VW Jetta TDI

Replying to: tditoronto (Oct 29, 2008 8:48 pm)

Replies to this message:
• siberia (Nov 02, 2008 7:36 am)
  • tditoronto (Nov 02, 2008 9:35 am)
    • siberia (Nov 04, 2008 7:02 pm)

Replying to: bpeebles (Oct 28, 2008 6:04 pm)

Replying to: bpeebles (Oct 31, 2008 3:22 pm)

Noisy dual-mass flywheel? Oil on clutch plate/disk causing judder? Only during engagement? At idle in neutral? Clutch in - clutch almost out - clutch out? Even incompetent mechanics need info.
 
Manual transmissions usually give warning signs (except under abuse) long before they fail completely. I drove a manual transmission over 30,000 miles with a bad input shaft bearing once before I got tired of the noise and replaced it.

Replies to this message:
• tditoronto (Nov 02, 2008 9:35 am)
  • siberia (Nov 04, 2008 7:02 pm)

Replying to: siberia (Nov 02, 2008 7:36 am)

They haven't taken the unit apart yet, and I would be reluctant to have that much labour cost put into it, unless I knew what the outcome was going to be. A knowledgeable mechanic told me after driving it at around 100,000 miles, that it would not make it to 120,000 miles without replacing the clutch. Here I am at 150,000 miles and it is only now starting to convince me. The clutch lost it's buttery smoothness probably at around 20,000 miles, but isn't that common. I mean, I've had 4 manual transmission cars in a row, and nothing quite matches that "New-Clutch" feeling. It doesn't last long though. Then again, I've only ever owned VWs, so I can't really speak for the clutches of other brands.
 
As for how it sounds / feels, it is restricted to feel...there are no related sounds. I'm easy on the clutch. I never ride it, and it is almost fully engaged before I start to push the accelerator. However, just recently, I'm noticing that as I'm starting to push the accelerator, the clutch is slipping. It shudders, but there is no sound. I can feel it through the pedal, through the seat of my pants. Another thing that it is starting to do occurs as I'm accelerating onto the highway from an onramp, usually in 3rd or 4th gear. It doesn't happen all the time, but there is a momentary lack of power, or so it seems. I've decided that either the clutch is slipping and allowing the engine to rev slightly without the related additional momentum that you would expect, OR the engine alone is experiencing power loss. Could the turbo be dieing? The dealer mistakenly diagnosed it as the cause of a noise at around 100,000 miles, so I ended up getting a new turbo under warranty. It only has 50,000 miles on it.
 
Too many of these things are happening within days of each other. The clutch is obviously wearing, so I'm reluctant to assume that the turbo could be going at exactly the same time. On top of it all, the coolant hoses split about a week ago, and within hours of that happening, the front suspension started creaking as if it had no lubricant on it. I assumed that maybe the leaking coolant disolved the lubricant on the suspension. The mechanic noticed my suspension bushings were worn, so they replaced those, along with the coolant hoses. Unfortunately, after a few hours of silent suspension, the creaking noise came back louder than ever.
 
If I fix all this stuff, I'm probably going to be $3,000 in the hole, and keeping the car for another 150,000 miles

Replies to this message:
• siberia (Nov 04, 2008 7:02 pm)

Replying to: chuckycheese (Oct 25, 2007 3:48 pm)

Does a Jetta TDI need to be plugged into an electric source in the winter months(New York) if it is parked outside overnight?

Replies to this message:
• bpeebles (Nov 02, 2008 6:57 pm)

Replying to: redvw (Nov 02, 2008 4:28 pm)

Replies to this message:
• ruking1 (Nov 03, 2008 7:26 am)
  • ruking1 (Nov 03, 2008 8:48 am)
• cosmo (Nov 03, 2008 8:22 am)
• sebring95 (Nov 03, 2008 1:22 pm)

Replying to: redvw (Nov 03, 2008 7:05 am)

I would say yes and no. While I do not have any experience with the two that you have mentioned, (ok I had a 70 VW Beetle app 250,000 miles all but 10,000 put on by me, 78 Rabbit 95,000 miles, 03 Jetta TDI 110,000 miles) the latest 2009 incarnation Jetta TDI is a WAY better vehicle than the previous generations. What has not become real clear (by virtue of being BRAND new) are the 2009's quirks. (and ALL vehicles have them) Also, not many have the requisite 90,000 to 150,000 miles to talk about a significant cycle up to and past the first timing belt/wp change(120,000 miles I am told for the 09 model). At those levels, one can swag to the next TP/WP change.
 
Another is the so called definition of reliability. What does that REALLY mean?
 
As a comparison, I have the "highly reliable" Honda Civic (04) . Honda defines it SANS "consumables" Well, needing tires at 74,300 miles and three alignments the way the Civic does, does NOT count in the reliability measure, even as I am still running oem tires on the VW Jetta 110,000 miles and have not NEEDED any alignmenst. So at 300 per tire set and 90 per alignment, the Civic has cost me $ 570. MORE in operating costs. While this is factored in at the per mile driven cost. It clearly is NOT factored in the reliability measurement.
 
(As history I also had a 82 Honda Accord manual)

Replies to this message:
• ruking1 (Nov 03, 2008 8:48 am)