the brakes work great.
I rebuilt the rear brakes and have a set of front calipers I can rebuild, paint red, then swap on.
The airbag light is on.
When I start up the check engine light is off, when I start moving it comes on.
The ABS light being on doesn't stop the brakes from working, but you don't have the ABS system activated. Next time it rains, try a panic stop and watch how your tires skid across the pavement.

Also, you have zero working airbags. None of them are going to work in an accident, not just the defective one(s) causing the light to come on.
 
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