2001 Jetta TDI repair - Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum

Daox · 11-16-2015, 11:15 AM

This is my sister's beloved 01 Jetta TDI which took a dump on her last year. It has a bit over 200k miles, and I'm finally getting around to fixing it.

I think the timing belt or tensioner went on it. However, I'm not 100% sure on it yet. All I really know at this point is my brother in law was driving it and it lost power. He restarted the engine and it was good for a bit. He did this a few times, then it died and wouldn't restart. It was later towed to my house. From the little bit I've inspected it, the engine doesn't fully turn over. I pulled back the top of the timing belt cover and the cam timing pulley moves forward, then kicks back when you try to start it. However, the belt that turns the injector pump continues to rotate. So, it seems the crankshaft is moving, but the valves are hitting the pistons or something to that effect.

I'll be tearing into it hopefully this week and I'll post updates here. I'd really appreciate any help and/or insight from the TDI guys.

user removed · 11-16-2015, 11:33 AM

pull the injectors and pressurize the combustion chambers.

Find tdc on #1 and check cam lobe locations for a rough guess as to proper timing.

If it will not rotate, basically you know you have valve to piston contact, or something much more rare but also catastrophic.

Coolant in the cylinders? Low coolant level?

Oil level and condition.

regards
mech

UFO · 11-16-2015, 02:59 PM

I'm confused. The belt that drives the cam is the same belt that drives the injection pump. The cam pulley cannot move independently of the pump.

Daox · 11-16-2015, 03:40 PM

Thanks for the suggestions Old Mech. I will look at those things when I get a chance.

Sorry for the confusion UFO, it must have been an accessory belt I was looking at then. See how much I know about TDIs?

UFO · 11-16-2015, 04:19 PM

If that's the case, it sounds like you could have a broken or stripped timing belt components. The head will need rebuilding with new valves and cam followers.

Daox · 11-16-2015, 04:45 PM

Yeah, thats pretty much what I was expecting. I did a little reading on TDIclub about what needs to be done when a timing belt fails (also a few months ago, so I'll need brushing up).

Daox · 12-15-2015, 03:45 PM

I started taking the engine apart this past weekend. I got the upper timing belt cover off along with the valve cover and some of the covers under the engine. So far, I can't tell what has gone wrong. But, I have found out its a bit of a pain to work on.

UFO · 12-15-2015, 03:53 PM

You think a Jetta is a pain to work on, I've got a Beetle.

Daox · 12-16-2015, 02:38 PM

Haha, I can only imagine...

Well, I think I found the problem!

So, the next step will be to pull the head off, replace valves and followers and check out the piston damage and other stuff to see what needs replacing.

Xist · 12-16-2015, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daox

Well, I think I found the problem!

It is a Volkswagen?