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Volkswagen TDI Models

2551 messages,  Last post on Sep 02, 2012 at 2:44 PM

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What is this discussion about? Volkswagen New Beetle, Volkswagen Golf, Volkswagen Jetta, Volkswagen Passat, Diesel, Hatchback, Sedan, Wagon

Messages Page 179 of 256

#1772 of 2551 stalling and transmission problems by stevenpaul

Jul 29, 2005 (9:05 am)

I have a 2000 Golf TDI, Canadian model, but I've been using it for short-haul driving in South Carolina for the past two years. Since moving here, I've had a host of electrical problems (glow plugs, brake switch, MAF sensor, etc.). Also, any time I have an electrical problem, the automatic transmission shifts to third gear (I can shift it manually, but it's very clunky). When the dealer mechanics pull up the codes, they see 'failed communication with transmission.'
 
When this happened again recently (with about 60000 miles on the car), the dealer told me that I would need to replace the accelerator position sensor, the diesel pump and some other sensor!!! With the price of replacing the diesel pump alone running to 1500 dollars, I was hesitant. However, while driving it around with the check-engine-light on, the car would suddenly stall at speed (40 mph). I took it to a private garage and they were much more cautious about where the problem lies. They suspected that the ECU was bad, so that got replaced. When the stalling problem persisted, they replace the MAF sensor, which increased the power tremendously. The car has continued to stall out, though, and the most recent fix they've tried is replacing the EGR valve (which was almost completely clogged).
 
I've read online about the carbon build-up in the EGR and intake manifold. Could this really have been the cause of the car stalling at speed (since it's not an electronic part)? Has anyone been able to get VW to rectify this for free? What about the other problems I'm having with my transmission lockup? Any suggestion? I'm at my wit's end (and the money's pretty low, too).

#1773 of 2551 Upsolute by vwinva

Jul 31, 2005 (5:46 am)

Has Upsolute updated it's ECU software? If yes, any gain in performance over the old one?

#1774 of 2551 5000 Mile Service by tomsawyer

Jul 31, 2005 (10:54 am)

I would appreciate some help on this one. I am doing the 5000 mile service on an 05 Passat TDI.
  
I completed the oil change no problem; however, I am not sure how to empty the fuel/water separator. Can anyone guide me on how to do this? Here's a couple of questions -
  
1) Is the fuel/water separator located on the right side of the engine next to the oil filter housing?
  
2) If it is, is it a black canister with 4 hoses connected to the top of it?
  
3) On the bottom, I see a white plastic wheel that looks like it can be turned.
  
4) If this is it, it looks like the canister is held on to a metal arm with some type of torx screw. Does anybody know the size and will it fit on to a ratchet?
  
5) Should I take the screw off to lift the canister to turn the plastic wheel?
  
6) Will diesel fuel come out of the canister if I turn the wheel?
  
I appreciate all who answer. Thanks in advance.

#1775 of 2551 Re: 5000 Mile Service [tomsawyer] by sebring95

Jul 31, 2005 (2:18 pm)

Replying to: tomsawyer (Jul 31, 2005 10:54 am)
You're looking at the right item. That's actually the fuel filter and the water collector is built-in. The white screw can be loosened and fuel/water will drain out. Trying to catch it is fun. Water will collect in the bottom of the fuel filter (water is heavier than diesel) so it can then be drained.
 
That being said, I wouldn't bother with this task unless you have some reason to believe you've gotten some contaminated fuel. It's basically rare to ever have any water collect in the filter so most TDI's owners don't even bother with this. The fuel filter needs replaced every 20k miles which seems to be more than adequate. Which reminds me, I'm about 10k miles overdue on the fuel filter....

#1776 of 2551 Re: coolant leakl [stifland] by pruzink

Aug 03, 2005 (2:16 pm)

Replying to: stifland (Jul 06, 2005 2:48 pm)
The EGR coolers have a pretty high failure rate. I've seen quite a few posts from people with newer TDI's that had to have it replaced. Shame on your dealer for not being aware of this problem.

#1777 of 2551 Re: TDI new beetle power problem [jrct9454] by smokerr

Aug 05, 2005 (6:00 pm)

Replying to: jrct9454 (Jul 21, 2005 2:49 pm)
There is a serious major misconception in this last statement.
 
