I LOVE my 2002 stock Jetta TDI! But....
Cruising down the freeway at 60 (in Seattle, nearly unheard of) I accelerate to pass and the engine dies. Throw it in neutral try to start, nope. Flashers on, work my way to the slow lane and somehow safely exit and park in a street parking spot. Turn over again and get some pretty violent shaking, but no start (freaked out that the timing belt snapped). Have it towed to the mechanic (free with my insurance), he's getting an immobilizer code that he can't get past but says the timing belt is still intact. Tow it to the dealer (also free with my insurance). After day one, they call and say the computer wouldn't allow a reset, but then did, starts, runs super rough, drove around lot for a minute, died, pushed back to shop for more diagnostics. After day three, they call and are pretty sure it's the injection pump (replaced by a different mechanic 7 years ago). They're seeing metal in the fuel filter and the pump sounds like metal on metal. For $4k they'll take care of the pump and while they're in there, replace the timing belt (that is due anyway) too.
I email a TDIClub member, (@oldpoopie), six hours away and he is, not-surprisingly, super awesome and will do pump and belt work for $2k, but can't travel so I would need to do an overland tow that would likely run $500 or so and then my car and I would be six hours away so I'd need a train ticket. Call another shop that specializes in VW and comes highly recommended, but is a ways from my house ($150+ tow, not covered by insurance, but may be by Verizon roadside assistance) and they are suspect that the injection pump would fail like that. IF that is the problem, they can take care of all the same work for $3k. He's keen on me paying him $130 to do his own diagnostics. I'm not opposed, he talked to me for over five minutes which is basically unheard of and understood the emotional dilemma I am in.
So folks, it's a 2002. North of 200k miles. MPG has been **** for a while now (like 26 ish), but a new injection pump might take care of that. If I could get it in ship shape for $2k without the hassle of tow and travel I would do it, but that was the number in my head that I didn't want to go over. And there's no guarantee that this would solve the problem, I'm still worried it could also be the ECM or some other computer issue.
Is now the time to take it out back to the shed? What's a boy to do? I need this community's thoughts. Pay another $300 for a second opinion? Donate it to the local radio station? Part it out to club members? I'm leaning towards a second opinion, but if he comes back with the same diagnostics, now it's 15 miles further away and I have a $3k decision to make. I don't really see how if there's metal in the fuel filter it's going to be an inexpensive fix.
My wife says, take it out back and let's get a Highlander...come on, where's the TDI love?!?!?!
Thanks.
Cruising down the freeway at 60 (in Seattle, nearly unheard of) I accelerate to pass and the engine dies. Throw it in neutral try to start, nope. Flashers on, work my way to the slow lane and somehow safely exit and park in a street parking spot. Turn over again and get some pretty violent shaking, but no start (freaked out that the timing belt snapped). Have it towed to the mechanic (free with my insurance), he's getting an immobilizer code that he can't get past but says the timing belt is still intact. Tow it to the dealer (also free with my insurance). After day one, they call and say the computer wouldn't allow a reset, but then did, starts, runs super rough, drove around lot for a minute, died, pushed back to shop for more diagnostics. After day three, they call and are pretty sure it's the injection pump (replaced by a different mechanic 7 years ago). They're seeing metal in the fuel filter and the pump sounds like metal on metal. For $4k they'll take care of the pump and while they're in there, replace the timing belt (that is due anyway) too.
I email a TDIClub member, (@oldpoopie), six hours away and he is, not-surprisingly, super awesome and will do pump and belt work for $2k, but can't travel so I would need to do an overland tow that would likely run $500 or so and then my car and I would be six hours away so I'd need a train ticket. Call another shop that specializes in VW and comes highly recommended, but is a ways from my house ($150+ tow, not covered by insurance, but may be by Verizon roadside assistance) and they are suspect that the injection pump would fail like that. IF that is the problem, they can take care of all the same work for $3k. He's keen on me paying him $130 to do his own diagnostics. I'm not opposed, he talked to me for over five minutes which is basically unheard of and understood the emotional dilemma I am in.
So folks, it's a 2002. North of 200k miles. MPG has been **** for a while now (like 26 ish), but a new injection pump might take care of that. If I could get it in ship shape for $2k without the hassle of tow and travel I would do it, but that was the number in my head that I didn't want to go over. And there's no guarantee that this would solve the problem, I'm still worried it could also be the ECM or some other computer issue.
Is now the time to take it out back to the shed? What's a boy to do? I need this community's thoughts. Pay another $300 for a second opinion? Donate it to the local radio station? Part it out to club members? I'm leaning towards a second opinion, but if he comes back with the same diagnostics, now it's 15 miles further away and I have a $3k decision to make. I don't really see how if there's metal in the fuel filter it's going to be an inexpensive fix.
My wife says, take it out back and let's get a Highlander...come on, where's the TDI love?!?!?!
Thanks.