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Comments
(I understand it's supposed to be done officially at 80k... )
I am serious here. You have gone welll beyond the designed-life of that TB. When it breaks, your engine becomes an instant boat-anchor. (pistons crash into valves and very expensive things break....think NEW ENGINE!)
When the TB is replaced you SHOULD replace all moving parts that are in there. Those parts will NOT last as long as the 2nd belt. When those parts fail, the results are often the same as a broken TB. (because they ofteh break in such a disastorous way and snap the belt) It is farr cheaper to replace all those parts while it is apart than to take it apart again when the other parts decide to fail catastrophically.
You do NOT need to have a VW dealer perform TB replacement. A dealer will NOT install a brass-impeller waterpump (they use the cheep plastic ones.)
Honestly, I dont understand why you did not PLAN for this known preventive-maintenance item on your TDI. It is not as if this is suddenly a big surprise. What I did was research the known TDI gurus and located one within 45 minutes of my house. This guy replaces a TDI TB at least once a week.... so he has experience. I had called him and set up appointment BEFORE 100K miles. I now drive worry-free.
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Steve
Have it run (start the engine) at least once per week (by someone, who will take care of your house, while you are gone) and run the A/C full blast that prevents various seals in A/C system from hardening and keeps them lubricated. Starting and running the engine once a week also keeps most engine moving parts lubricated.
If you live in a cold climate and the car is not garaged, make sure you have both, radiator and windshield wiper fluids with fresh freeze-free additives. Radiator coolant can be mixed to the desired density and you can add anti-freeze agents into wiper fluid reservoir (sometimes just plain rubbing alcohol does the job).
Don't apply the hand brake (leave the car in P or in a gear, if manual transmission).
If the timing belt broke I'm suprised it is only costing you $1900.00!
When they break it causes a chain reaction that could bring the bill up nearer $4,000. (whole new top end of the engine, plus the new TBWP)
When was the belt changed last, that's the question inquiring mind want to know?
Tip 1: During winter many motorists forget about their auto air conditioning because it isn't necessary to use it during those cold months. But did you know that using the air conditioning on the windscreen will clear any internal fogging very efficiently, and having the heater on at the same time stops you getting cold as well.
Tip 2: Using the auto air conditioner as noted above will also help to alleviate any need to re-gas the system. Why? Because an auto air conditioner compressor uses a seal on the drive shaft to keep the refrigerant from escaping. This seal works with the help of a thin film of oil, during winter the non use of the air conditioner allows the oil to dry up thus letting the refrigerant escape. The unknowing driver does not find out their system isn't functioning till summer arrives. Run your car air conditioner once every 2 weeks for a few minutes and you will have no problems or use it to defrost and defog your windscreen during winter.
This is a big NO NO during storage. Once an engine is prepared for storage, LEAVE IT. Just idling once a week is ASKING for condensation to build up in the crankcase. This can form acid which causes metal corrosion.
If it *has* to be run, DRIVE it until HOT for at least 30 minutes. If you have the vehicle up on blocks (to protect the tires from flat-spots)... driving it may be a hassle.
As a real-world example...
People who drive short commutes will tell you that their exhaust pipes rust thru every couple years. This is because of the condensation/acid/corrosion issue I mention above. Folks that drive long commutes may never-EVER have to replace an exhaust system because the heat keeps things clean.
As for additional comments on storage.... DONT FORGET TO CHARGE THE BATTERY. It is best to hook it up to a battery-maintainer which will monitor the battery and recharge as needed. (Schumacher battery maintainer at walmart around $20.)
In the aviation application (R-22 helicopter, for example) that is exactly what is recommended when the ship is not being used in winter. Start and run it once per week for a few minutes.
A diesel engine is going to act the same way as far as condensation building up in the crank case.
Good advice though...never had that problem and in my opinion it's always better to drive it at least once a week for a while if there is someone to do it. Main issue would be a battery drain because many newer cars have all kinds of things (e.g. alarm ) running and possibly draining the battery when the car is just parked and not used.
By the way, R-22 doesn't have a turbine motor (none of the Robinsons do) it just a plain 6 cylinder aviation engine.
I cannot let such innaccuraces go by.... the H2O (water droplets) seen from exhaust is mostly a by-product of combustion. A cold catalytic converter cannot perform its job so it does not come into play until engine is fully warmed up. At that point... all H2O is in the form of steam.
Reminder: Combustion is the combining of anything with Oxygen... (in this case Hydrogen) resulting in H2O.
When your engine combustion-chamber runs too hot... even the Nitrogen in air combusts with the Oxygen... this is called NOx (nitrates of oxygen). The reason engines have a EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) system is specifically to reduce NOx
Even a simple CANDLE produces H2O... just hold a butterknife over the flame for a few seconds and you will see H2O condensation on it.
A catalytic converter is mainly intended for Oxidation of carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide. (2CO + O2 → 2CO2) also Oxidation of unburnt hydrocarbons to carbon dioxide and water (CxH2x+2 + 2xO2 → xCO2 + 2xH2O)
Besides... the VW TDI has a catalyst in the exhaust just like a gasser engine.... so your assertion is incorrect from the get-go 8-)
For that matter, a manual xmission will not crank the engine if clutch-switch is not satisfied.(or switch is broken)
Thank you
If the battery is weak that is what happens - it just clicks once and that's it. Try to jump start the car with cables.
The oem provided battery lasted all of app 33 mo ? Coming from SUV's whose oem batteries last 8 to10 years, that does not make me happy. However I am told 4 years is normal (tops) for (ANY) a battery to last.
I had my vehicle towed to the dealer by a flatbed tow truck. The service manager called me into the shop and showed me that the oil filters housing cap had been screwed loose, and placed on-top of the housing upside down. The cap had a small piece missing just before the threads begin. Since the car had 1 1/2 quarts of oil still in the oil pan the service manager did not feel that any engine damage occurred.
I explained to the manager that I had been home all day, that my car was locked, alarmed, and parked in my driveway. The manager insisted that someone did this damage to my vehicle. He could not explain how someone was able to get in the vehicle without the key, and without causing any damage or leaving any tool marks, or setting off the car alarm.
I had my vehicles 10K service done at this dealership 800 miles ago. During that service the wrong oil was used, and the vehicle was severely overfilled with oil. These problems were caught by myself, and corrected before leaving the dealership.
Is it possible that the dealer caused a third problem during my 10k service, such as not properly tightening the oil filter's cap, or was my vehicle vandalized by a Mission Impossible impersonator? Is it probable that engine damage occurred to the vehicle? If what the dealer said is true this vehicle has a severe security flaw!
I notified V.W. customer service of this event. I was told that it would be escalated to a field representative. :sick:
It was thought that the Coilonions had returned home in the mid '00s, but they seem to have reared their ugly heads again. There is, of course, a small chance that the service tech at your VW dealer could have mis-threaded the oil filter cover, but this caper has the stench of the Coilonions written all over it. Tremble in fear.
Optima rules!
The dealer may be right that no engine damage has occurred but I'd carefully document everything that has transpired since the service---just in case.