Thinkin about my Jetta

[AaronW]

All:

So I've got a 2003 Jetta TDI. It's got a bit over 200,000 on it. I shelled the turbo: put a rock through my oil pan, didn't realize how bad the leak was. It was already going to need some transmission work, it's the 4 speed auto, not the manual, and I'd say there's a better than average chance it's got some serious engine damage.

I looked into junkyards, for a whole engine/transmission combo, and it looks like I could probably get a low mileage setup for $3000-4000. I've never worked on a diesel before.

So here's what I'm wondering: I'm really a shade tree mechanic, skill-level wise. Do you think that I'd be biting off way more than I could chew, if I took on replacing the engine and transmission? On one hand, ok, it's just taking one thing out and replacing it with the same thing, but I also have no idea what I'd be getting myself into.

Thoughts? If I could end up with a low mileage TDI that gets 40 mpg, for 3000-4000 bucks, and take a year or so to put it together, that doesn't sound like a bad deal to me. I really liked that car. However, I also don't want to get myself so far over my head that I end up going crazy and wasting a bunch of money.

Aaron

 

[squaredeal91]

Those TDIs are cool. Definitely a worthy project

 

[PrairieDrifter]

I probably wouldn't recommend. Maybe on a square. But even then, there's a lot of little things you need to know.

I don't know about jettas, but a lot of front wheel drives you have to drop the subframe, then you're talking about taking the entire front half of the car apart and putting it back together. It's a lot of work, and a lot of important stuff to put back together correctly. Let alone any specialized tools.

 

[Grit dog]

My opinion is why spend $3-4k on a car that’s worth $3-4k when you’re done.
They’re dime a dozen for that price. Around here at least.

 

[AaronW]

I probably wouldn't recommend. Maybe on a square. But even then, there's a lot of little things you need to know.

I don't know about jettas, but a lot of front wheel drives you have to drop the subframe, then you're talking about taking the entire front half of the car apart and putting it back together. It's a lot of work, and a lot of important stuff to put back together correctly. Let alone any specialized tools.

Yeah, I don't really know about what specialized tool I'd need for the job, so that's something else I'd have to consider, too.

Speaking to grit dog's point, as far as what's generally available, say between here and Salt Lake, I could probably do better on the $$ fixing the car, but of course, everything else on the car will still have + 200,000 on it, too.

Aaron

 

[Asgeir]

My daily is a 2015 VW Golf with the 2.0L TDI and I love it. 40+ MPG on the highway @ 80MPH.

 

[AaronW]

My daily is a 2015 VW Golf with the 2.0L TDI and I love it. 40+ MPG on the highway @ 80MPH.

That's pretty close to what mine got. I'd get right on 40 at 75 mph or so, averaged around 37 between highwaty and town. This is kinda one of those "do you go with the devil you know?" problems?

Aaron

 

[Asgeir]

That's pretty close to what mine got. I'd get right on 40 at 75 mph or so, averaged around 37 between highwaty and town. This is kinda one of those "do you go with the devil you know?" problems?

Aaron

My thinking is if you love the car, then do it, but if you going to replace it like in a year or two after doing the work, then it wouldnt be worth it. I definitely agree that it will be a heck of a job and it being VW, I agree that there will be some special tools. If I had a lift, then I would personally try it.

 

[squaredeal91]

i know a jetta is not a mini but I've changed 1 engine and 2 clutches in 2005 mini cooper's without a lift. Each time I pulled engine and trans together.
Once chained up good to my picker
I sat down the sub frame onto the frame legs of my cherry picker and rolled it out to do the work then picked it up again and bolted it in. I don't know your experience level. And like someone said before, if you love it and plan to keep it then fix it.

 

[bluex]

We have a 13 TDI jetta, it's been an OK car. Everytime something breaks on it it's down 2 weeks an minimum $600.

3 weeks after I bought it the dpf clogged an VW did $5800 worth of warranty work to it. They had it for a month. Thankfully it was still covered under the extended emissions warranty from dieselgate. I've had to replace 2 other sensors for just over $600, the dsg flywheel went out an that was $1700. I don't know much about diesels either an I don't want to work on that one, everything is so crammed in there and the special triple square bolts, etc.....

Ya it gets nearly 40 mpg around town but man idk if it's worth the hassle sometimes lol

 

[ChuckN]

I’d say you have the skill, VWs generally aren’t hard to work on. It’s just what your time is worth.

If the car itself is rust free and in good shape, go for it. Or, you could keep your eyes open for something up here in the PNW or the desert SW for the same amount of money as the cost of engine/drivetrain. If you factor in the cost of trailering another car home, it’ll likely break even with the extra unforeseen costs of other stuff you’ll have to replace when you change out the drivetrain. Just my $0.02.












How’s that for a non-answer?

 

[AaronW]

Thanks for all the replies, folks. That gives me some food for thought. Haven't decided what I'm going to do, as of yet, will probably make a call one way or another sometime this winter. Anothe factor here is that I put new tires on it approximately 50 miles before the rock incident happened, so it's got a brand new set of tires on it, that I'd have, or would need to sell to at least recover a little bit of my money out of. Actually, if anybody here wants a st of 5 lug rims with brand new 15" tires on them, that could help me make up my mind.

Aaron

 

[Ricko1966]

All the water cooled VW engine swaps I've pulled were easy peazy raise the front end a couple of feet on jack stands, drop engine ,subframe transmission,struts,the whole ball of wax out the bottom. Separate everything on the ground push it all back up from the bottom. Get on some VW forumns see if that's the same way on yours,but I did lots of mid 80s through early 90s that way,and only special tools were 2 they were 2 12 point spline sockets for removing a transmission bolt and removing CV joints from transmission. They used them on the head bolts too. But doing a swap that won't concern you. Okay I say easy,and I guess I say that too often not as easy as swapping a SBC so if you think engine R&R on a square is a big job than you don't want to do the Jetta.

 

[ChuckN]

Yeah, what @Ricko1966 said. vwvortex.com is your friend. You probably wouldn’t even have to post there- if you use the search function, someone has undoubtedly already asked what you’re looking for. I used to be on that forum years ago when I did my A2 VR6 swap.

 

[luna negra]

Buy another one and keep yours for parts or sell. I've had several TDIs as commuter cars and also love the 40+ MPG. My 2005 Jetta wagon just got rear-ended with 237K and the guy's insurance company totaled it for $3800. Or, I could of kept it with $3000 cash and replaced the rear hatch, bumper, and tail lights myself for less than $1000 but the paint would have never matched. You can find them pretty cheap (<4K) if you don't mind driving a 20 yr old car, but hey, you wouldn't be on this website if you did. After looking for parts, it made more sense to me just to buy a another one.

Most important thing is to change the timing belt at the scheduled intervals as the TDI motor in an interference motor - meaning it'll be trashed if the belt breaks. Good luck!