My Situation:
I live in Western New York, I purchased a 98 NB TDI Standard Trans, with 245000 miles for $3000. It was a PA car which had not seen many miles at all in NY.
Plus side- interior and exterior very good- no rust underneath, but missing the belly plate. Timing belt appeared fresh on visual inspection, rollers and tensioner seemed fresh as well.
Minus side- no real maintenance records, other than assurance that the timing belt had been done a year ago, and his daughter (who the car was intended for) wanted a mustang and was not interested in keeping it. The person had a small shop, and was driving a TDI conversion 84 Rabbit pick up, so I felt reasonably confident that he had done the work correctly. He seemed like a stand up guy, and I decided to roll the dice and become a TDI person.
My wife began driving it, I ordered some manuals and began pricing the tools and TB kit to get myself started. Nine days into ownership, the car (according to my wife) misses once or twice then stalls while driving to work. She had just put her first tank of fuel in the night before. The first two things that jumped to mind was Relays/Fuses and losing prime in the fuel system. Manuals arrive two days later.
Towed home, and began diagnosing- replaced relays, fuses- cranked and got nothing. Cracked and bled fuel system repeatedly, pulled sender etc... plenty of fuel in the injectors. Now I am beginning the process of thoroughly checking timing, but am resigning myself to the the thought that it jumped a tooth or two.
My skills:
Amateur mechanic who has always done his own timing belts, and most routine maintenance- a few clutches and engine swaps along the way. I have never owned a TDI or anything with a turbo, but am not completely unfamiliar with diesels in general. I haven't done an engine swap in a while, and have never done a fwd. My engine swaps were mostly fords- 302s mostly and some SuperBeetles and other older VWs. All of them were before my now 20 y/o son was born.
My options:
I am an hour and a forty minutes from Select Euro in Waterloo NY.
1) Have head done at Select or another TDI specialist
(+= I know it will be done well, -=costly, and I am not sure about the longevity of the bottom end.)
2) Buy a used motor from http://www.qualitygermanautoparts.com in the $3000 grand range and install myself.
(+=i now know exactly what I have, longer life etc...; -=time, time, time...)
3) Cut my losses and buy something else?
(I hate to be a quitter this early, but...)
My questions:
I am thinking the cost of having top end done by a specialist is comparable to swapping a motor at home. I also think as an amateur without a vagcom and other specialty tools, an engine swap might be far more of an "easy" project than it would be for me to buy a head, do the TB, headgasket, time the IP etc...
So what are others' thoughts on this? Am I wrong to be leery of doing a head by myself, but willing to do a motor swap? Which do you think actually requires more expertise, the top end refresh, or the swap? The swap also gives me some experience for when I do the Timing Belt next, or a clutch...
Any suggestions about any of my thoughts would be greatly appreciated.
I live in Western New York, I purchased a 98 NB TDI Standard Trans, with 245000 miles for $3000. It was a PA car which had not seen many miles at all in NY.
Plus side- interior and exterior very good- no rust underneath, but missing the belly plate. Timing belt appeared fresh on visual inspection, rollers and tensioner seemed fresh as well.
Minus side- no real maintenance records, other than assurance that the timing belt had been done a year ago, and his daughter (who the car was intended for) wanted a mustang and was not interested in keeping it. The person had a small shop, and was driving a TDI conversion 84 Rabbit pick up, so I felt reasonably confident that he had done the work correctly. He seemed like a stand up guy, and I decided to roll the dice and become a TDI person.
My wife began driving it, I ordered some manuals and began pricing the tools and TB kit to get myself started. Nine days into ownership, the car (according to my wife) misses once or twice then stalls while driving to work. She had just put her first tank of fuel in the night before. The first two things that jumped to mind was Relays/Fuses and losing prime in the fuel system. Manuals arrive two days later.
Towed home, and began diagnosing- replaced relays, fuses- cranked and got nothing. Cracked and bled fuel system repeatedly, pulled sender etc... plenty of fuel in the injectors. Now I am beginning the process of thoroughly checking timing, but am resigning myself to the the thought that it jumped a tooth or two.
My skills:
Amateur mechanic who has always done his own timing belts, and most routine maintenance- a few clutches and engine swaps along the way. I have never owned a TDI or anything with a turbo, but am not completely unfamiliar with diesels in general. I haven't done an engine swap in a while, and have never done a fwd. My engine swaps were mostly fords- 302s mostly and some SuperBeetles and other older VWs. All of them were before my now 20 y/o son was born.
My options:
I am an hour and a forty minutes from Select Euro in Waterloo NY.
1) Have head done at Select or another TDI specialist
(+= I know it will be done well, -=costly, and I am not sure about the longevity of the bottom end.)
2) Buy a used motor from http://www.qualitygermanautoparts.com in the $3000 grand range and install myself.
(+=i now know exactly what I have, longer life etc...; -=time, time, time...)
3) Cut my losses and buy something else?
(I hate to be a quitter this early, but...)
My questions:
I am thinking the cost of having top end done by a specialist is comparable to swapping a motor at home. I also think as an amateur without a vagcom and other specialty tools, an engine swap might be far more of an "easy" project than it would be for me to buy a head, do the TB, headgasket, time the IP etc...
So what are others' thoughts on this? Am I wrong to be leery of doing a head by myself, but willing to do a motor swap? Which do you think actually requires more expertise, the top end refresh, or the swap? The swap also gives me some experience for when I do the Timing Belt next, or a clutch...
Any suggestions about any of my thoughts would be greatly appreciated.