Are VW Jetta diesels as troublesome?
I am looking to get a diesel so that I can use biodiesel and was looking at Jetta diesels.
Are VW diesels less problematic than the gas burners? Any years or models better? worse?
Snark, insight, comments appreciated.
Subscribe by RSS
297 Said,
March 13, 2006 @ 10:06 am
Are VW Jetta diesels as troublesome? – In general, the TDIs have less issues, particularly where the engine is concerned, obviously. The other problems such as the emergency brake light switch can be present in a TDI, but for the most part these other problems are much easier (and cheaper) to resolve than the engine issues some folks encounter.
The TDI, frankly, is a nice litle machine and will work flawlessly with biodiesel (I think they even proved the newer PD TDIs haveno problems with biodiesel of a certain purity). The biggest problem with biodiesel right now is scarcity, which I’m sure you’ve researched for your area.
As for models — I would point you to TDI Club, they’ll know way more than us.
VWVictim Said,
March 15, 2006 @ 1:50 am
Are VW Jetta diesels as troublesome? – I had a TDI Bug. Besides the window falling into the door problem (over and over), and a plethora of other problems, the air conditioner pump and the injectors went, all within 28,000 miles. I believe VW did away with the TDI and went to common rail, which is new for VW. I wouldn’t touch anything by VW, but particularly, I wouldn’t touch anything new by VW.
297 Said,
March 15, 2006 @ 4:49 am
Are VW Jetta diesels as troublesome? – Common rail?
VW has the new PD TDI engine, so I suppose you “”could”" say they did away with the “”TDI”".
peterd1965 Said,
March 15, 2006 @ 8:55 am
TDI, nice. – I had a 2000 Jetta TDI. Personally I loved it and had it for about 45,000 trouble free miles then sold it because …I didn’t need a car for a while, or I get, bored. I highly recommend it and I became addicted to the hardcores over at Fred’s.
That was an early year for that generation jetta and I had bought mine off the floor. The sale rep (perhaps correctly) stated that I was getting the last of the Mexican built Jetta TDIs which was much better than the Brazilian built. Apparently the Brazillian plant had only been runing a short time and the bugs were not yet worked out.
I’d take the car back in a second if I could.
My personal best was 53 MPG.
If you do buy, check this place out and brew your own: Freedom Fuel America
Post edited 03/15/06 8:57 PM by peterd1965
vabeachautohaus Said,
March 16, 2006 @ 8:53 am
Are VW Jetta diesels as troublesome? – By far the diesel is better than any gas vehicle VW builds.There are issues as other people here have mentioned,the window clips have been finally replaced with a decent style of clip,the brake light switch,an ocassional glow plug fault,and the most common is the egr valve and intake coking up,but this can be cleaned instead of replacing,ther were no oil usage issues as the gas engines have and by far,these are much better engines than their gasoline counterparts.The new pdi I am still leary about,they had alot of fuel pump problems with this engine and glow plug control modules thathave shown issues.I would look for 2001 t0 2004 model and manual transmission.I still do not understand why VW increased horsepower at the expense of fuel mileage on the new diesel engine and all my diesel customers do not either.
VWVictim Said,
March 22, 2006 @ 8:04 am
TDI – If the TDI is better than any gas vehicle, then VW gas vehicles are truly horrendous vehicles. My TDI had problem after problem. Besides the window problem, and all the other minor annoyances that VW’s are noted for, the air conditioner pump and the injectors went at less than 28,000 miles. VW’s are basically lemons right out of the shute. You take your chances buying a VW.
Post edited 03/22/06 8:04 PM by VWVictim