Will not start outside of N. Nevada.

[NevadaVandal]

Just purchased 2001 Golf, TDI. Only 60000 miles. It is garaged and starts on 2nd or 3rd try in am. Traveled to Boise, altitude 2600 ft. and 2 weeks later to Sacramento @ 52 ft and would not start later that evening in both cities. Turned over but would not catch. The following morning it caught on the 2nd or 3rd attempt. No starting problems in northern Nevada.
Dealer told me injector pump pulling too much air. Rear brakes, injector pump, water pump, timing belt . . . $4000.00. Any ideas on the starting issue?

Have searched the scheduled maintenance section of owners manual. At 60000 miles replace timing belt for Golf TDI "Automatic" but does not clearly state for my manual transmission. When should be replaced for the manual trans.
Any assistance is appreciated. Thank You

 

[VeeDubTDI]

Well... check the fuel injection system for air leaks. Air is most commonly introduced into the system around the fuel filter, either on one of the rubber supply/return lines, or on the thermostatic tee.

Timing belt and water pump should run you about $650 - 750.

Rear brakes aren't a big deal, and can be done by any competent mechanic.

Do yourself a favor, don't go to the dealer, and find yourself a trusted TDI mechanic... see the following link for a TDI mechanic near you.

http://www.tinyurl.com/tdimap

 

[ymz]

Traveled to Boise...

Too bad you didn't contact us before... One of the top TDI experts in the country is there, and would have gotten your car in tip-top shape in a jiffy... (and for a whole lot less than you're going to spend in your neck of the woods...)

Could you narrow down your location a bit?? Your timing belt needs to be changed now (unless you know for a fact that it was properly changed already - but since the car's not starting well, if it was indeed changed, it was not done properly...)

Just for your info, please download the procedure for the timing belt change... (written by that very Boise Guru) http://pics.tdiclub.com/pdf/a4timingbelt.pdf That way you'll know what should be done, and how it should be done... Also look at the so-called "DeLuxe" timing belt kits from some of the suppliers here (www.boraparts.com www.metalmanparts.com www.tdiparts.com www.dieselgeek.com) - again, to know what should be replaced...

Good luck!!! Please try to find a TDI-Club expert in the near future... most dealerships and even old-time VW-Shops tend to take too many shortcuts and replace too many unneeded parts... (like that injection pump... highly unlikely that yours is defective, although it's always possible...)

Yuri

 

[NevadaVandal]

Thanks Guys I really appreciate. nm

nm thnks

 

[VeeDubTDI]

that's www.idparts.com ... not www.tdiparts.com

 

[VeeDubTDI]

Nevermind? Why nevermind?

 

[NevadaVandal]

nm = no message

Don't have to look at the message window that way.

 

[Birdman]

A lot of talk about changing the timing belt without knowing if it was recently changed and a 100000 mile belt was put on. this car 1. needs a guru to look it over, 2. find any service records that there may be. My Moms car 96 golf had everything done at the stealer but it was a good one and every record since she bought it new is on file is there to look at and check. also on a no start like this the car went from a warm garage north to where it was a good bit colder then it was at home. cold weather can mean anything from timing to a simple shutter valve sticking closed which on a 2001 car that if that area has not been cleaned will stick closed as soon as it is cold enough for the oil to hold it closed.