TDIMeister
Phd of TDIClub Enthusiast, Moderator at Large
I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge several people who have greatly helped me recently. My car has just ticked over 280k km, and that meant being due for a timing belt replacement. Because it had never been done before, I also took the opportunity to replace the water pump, thermostat, along with all the accessory belts and the tensioner assembly, as well as the fuel- and air filters, and the seals for the cam, intermediate shaft and crankshaft -- basically all, and I mean ALL, the wearable parts around the timing belt.
Needless to say, it was a very big job, and an ambitious one to undertake in a day. Not only that, but I wanted to install the 12mm pump that had been sitting for some time.
First off, I want to thank Brian Harrison for going the extra mile with my big order. I got excellent prices on everything; I estimate to have saved about 25% OVER-AND-ABOVE already discounted dealer prices, and Brian was keeping me updated with e-mails on a late Sunday night, working on my order and doing the leg-work to get some obscure out-of-stock parts from a second supplier. Faced with a deadline of last weekend, all the parts were shipped on Wednesday afternoon, and no more than 24 hours later, had arrived from NS to my hands in Ontario!!! Thank you so much, Brian. All the parts supplied were top-notch OEM or brand-name equivalents.
Thanks also to Nigel (Wingnut) and Brian (GoFaster), who allowed me to borrow Nigel's tools and to give some advice on tackling the job.
Thanks very much Brian B (jeez, lots of Brians here
) and his brother-in-law, Michael (?), who graciously allowed me to share the space and work in a heated garage at the Putnam Ranch. Both guys went out of their way to help and allow the use the shop facilities.
Thanks also to John (Toronto_Vento), who made the drive down from Richmond Hill to Putnam, and spent the whole day helping me wrench and sharing our triumphs and frustrations...
Last but certainly not least, thanks so much, Gerry (DIESEL DAZZLER), for helping Brian and me from the better part of 8:30 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. on our cars (more so mine
).
Both Brian and Gerry braved getting earfuls from their wives for squandering their entire days wrenching, and for that, I am grateful.
We hit a major snag with my car on Saturday; by around 7:30 p.m., we couldn't get it to start with the 12mm pump that we had put in. In addition to spending half-and-hour trying to prime a dry fuel filter and pump by several means, which included several guys taking turns sucking...
, the engine would briefly catch and die again right away. Gerry made the executive decision to put the old pump back in, and the swap was made and tightened down at around 9:30 p.m. and the engine started again. Both of us exhausted and frustrated over the long day, called it quits at that point with the car still disabled in the shop (but at least startable). I then got a ride and came in around noon on Sunday to finish the job and do a little clean-up of the shop, and was out by around 2:30 p.m. Brian's brother-in-law was extremely gracious to let me come in anytime to work in his shop until everything was done.
Next steps: I'm gonna have that friggin pump torn down to 100 pieces
... to try to fix it, that is. But that's a secondary priority right now. We retarded the cam timing by a few eyeballed degrees; Also, we didn't confirm the injection timing, but to coax the engine to start, I believe it has been well advanced, and it shows in the apparent mileage I'm getting. Between the advanced injection timing and retarded cam timing, the engine does feel more lively, but it could be other effects as well; it's too early to tell... more updates later.
So, huge thanks once again to all those named above. I'm sure there are others I missed, and for that I apologize. You know who you are, and you have my gratefulness as well.
Cheers,
Dave
Needless to say, it was a very big job, and an ambitious one to undertake in a day. Not only that, but I wanted to install the 12mm pump that had been sitting for some time.
First off, I want to thank Brian Harrison for going the extra mile with my big order. I got excellent prices on everything; I estimate to have saved about 25% OVER-AND-ABOVE already discounted dealer prices, and Brian was keeping me updated with e-mails on a late Sunday night, working on my order and doing the leg-work to get some obscure out-of-stock parts from a second supplier. Faced with a deadline of last weekend, all the parts were shipped on Wednesday afternoon, and no more than 24 hours later, had arrived from NS to my hands in Ontario!!! Thank you so much, Brian. All the parts supplied were top-notch OEM or brand-name equivalents.
Thanks also to Nigel (Wingnut) and Brian (GoFaster), who allowed me to borrow Nigel's tools and to give some advice on tackling the job.
Thanks very much Brian B (jeez, lots of Brians here
Thanks also to John (Toronto_Vento), who made the drive down from Richmond Hill to Putnam, and spent the whole day helping me wrench and sharing our triumphs and frustrations...
Last but certainly not least, thanks so much, Gerry (DIESEL DAZZLER), for helping Brian and me from the better part of 8:30 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. on our cars (more so mine
Both Brian and Gerry braved getting earfuls from their wives for squandering their entire days wrenching, and for that, I am grateful.
We hit a major snag with my car on Saturday; by around 7:30 p.m., we couldn't get it to start with the 12mm pump that we had put in. In addition to spending half-and-hour trying to prime a dry fuel filter and pump by several means, which included several guys taking turns sucking...
Next steps: I'm gonna have that friggin pump torn down to 100 pieces
So, huge thanks once again to all those named above. I'm sure there are others I missed, and for that I apologize. You know who you are, and you have my gratefulness as well.
Cheers,
Dave
