Timing Belt Service
When my car needed a timing belt back in 2002, I admit I was a little bit scared to attempt the job myself. After multiple calls to Jim at dieselgeek.com and hours and hours of reading on TDIclub.com, I finally got the nerve to do it. I'm glad I did. It empowered me to help others whose only prior option was to take it to the dealer. This has been all but eliminated as an option for most people given the VW dealer service department's historical reputation for shoddy service and high prices.
I have since performed hundreds of timing belt replacements. I've now gotten it down to an art.
When I install a timing belt I use all required special lock tools to ensure that all timed components remain timed. I like to install DieselGeek Timing Belt Delux Kits that include absolutely everything in the belt system. It takes about 2 hours and you're more than welcome to hang out and ask questions while I perform the work. When I'm done, you'll know you're good for the next 100K miles
Leaky Injection Pump
Don't replace an injection pump just because it's leaking!!!! There are 3 seals on the Bosch VE rotary pump that are notorious for seeping diesel. The seals can be replaced without removing the pump from the car for far less than the cost of a rebuild. The picture on the right was taken from the Dieselgeek.com instruction page on how to replace the main head seal. Jim and I performed this procedure on a 2003 Jetta, recorded the steps and took many photographs. This tutorial has helped hundreds of TDI owners avoid the high cost of rebuilt pumps and kept their downtime to an absolute minimum. It's a non-trivial procedure, and it does carry some risk, but with the healthy support and experience of others you can easily perform this repair before just giving up and throwing away an otherwise good pump. How-to video now available on YouTube. Be sure to watch all 7 parts before beginning the repair.
Broken Timing Belt Repair
You really hope this never happens. Its the reason you get the thing changed in the first place. Usually about 6 valves are bent, all lifters are wrecked, and sometimes the cam also sustains damage. The parts alone, including a new timing belt kit are usually around $1000. I keep a spare head on the shelf ready to go to minimize down time. There are too many details and variables to go into here, but let me just repeat myself: you really hope this never happens
Intake Cleaning
This is a pretty outdated repair. I should delete this entry entirely from my website. Really I should. Stop reading now. The modern fuel we get now, particularly TxLED really does not cause this problem anymore. This is particularly true for the more modern TDI cars including PD engines. Though I do see some fairly significant clogging on ALH cars where this has never been done. Read on if you have an early TDI: The EGR and oil combine inside the intake to form a brownie like black sludge that restricts airflow and is generally nasty. When I remove your intake, I swap it out with one that is professionally cleaned by my machinist. I still clean out your old EGR valve but that's a lot easier to do as it is an open access part and relatively small. I'll inspect your intake any time and let you know if it appears to be clogging. I stole the picture of the intake, apologies to the owner of the image.
I didn't know where else to place this note: It is a sincere pleasure to be allowed to continue to keep these cars humming along just like my own car.
I have had the same 2000 Golf TDI for over 15 years and it is very near 400K miles right now. It still gets the same 'ol 47-48 MPG it always has and still runs just as strong and ready as it always has. We understand what these cars need and how to provide those needs. I have more or less dedicated my life to the VW TDI for better or worse.
Other Stuff
Maintenance:
Oil Change
Filters
Glow Plugs
Performance:
Injectors
Injection pumps
Turbos
How fancy do you want to get?
Repairs:
DPF replacement
Suspension, brakes, Air Condidtioning.
'05.5-'06 DMF replacement
Passat BHW Balance shaft module upgrade/delete
PD Camshaft replacement
MKIV cooling fans
Alternator pulleys
Clutches
Automatic to manual transmission conversion; MKIV and B5.5 Passat
Gasoline to diesel conversion
Blown Turbo
Poor performance troubleshooting
MIL light on?
Engine sounds funny?
Now offering complete air conditioning services
Sulfuric acid spill remediation (pictured)
