What did you do to your car today?

[993cc]

Ha! Try 12F, feels like -6F.

I'll see your Ha!, and raise you another Ha!. Try -22c, IS -6F. Feels far worse.

I installed a battery blanket today.

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

Put on the snows this morning, snowing now.

 

[TDI in MT]

New battery day! Old battery did not like the sub-zero (F) temperatures last week and the car refused to start.

I took the battery out and brought it inside to thaw out and charge. I looked at the part number online. It was a 3-year-old Interstate, but it's capacity was only 75 amp-hours, which is apparently barely enough for a diesel in cold weather. The new VW branded battery is rated at 80 Ah. According to the dealer, the car's VIN says the bigger battery is correct for the TDI. New battery p/n is 000-915-105 DH DSP.

Bigger it is. 12" long vs about 9" for the old one.

And, I worked on the engine cover. Finally it now has a VW emblem on it! (038 103 940 F) And I modified it so that tools are no longer needed to remove it, just pull up & it pops off.

While it was off, I added some sound damping material to the bottom of the cover. Now I have such material on the bottom of the engine cover & top of the skid plate - no more "rocks in a coffee can" sound that a cold ALH creates at startup on a cold morning. The diesel clatter we know & love is still there, but the raspy-ness is gone.

 

[nkgagne]

I'll see your Ha!, and raise you another Ha!

ROFL!!!!! Well played, sir, and with some humour to boot! If this were twitter we could use #canadianproblems. Hope the battery blanket helps!

 

[nkgagne]

Put on the snows this morning, snowing now.

I'd say that's pretty good timing, eh! There's a hill to get from street level up to the front entrance of our building... Funny to watch the folks on bald-seasons!

 

[FlyTDI Guy]

Checked the oil, washer fluid, coolant. Looked at timing belt. Admired engine bay detailing from this summer. Closed hood, drove...

 

[deus_pater]

Installed a Panzer FMJ, unstuck and replaced a glow plug, and cleaned the diesel-scented steering wheel and shifter with Tecnu, changed the cabin air filter. Productive day!

 

[TDI smile]

Put some new wiper blades on and pipe insulation on the grill, will see how much of a difference it's going to be.

Do You need that in Victoria, BC????

 

[Caddy 16v]

Not really, although I'm up in the snow globe Malahat. It was colder -5 to -10 last week and it never really got hot. Just giving it a try to see if it holds the temperature better in traffic.

 

[993cc]

#canadianproblems. Hope the battery blanket helps!

If it doesn't, I'll just wrap it around my head.

 

[Honeydew]

Took advantage of the cool (70s F) overcast afternoon to wash, clay, and polish the Passat. Big Christmas road trip is coming up and I want it to look its best!

 

[Lensdude_com]

If it doesn't, I'll just wrap it around my head.

Electric Toque

 

[Jeffbucc]

Found out on my last alignment he didn't tighten one of the subframe bolts....at all. Torqued it down while I was doing my 70k oil change. No more clunk and odd vibrations!
Now back to the real project and the reason I haven't been around for 2-3 months.....





Once I get the bolts back from zinc plating the real fun can begin. Miatas are a dream to wrench on compared to my Sportwagen.

 

[MikeS_18]

Once I get the bolts back from zinc plating the real fun can begin. Miatas are a dream to wrench on compared to my Sportwagen.

I'm guessing that you are single?

 

[owr084]

I'm guessing that you are single?

Either that or his wife is a keeper.

 

[Jeffbucc]

I'm guessing that you are single?

No chance in hell that would fly if I was married!

 

[romad]

Found out on my last alignment he didn't tighten one of the subframe bolts....at all. Torqued it down while I was doing my 70k oil change. No more clunk and odd vibrations!
Now back to the real project and the reason I haven't been around for 2-3 months.....





Once I get the bolts back from zinc plating the real fun can begin. Miatas are a dream to wrench on compared to my Sportwagen.

What year is your NA? Love the color "California License Plate Blue" (though when I was talking to Tom Matano once, he said the color was actually inspired by a drink at a bar!)

 

[Jeffbucc]

What year is your NA? Love the color "California License Plate Blue" (though when I was talking to Tom Matano once, he said the color was actually inspired by a drink at a bar!)

Thanks! The body is from a 90', motor from a 95', head from a 99', GT2860rs turbo, and too many other things to list. The original car got stolen and totaled so now I'm rebuilding it.

And it is Laguna Seca Blue, hard to take pictures of LSB.

 

[romad]

Thanks! The body is from a 90', motor from a 95', head from a 99', GT2860rs turbo, and too many other things to list. The original car got stolen and totaled so now I'm rebuilding it.

And it is Laguna Seca Blue, hard to take pictures of LSB.

Wow, that BMW color is a very good match for the Mazda "Mariner Blue". In your pictures it looked a lot like my '90 but in better condition!

 

[TDI_G]

Took it camping in Chattanooga with the Boy Scouts

 

[romad]

Last Thursday the CEL came on when I was down in Sacramento and stayed on all the way back up to Oroville. Today I took it up to Chico to get it checked out and the CEL stayed on. I made an appointment for this coming Thursday morning to have the GPs replaced, and left. About 3 - 4 blocks away, the CEL went out and has stayed out! Needless to say I canceled the appointment.

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

Even if the CEL is off the code is stored. Might want to see what it is. However, it might have been something as simple as random overboost, no repair needed.

 

[romad]

By the time of the appointment, I will have driven enough miles to clear the code. I wish Ross-Tech would release VCDS Mobile so I could check it at home.

 

[Shawnz]

Replaced the injector seal on #1 & #2 since #2 was leaking under heavy load. This same injector leaked when I first got the PP764s and I re-sealed it then. I gave it a few extra whacks with the slide hammer once torqued down and re-torqued it again after. Hopefully it seals for good this time.

I also replaced my original 200k+ rear shocks tonight. As you would expect, there was a night and day difference. I'm looking forward to doing the front struts tomorrow.

 

[solid19snake]

made a lower grille cover from corrugated plastic, sprayed with plasti dip, and attached with zip ties (black zip ties coming soon)

 

[1854sailor]

Rebuilt the rear window washer on the Passat. It now sprays straight up!

 

[TrueNorthist]

I pulled the dash out of my mk 2 Jetta TD this morning, en route to replacing the heater core. I am surprised at how complicated this wretched job is. But seeing as I have to practically dismantle the whole interior to get at the core I will also be updating to heated, electrically adjusting mirrors and heated windshield washer nozzles. I will also renew the foam covering on the heater box doors, renew the insulation and seals on the vent tubes and sound-proofing the firewall a bit more.

 

[TrueNorthist]

made a lower grille cover from corrugated plastic, sprayed with plasti dip, and attached with zip ties (black zip ties coming soon)

Nicely done! But painting on some flames would have been a nice touch...

 

[1854sailor]

Nicely done! But painting on some flames would have been a nice touch...

Or teeth!

 

[solid19snake]

Nicely done! But painting on some flames would have been a nice touch...

Or teeth!

we may be on to something here