MN Chat Thread

[najel]

What are everyone's thoughts about the weather? My problem is I am not sure if I should switch to summer tires yet (they are full on summer tires - absolutely scary in any kind of snow or ice).
It seems way too warm to do my 80 mile roundtrip commute on the winters, but March also seems to typically get some snow, so I am holding off at least until next week I think.

 

[Namakan]

What are everyone's thoughts about the weather? My problem is I am not sure if I should switch to summer tires yet (they are full on summer tires - absolutely scary in any kind of snow or ice).
It seems way too warm to do my 80 mile roundtrip commute on the winters, but March also seems to typically get some snow, so I am holding off at least until next week I think.

Don't put them on yet. The minute you do it will jinx the rest of us into getting another March snow storm.

The extended forecast looks great but I'll probably wait another couple weeks.

 

[TornadoRed]

We've had significant snowfall in early May, the last two years.

Having said that, I'm going to buy and mount new all-season tires in a few weeks.

 

[najel]

We've had significant snowfall in early May, the last two years.

Yes, that's what I thought, too. Has me a little concerned. I think I will stick with the winters for now.

Having said that, I'm going to buy and mount new all-season tires in a few weeks.

Yes, I wish the other set were all seasons. They are the tires/rims that came with the car, and they were brand new, so I would feel foolish replacing them already. I will just have to live with it for now.

The extended forecast looks great but I'll probably wait another couple weeks.

Yup, looks pretty decent, but they have been wrong before, haven't they
It does show a chance for snow/rain mix for next Friday for my area...

Anyway, I will just drive more worry less and enjoy the beautiful weather

 

[1st_TDI:)]

Always pull mine after a week above 40 degrees. Only takes 20 minutes to get the job done and can put the winter tires back on if needed.

 

[ajaxstar]

gas in 1996 TDI wagon

so I purchased a 1996 TDI wagon and had my stepfather pick it as I had to work. The problem is that he put about 4 gallons of gas into the tank and drove until it conked out. He then realized what he did and went and bought 4 gallons of diesel and added some oil to the tank. It started and then conked out again. From what I read it is suggested to pump out the tank and change the fuel filter then fill it back up with diesel. Any other suggestions or anybody that could help would be awesome, the car is parked in a lot in Minnetonka

 

[greengeeker]

so I purchased a 1996 TDI wagon and had my stepfather pick it as I had to work. The problem is that he put about 4 gallons of gas into the tank and drove until it conked out. He then realized what he did and went and bought 4 gallons of diesel and added some oil to the tank. It started and then conked out again. From what I read it is suggested to pump out the tank and change the fuel filter then fill it back up with diesel. Any other suggestions or anybody that could help would be awesome, the car is parked in a lot in Minnetonka

How far did he make it? How many gallons of diesel were in the tank when he added 4 gallons of gasoline?

Yes, you need to completely drain the tank, filter, IP of all gasoline and fill up with diesel (and I usually throw in a lubricity additive for good measure).

 

[ajaxstar]

How far did he make it? How many gallons of diesel were in the tank when he added 4 gallons of gasoline?

Yes, you need to completely drain the tank, filter, IP of all gasoline and fill up with diesel (and I usually throw in a lubricity additive for good measure).

Thanks for the info, he thought maybe 5 miles. There was maybe two gallons of diesel in there originally, then he added 4 gallons of gasoline ran the car , then 4 gallons of diesel tried to restart and it killed.

 

[[486]]

As an aside that you shouldn't do, and you can't really do it too easily as you have a 1Z or AHU or some such with the non-adjustable IP pulley...

To run your diesel on a gasoline-heavy fuel mixture, you can get it started again by advancing the static timing to somewhere around 8 degrees BTDC. The antiknock additives in the gasoline make it burn slower, and you can compensate for it crudely by injecting the fuel sooner. It isn't an ideal solution, but it is a possibility to pull out of the bag of tricks when you're stuck in a corner. It'll take some life off your injection pump, it'll coke up your injector nozzles given enough time, and very likely leave you even more stranded than you were. Possible, not advisable. (all that said, my truck starts every time on a 20% gasoline fuel mixture, for the last 3000 miles so far)

Drain your tank, give it to someone with an older truck, refill with diesel, and fill the fuel filter with some lubricity additive for good measure, then crank 10 seconds on 30 seconds off until it starts.

 

[ajaxstar]

Thank you, I had the car towed home and tomorrow will start draining the tank and other components, any recommendations for good additives?

 

[DWNUNDR]

Keep getting a P0673 cyl 3 glow plug code...
Circuit open...


Where do I stay

 

[Losha]

Keep getting a P0673 cyl 3 glow plug code...
Circuit open...


Where do I stay

Pull glow plugs out and check all of them for resistance should be 0.6-1.0 on all of them, if higher or open then they are faulty, replace them with either Bosch, Beru, only don't use Champions or autolites. If plugs test out good then replace glow plug harness if it hasn't been replaced yet, new harnesses are updated style and last longer.

