BobnOH
not-a-mechanic
Much of the '70s and '80s are a blur, but I don't ever remember having a car the didn't show faster than actual.
I like your Montreal 2's, I rescued a set from the junkyard, repainted and put them on NC (2000 NB)moved this from my other thread, I think the MKIV forum is a better fit.
Recently hit 100k miles, so I decided to give the old girl a wash/clay/polish. Wet sanded the headlights and polished those as well. Garage is a mess, still trying to get organized after the move.
Also picked up a nice set of BBS Montreal 2 wheels (new center caps inbound):
While I had time off from work, I decided to tackle the HVAC blend door foam issue:
Then while I had that all apart, I got the bright idea to run all the wiring and add heated seats, along with an updated console:
I need to replace the tie rods (on order) before getting an alignment. I've really been going back and forth if I want to add a cup kit and new control arm bushings before I get an alignment. Not sure if I should go down the slippery slope of modifying a 20 year old car...
Horrible! Just kidding. Wow, that's amazing. Is that with the Malone stage 1? (I hear it can up the MPG)Also, is 54mpg fairly normal in an ALH for mixed city/highway (but minimal stoplights for the city)?
Certainly possible, if you keep speeds down. I filled my Wagon yesterday and got 50.4. Better than last time simply because I kept highway speeds under 80.Also, is 54mpg fairly normal in an ALH for mixed city/highway (but minimal stoplights for the city)?
Malone Stage 4. I also have a new Melett VNT17 and freshly rebuilt injectors with .230 nozzles, so it runs beautifully. Before, I was getting about 34-36mpg (measured both by the MFA and buy hand, filling to the top of the neck). At speeds at 45mph and under, I was averaging 74mpg.Horrible! Just kidding. Wow, that's amazing. Is that with the Malone stage 1? (I hear it can up the MPG)
Very nice! I FINALLY bought a tune. Always wanted to with the Jetta but never did. Got the Beetle around Black Friday and Malone's discount was too good to ignore. Only stage 1, and I haven't installed it yet as I've got a low power problem I need to sort through first (not limp - I think the intake is coked up), but I can't wait for the better mpg and butt dyno results!Malone Stage 4. I also have a new Melett VNT17 and freshly rebuilt injectors with .230 nozzles, so it runs beautifully. Before, I was getting about 34-36mpg (measured both by the MFA and buy hand, filling to the top of the neck). At speeds at 45mph and under, I was averaging 74mpg.
That was one of the first things I did on my 2003 Golf, after bringing it back to Texas from Costa Mesa (not sure where you are in So Cal) - ditched the intake/EGR. The previous owner claimed a lot of things, including cleaning the intake, but it was nasty (he claimed he cleaned it 3 months ago, but there was at least 5 years of build-up in there). I shouldn't have that problem anymore.Very nice! I FINALLY bought a tune. Always wanted to with the Jetta but never did. Got the Beetle around Black Friday and Malone's discount was too good to ignore. Only stage 1, and I haven't installed it yet as I've got a low power problem I need to sort through first (not limp - I think the intake is coked up), but I can't wait for the better mpg and butt dyno results!
I'm in Ventura. No, not yet. Still original injectors. The Jetta I had, bought with 315K miles and took it to 365K miles, still had it's original injectors and performance on it was quite good, until it wasn't. I never figured out why it suddenly was mediocre. This beetle isn't as bad, but still isn't as strong as the Jetta was when the Jetta was working well.Have you ever had your injector nozzles changed? That was the primary deal maker for me in terms of mpg.
That doesn't look Indigo Blue. Traitor! Haha, kidding. Only saying that, because I currently one THREE Indigo Blue TDIs. I guess a combination of both getting lucky and the color really wearing on me. Nice looking Golf otherwise though, Peter.Put them on! The look is just what I wanted.'
Ahh, same as Neuspeed, who's in Camarillo. I think I was last there in March? Or maybe last year. Picked up some shocks from them (Bilstein didn't want to warranty them, because they were "within spec"), and a bunch of free ALH parts from someone who lived a couple of miles away.I'm in Ventura. No, not yet. Still original injectors. The Jetta I had, bought with 315K miles and took it to 365K miles, still had it's original injectors and performance on it was quite good, until it wasn't. I never figured out why it suddenly was mediocre. This beetle isn't as bad, but still isn't as strong as the Jetta was when the Jetta was working well.
New nozzles is one area that scares me though, or at least makes me apprehensive. I'm not real versed at looking at stuff in VCDS and figuring out what I need to do if I were to change them from anything other than stock. That and they're pretty expensive. I've got 222K miles on the ones in the beetle, and I hope they're original and the previous owner didn't swap them with another high mileage TDI that he had.
