Engine cut out while driving, stranded.

TornadoRed

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Aug 3, 2003
Location
West Des Moines (formerly St Paul)
TDI
2003 Golf GLS 5-spd, indigo blue; 2003 Jetta TDI wagon, silver; 2003 Jetta TDI wagon, indigo blue; 2003 Golf GL 5-spd, red (retired); 2003 Jetta TDI wagon, Candy White (sold)
tnteggroll said:
Is there anyway to inspect the valves, and/or determine if i could get away with driving it home?
Forget about that, start working on a plan to get it towed.

There have been instances where a broken timing belt didn't result in any valve/lifter damage. Or at least none that was immediately visible, so the owner just installed a new timing belt and went on his way.

But there have also been lots of instances where folks bought used TDIs with recent TB replacements, then had even more serious damage when a valve breaks because the previous owner did not rebuild the cylinder head when he should have.

Experts can inspect a valve or lifter and tell you whether it needs replacement. Sometimes some are good and some are not -- I think Frank Irving does not take a chance if any of them are bad.
 

ChippedNotBroken

Veteran Member
Joined
Dec 29, 2004
Location
Pocono\'s, NYC
TDI
Jetta A4 1999.5 Green
You have your answer.

We all know that it is not the answer you wanted to hear.

Your timing belt broke.

Your engine is most likely damaged.

If you drive it - it you could make it worse and cost you more money.

Even if you manage to get it started, you may never make it home.

Time to man up and play the hand you dealt yourself when you made the choice to gamble with your timing belt.

Time for a tow.
 
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tnteggroll

Well-known member
Joined
May 21, 2006
Or, plan B, try to get the piece of **** home, and do what i can, try to get rid of it.

I like plan B :p

And I totally hear you, probably **** it up even more, but honestly, I don't care. I hope it blows up.
 

jcrews

Top Post Dawg
Joined
Jul 28, 2007
Location
Round Rock, TX - VCDS
TDI
All gone
If there's a rental truck company out there, get yourself a one way van that can tow a dolly and drag the car home. Most have pretty decent rates for one-way moves.
 

K5ING

Mega-Miler
Joined
Apr 18, 2001
Location
Krum, TX
TDI
Silver 2001 Golf GL TDI 5-speed
tnteggroll said:
Or, plan B, try to get the piece of **** home, and do what i can, try to get rid of it.

I like plan B :p

And I totally hear you, probably **** it up even more, but honestly, I don't care. I hope it blows up.
I know you're mad, but it's not a POS car. That timing belt lasted far longer than it was designed for. If you've read anything on this forum, you've read how important it is to change the belt within the recommended schedule. Now you know why. You, or more likely the previous owner, didn't do that, and now you're paying the price.

Please don't compound the problem by trying to drive it home. It would be like you trying to walk 10 miles home on a broken leg. You might make it, you might not, but in any case you will be in far worse shape than if you had accepted a ride instead.
 

n1das

TDIClub Enthusiast, Veteran Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2002
Location
Nashua, NH, USA
TDI
2014 BMW 535xd ///M-Sport, 2012 BMW X5 Xdrive35d, former 3x TDI owner
tnteggroll said:
Is there anyway to inspect the valves, and/or determine if i could get away with driving it home?
Short answer: NO. Inspecting the valves means pulling the cylinder head and the engine isn't going to run with a broken timing belt.

The engine is already trashed due pistons crashing into open valves when the belt failed. However these engines are repairable most of the time but that means pulling the cylinder head and rebuilding it in addition to replacing the failed timing belt. Sometimes the damage to the engine is such that they're not repairable and you'll be looking at replacing the entire engine. I seriously doubt it will be convenient to do this with the car dead on the side of the road.

Here's what you may need to buy:
https://www.boraparts.com/product_info.php?products_id=265

Sorry to hear. Good luck.
 
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tnteggroll

Well-known member
Joined
May 21, 2006
Well, after calming down, and finding some other manageable car-less options, I decided not to risk the travel, and contacted Kevin, in Kelowna. Here's hoping for somewhat good news.

Just wanted to say thanks for everyones inputs and insight, otherwise I would have just swapped the belt, and been on my way. Very much appreciated, thank you.
 

whyfish

Veteran Member
Joined
Aug 16, 2006
Location
Portland, OR
TDI
2003 VW TDI Wagon auto. transmission
Reality Check

I don't want to pour salt in your wounds, but the fact that you ignored advice from friends about changing your TB shows us that you really don't respect your car and it's simple scheduled maint. items. Yeah, a new TB is somewhat expensive, but a trashed engine is even more expensive. Consider a TB change as part of the cost of ownership.

You can probably part out the car and get some cash for a new vehicle. You really ought to consider a Honda Civic as a replacement vehicle. Just remember to check the oil level and change the oil on a somewhat regular interval.
 

tnteggroll

Well-known member
Joined
May 21, 2006
whyfish said:
I don't want to pour salt in your wounds, but the fact that you ignored advice from friends about changing your TB shows us that you really don't respect your car and it's simple scheduled maint. items. Yeah, a new TB is somewhat expensive, but a trashed engine is even more expensive. Consider a TB change as part of the cost of ownership.

You can probably part out the car and get some cash for a new vehicle. You really ought to consider a Honda Civic as a replacement vehicle. Just remember to check the oil level and change the oil on a somewhat regular interval.
I realize that I probably came off as being nonchalent about regular maintenance, or maybe just ignorant to the requirements involved. However, that isn't the case, I just referred to it as such out of frustration. I do respect my car, I love my car (and hate it, occasionally). I realized the importance of doing my timing belt. I realized the consequences of not doing it, well to a point, maybe not THIS much. However, in the last 18 months that I knew it was to be done, I've been involved in another financial commitment, and unable to shell out the money needed to have it done. I'm paying for it now, but in all honesty, I don't regret the decision. As much as I love my car, there were more important things at the time, and I still don't regret the decision. At all. I'm in a lot better position now, to spend $2000, than I was to spend even $100 over the last year or so... so I'll make it work. Don't get me wrong though, sucks biting the bullet. Would've been MUCH nicer to get away with it scot free. :D

And, a Honda Civic? Disgusting.

And, another note, as for a new vehicle... I would rather spend $20k on my car and make it MY car, then $20k on a new car.
 

Bob_Fout

Oil Wanker
Joined
Sep 5, 2004
Location
Indiana
TDI
2003 Jetta - Alaska Green (sold) / 2015 GTI 2.0T
I'd call 20K miles (or 40K miles if an auto) over normal interval pretty overdue...
 

turbocharged798

Veteran Member
Joined
May 21, 2009
Location
Ellenville, NY
TDI
99.5 black ALH Jetta;09 Gasser Jetta
Bob_Fout said:
I'd call 20K miles (or 40K miles if an auto) over normal interval pretty overdue...
Not that crazy though. I thought he had more miles than that for some reason. I guess age DOES play a factor.
 

Bob_Fout

Oil Wanker
Joined
Sep 5, 2004
Location
Indiana
TDI
2003 Jetta - Alaska Green (sold) / 2015 GTI 2.0T
When the interval is only 40K or 60K miles, 20K or 40K miles over the interval is a large percent.
 
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