 

[DWNUNDR]

Thanks.. best place to order this stuff??

 

[TornadoRed]

IDParts.com is good, so is Boraparts.com

 

[JFettig]

Fixmyvw.com has dieselrx glow plugs, they seem pretty decent. I have some in my Passat but they haven't been used during the winter yet.

 

[[486]]

I like the bosch duraterms the car comes with, got 4 used ones sitting on standby in case the factory ones decide to go.
At 145k miles, they've outlived the glow plug "relay".

Simple test is to swap the #3 GP with a different cylinder.
The "relay" senses current going to each one and it'll throw that code if there's a problem in the GP, wiring, or in the "relay" itself. Don't throw glow plugs at it until you know they're the issue and not something else.

 

[Redlabel6]

BioDiesel

Is anyone interested in buying a complete Biodiesel setup? A buddy is getting out of making his own. He did it for about 5 years, I ran it in my 98 for a couple of years till my daughter started driving it. My 05 doesn't like it for some reason.
He is asking $750 for everything, including a full 55 gallon barrel of methanol.
Stainless steel cooker tank, pumps, dryer cylinder, replacement dryer media, everything you need to get going except the oil.
PM me if interested and I'll connect you with him.,
David

 

[Schuttsr1]

Is anyone interested in buying a complete Biodiesel setup? A buddy is getting out of making his own. He did it for about 5 years, I ran it in my 98 for a couple of years till my daughter started driving it. My 05 doesn't like it for some reason.
He is asking $750 for everything, including a full 55 gallon barrel of methanol.
Stainless steel cooker tank, pumps, dryer cylinder, replacement dryer media, everything you need to get going except the oil.
PM me if interested and I'll connect you with him.,
David

That's a pretty good deal. I have way more than that into mine and I don't have a dry washing media. It's hard getting people to bite on making biodiesel since everyone has an opinion about it, personally I've never had an issue with home brew diesel in my alh.

 

[Schuttsr1]

Anyone have a Bentley manual for an a4 I could buy or borrow? Need to do my timing belt soon and would like to have one as a reference.

 

[Namakan]

Anyone have a Bentley manual for an a4 I could buy or borrow? Need to do my timing belt soon and would like to have one as a reference.

I have one lying around somewhere. PM me if interested and I'll dig it up.

 

[Redlabel6]

That's a pretty good deal. I have way more than that into mine and I don't have a dry washing media. It's hard getting people to bite on making biodiesel since everyone has an opinion about it, personally I've never had an issue with home brew diesel in my alh.

My AHU loved it too! The injector pump was spotless inside when I had to replace the seal. I wish my 05 liked it..
I think he will even connect you with his oil source.

David

 

[Minnesota Mike]

Bentley

Anyone have a Bentley manual for an a4 I could buy or borrow? Need to do my timing belt soon and would like to have one as a reference.

I have one on hand if you still need one. I'm nearby in Faribault.

 

[darkhorse]

I'm needing a little advice. I developed a "humming" left front wheel bearing. On jacking the car I find a bit of play in the hub when I push & pull on the wheel. I don't want to drive this til it breaks & I know it takes some special tools to change these. I have a PM in to Merker but any advice til I hear back?

 

[greengeeker]

What advice are you looking for? Drive your truck until you can get it to Eric. Should have no issues making from your place to Hudson.

 

[darkhorse]

What advice are you looking for? Drive your truck until you can get it to Eric. Should have no issues making from your place to Hudson.

I was concerned with the trip to Hudson. I'll be heading to Hudson Thursday if all goes well.

 

[[486]]

I was concerned with the trip to Hudson. I'll be heading to Hudson Thursday if all goes well.

It'll do that no problem,

we get in wheel bearings so bad that the complaint is of a low brake pedal, all the rollers fall out and the CV bell and rotor hold the wheel into the knuckle.

Don't let it get that bad, and certainly drive something else if you can, but it'll make the trip to the shop without a whimper.

 

[darkhorse]

It'll do that no problem,

we get in wheel bearings so bad that the complaint is of a low brake pedal, all the rollers fall out and the CV bell and rotor hold the wheel into the knuckle.

Don't let it get that bad, and certainly drive something else if you can, but it'll make the trip to the shop without a whimper.

Thanks. That relieves some of my anxiety. I'll be driving my big bad Dodge diesel the rest of the week.

 

[3L3M3NT]

Figured I'd throw the invite out there for anyone that doesn't check the Mid-West forum and just checks the thread their subscribed to.

I'm having a gtg/cruise on June 20th. Here is the link. http://forums.tdiclub.com/showthread.php?t=436866

Hope to see some of you guys on the 20th.

 

[darkhorse]

That's a long trip for me but I'll see what I can do.

 

[JasonCzerak]

Anyone have a set of electric fans for an alh 2001 gold?