Do two injectors, then start the car and let it run until smooth (a few seconds typically), then do the other two. No vacuum pump, no cracking lines with diesel all over the place, etcThat doesn't look Indigo Blue. Traitor! Haha, kidding. Only saying that, because I currently one THREE Indigo Blue TDIs. I guess a combination of both getting lucky and the color really wearing on me. Nice looking Golf otherwise though, Peter.
Ahh, same as Neuspeed, who's in Camarillo. I think I was last there in March? Or maybe last year. Picked up some shocks from them (Bilstein didn't want to warranty them, because they were "within spec"), and a bunch of free ALH parts from someone who lived a couple of miles away.
I have no problem helping you install injectors when I'm out in CA next month, as long as you had someone install quality nozzles for you. Honestly, it was quite easy on my car. If I hadn't lost my adapter for my metalnerd slide hammer, I would've saved about 20 minutes on my install time. Remove, clean out the injector hole/crush washer seat as good as you can, reinstall the new injectors, and torque down the hold-down bolts. For me, I opted to pull a vacuum at the return line on the injection pump. Still took several tries to crank, but it was otherwise pretty easy.
If you're staying stock for the California emissions BS, I think a lot of people on here talk about .205 for some fun, or other smaller sizes. Remember, if those are original injectors, and they were such and such value (I think manuals were what, .180 or something like that), doesn't mean they're the same spec 2 decades/365K miles later.
The first time around, I sent my injectors to Frank Irving. The injectors I pulled from the Golf, in turn, went to Able diesel injection service in Denton (@alphaseinor highly recommends them and has used them extensively). When I get those injectors back, they go into the Ute project car, which otherwise has everything I need for a Stage 4.
Thanks for the offer. If I do anything, it'll be a while. Have to fix the low power issue, then install the stage 1 tune. I might be pleased with just that.I have no problem helping you install injectors when I'm out in CA next month, as long as you had someone install quality nozzles for you. Honestly, it was quite easy on my car. If I hadn't lost my adapter for my metalnerd slide hammer, I would've saved about 20 minutes on my install time. Remove, clean out the injector hole/crush washer seat as good as you can, reinstall the new injectors, and torque down the hold-down bolts. For me, I opted to pull a vacuum at the return line on the injection pump. Still took several tries to crank, but it was otherwise pretty easy.
That's one way to do it. Sometimes, people will crack all four lines until they're all pissing out diesel, and then try to crank. Ultimately, I guess it depends on whats easiest.Do two injectors, then start the car and let it run until smooth (a few seconds typically), then do the other two. No vacuum pump, no cracking lines with diesel all over the place, etc
Totally up to you. All I can say is based on my own observed improvement, I'll be doing that in the future, though I don't really plan on owning more than the two ALHs and 1 CJAA...Thanks for the offer. If I do anything, it'll be a while. Have to fix the low power issue, then install the stage 1 tune. I might be pleased with just that.
Lucky you. I'm pretty sure my mother doesn't have citrus at her place next door. I know they don't like frost, and we've had more hard freeze days here than normal. This has been a pretty cold winter in Texas...(excuse the bird poop - this is the first year crows discovered our orange tree)
Do springs actually wear out considerably over time? As soon as I can clear a spot on the driveway, I want to redo the front struts on my Ute Jetta. I put VR6 springs in front and wagon springs in the rear, as I want to raise it up (when it's completed as a Ute, it will be registered and used as a farm truck, for the times that my F-450 is overkill).Ahhh, yes. Guess I never knew what "normal stock" was. New springs? My car was considerably lower at 123k when I got it, very tired, it was undoubtedly the original equipment.
I'm in Ventura. No, not yet. Still original injectors. The Jetta I had, bought with 315K miles and took it to 365K miles, still had it's original injectors and performance on it was quite good, until it wasn't. I never figured out why it suddenly was mediocre. This beetle isn't as bad, but still isn't as strong as the Jetta was when the Jetta was working well.
New nozzles is one area that scares me though, or at least makes me apprehensive. I'm not real versed at looking at stuff in VCDS and figuring out what I need to do if I were to change them from anything other than stock. That and they're pretty expensive. I've got 222K miles on the ones in the beetle, and I hope they're original and the previous owner didn't swap them with another high mileage TDI that he had.
Oh yes. Fuel economy changed substantially for me!A tune, bigger injectors, and a good tdi guru and you'll be kicking yourself for not doing it sooner!
More MPGs and better performance....
Well, that and Mk4s never came with rear swaybars.if money is tight you could probably be ok with just the new / bigger injectors .... most of my upgrades happened over nearly 200k miles as things wore out and needed replacing.... I just had them replaced with high performance better parts.
Amittedly. some things (like the rear sway bar and exhaust ) were done for the upgrade and performance and not because they wore out.
It's in there, hiding, and welded in place - like Chryslers.Well, that and Mk4s never came with rear swaybars.
That doesn't count!It's in there, hiding, and welded in place - like Chryslers.