Not a new member, just a new car. (1996 B4 Passat TDi maintenance/mods)

[redpoint5]

Originally Posted by Christ

...cars are like underwear... they get a little uncomfortable after you've used them so long. :P

If cars are like underwear, then you should be wearing them out.

[elhigh]

If cars are like underwear, I need a Jeep Commando!

[Christ]

Originally Posted by elhigh

If cars are like underwear, I need a Jeep Commando!

LMAO... that's terrible.

[Christ]

I changed my Alt out for a unit from my VR6 that I blew up, so now the battery light is off and she's charging again.

I didn't have a chance to wire in the manual charge and brake light circuits for the alt, I'll be doing that when I do some other wiring changes on the car, so that the alternator is only 'on' when either the brake lights are on, or the manual switch is closed. In addition, I'll be ordering a 13.6v DC/DC converter and a volt gauge so that I can monitor electrical system voltage and ensure proper electrical system operating voltage.

The theory and practice behind this is that it's inefficient to charge while attempting to accelerate, better to charge in 'bursts' while decelerating or otherwise 'wasting' fuel, such as when idling [it idles at .10 gph... I dont' bother shutting it down].

[Fat Charlie]

Originally Posted by elhigh

If cars are like underwear, I need a Jeep Commando!

I prefer the Subaru boxers.

[Christ]

Scored these, the clips I needed, and a pair of clean corner lamps at the yard. May also go back eventually and get both fenders and pass side doors, possibly also any good black interior pieces I can find, and the hood.

I won't be using the grille or emblems, I cleaned them in case anyone else needs them. Therre are a couple of the small tabs broken on the back, but the grille locks in perfectly fine. No damage to the emblem or circle trims except a small nick in the left side of the chrome. The VR6 emblem is worn nd will need refinished.

[Christ]

The belt makes a little noise, and is pretty weak anyway, so its soon time to pull it and replace, and what better time to also delete the AC pump and associated lines? The added benefit of that, it gives me a prewired switch in the form of the AC button to which I can wire a relay to control the alternator's function manually. Later I'll add in a tap to the brake light activation circuit that will also trigger the relay to turn on field to the alternator, and eventually add a second battery.

Further down the line, a block heater, 120VAC float/quick charger, and coolant thermos/overflow bottle.

[123]

Great to see that your keeping a TDI out of the junk yard. You payed $400 thats crazy cheap. All the TDIs I have seen 4 sale are expensive even when poring oil out of the engine at a rate unsafe to drive or blown engine. I want to see how you do the coolant thermos, been wanting to do that on my VDub.

[Christ]

I gotta do only clean mods on this, since I'll end up selling it for a decent amount when I tire of it.

[Christ]

Fixed the passenger side door handle at work last night, now I have 3 functional handles. Not sure what the electrical connections on the front door handles are for, but I don't lock my car or need central locking etc nor do I care about it, so I just cut the wires off the old handles and kinda stuffed the new handles in without attaching the new wires. Maybe I'll fix that later, but its unlikely.