If your INTAKE manifold is slobbered up, it has nothing to do with lousy diesel fuel.
 
VW has a problem in how to deal with crankcase fumes and EGR setup.
 
On the older 1.9 engine, they dumped both into the suction side of the turbo and that makes a huge mess.
 
While they quit dumping the EGR into the suction side on the PDI engine (Passat at least) they do dump the crankcase fumes into the suction side of the turbo on the 2.0 Passat TDI.
 
This spreads oil into the system, and will create the clouds of smoke.
 
There is a solution for separating out the oil from the vapors, apparently VW went cheap on how to deal with it.
 
Not sure how many do it, may be part of emissions control not working quite right with the mapping, but......
 
Something to look for, you have to pull all the plastic foo foo off the engine to see it.

#1778 of 2551 Smoking 2005 Passat TDI by smokerr

Aug 05, 2005 (6:17 pm)

I have been experiencing the reported smoking problem on a 2005 Passat TDI.
 
I work on diesel generators and fire pumps, so I have a good working knowledge and experience with the causes.
 
I was surprised to find that it does not appear to be a leaking turbo charger seal (though it certainly could be on either side of the turbo)
 
What I have found is they took the crank case breather tube, and ran it into the suction side of the Turbo Charger.
 
There is NO device to separate the oil out of the vapor, so it gets sucked in (and worse, a high vacuum sucking the fumes out of the engine, not a mild vent like a gasoline engine does, with the PCV to restrict it).
         I have found about ¼ cup in the various nooks and serrations in the turbo charger intake tubing (a lot at the bottom tube into the inter-cooler).
 
VW claims this is normal. It is only normal if you have a poor design that is going to ensure its going to happe, normal is a total cop out.
 
There are devices (and I have installed them on my work engines) that separate the oil out of the vapor, and pass on clean air into the suction side of the turbo (you can either drain the canister, or it can be plumbed into the crank case for the oil that separated out.
 
I would urge anyone who has this problem to file a complaint with not only the dealer, but contact VW and get a case number.
 
That is the only way this is going to get corrected. It is in no way “normal” for a brand new vehicle, diesel of otherwise, to emit large clouds of smoke under any conditions (see note). We have spent literally hundreds of billions to clean up our air, and this is not acceptable.
 
   Note: If you have poor diesel, that can cause smoke under acceleration, but it should still be fairly mild, not huge clouds, and not ever when backed off the throttle.

#1779 of 2551 Airbag problems? by thebigbanana

Aug 06, 2005 (5:58 am)

I'm wondering if anyone has encountered this bizarre problem. I had a passanger in my 2002 VW Golf TDI that was holding a pet crate on his lap and the airbag light went on. I figured that there must be a sensor of some sort that monitors the space in front of the airbag. The problem is that now the light comes on everytime I start my car and doesn't go off. I haven't found anything in my car manual indicating any kind of sensor but I thought I'd try messages boards to see if anyone knows anything about it.
  
Thanks,
Annie

#1780 of 2551 Re: Airbag problems? [thebigbanana] by elias

Aug 07, 2005 (5:21 pm)

Replying to: thebigbanana (Aug 06, 2005 5:58 am)
hi Annie/bigbanana. i don't think there is any such sensor such as that which you surmise. i do believe there is a weight sensor in the seat however. having federally mandated electronics to make a life or death decision is a dicey thing, as we've seen by the hundreds of child & other fatalities directly caused by airbags.
 
given the symptoms you describe, i think your airbag system has had a failure independent of your passenger with the pet crate. possibly an autozone trouble-code reader could read the error code, but for an airbag failure i think a visit to a vw dealer is well advised, or some other expert vw mechanics! cheers...

#1781 of 2551 Changing Oil on a 04 TDI Jetta by xrayjetta

Aug 10, 2005 (2:45 pm)

Replying to: lifelover (May 24, 2004 8:51 am)
Hello,
New to this forum. I am unable to find a useful manual for my 2004 TDI Jetta so I was wondering if one of you could give me some details on performing and oil change for this, essentially where the filter is, etc... for this car. My old Honda manuals were great for this but the VW ones remind me of Microsoft manuals. By the way, we have about 11k miles split evenly between highway and town and average about 44MPG.

Messages Page 179 of 256

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