New diesel jetta - Page 3 - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

compu_85 · #31 08-18-2009, 08:59 AM

I'd rather have the belt then the chain! And its really not that bad, the only bummer is the motor mount that has to be removed.

-Jason

Oracle12345 · #32 08-18-2009, 10:40 AM

ive done a timing belt on a tdi its not bad at all. I also agree they are more convient than a chain since you dont need special tools to do one

vstech · #33 08-18-2009, 11:00 AM

No special tools?
really? I thought you still needed the cam lock tool and the alignment bolt kit...
my 85 Jetta still gets 45+mpg, but um, kinda hard to call it's driving style spunky...

dariod · #34 08-18-2009, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oracle12345

ive done a timing belt on a tdi its not bad at all. I also agree they are more convient than a chain since you dont need special tools to do one

Really???? How will you adjust timing?? You need VAG-COM. The reason TDI's are trashed is because of the botched timing belt job. So you go 80 MPH on highway and belt snaps then bye bye engine.

#35 08-18-2009, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by compu_85

I'd rather have the belt then the chain! And its really not that bad, the only bummer is the motor mount that has to be removed.

-Jason

WHAT!!!

What POSSIBLE reason could anyone prefer a belt over a chain? The belt in the TDI MUST be periodically replaced. In an MB, the double row chain seeing proper oil change intervals will outlast the engine. Also, on most MB's you can roll in a chain without dismantling the front of the engine. Have you ever tried "rolling in" a timing belt?

There are some TDI models on which they modified the belt life to 40,000 miles. NO diesel engine is NOT an interference engine which means that you had BEST replace the belt as recommended.

Someone that prefers a belt over a chain.... UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!

Oracle12345 · #36 08-18-2009, 11:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

No special tools?
really? I thought you still needed the cam lock tool and the alignment bolt kit...
my 85 Jetta still gets 45+mpg, but um, kinda hard to call it's driving style spunky...

I did the timing belt without the special tool. Theres always more than 1 way to do something

dariod · #37 08-18-2009, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oracle12345

I did the timing belt without the special tool. Theres always more than 1 way to do something

Luckily that is not my TDI because there is ONLY ONE RIGHT way. No wonder a lot of TDI's are trashed.

Oracle12345 · #38 08-18-2009, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dariod

Luckily that is not my TDI because there is ONLY ONE RIGHT way. No wonder a lot of TDI's are trashed.

fyi I didnt have the vagcom but I had a a few thousand dollar snap on scan tool to do the job. I put the car back together and it ran fine. Funny you bring it up because I had to do the belt since the owner tried to do it himself and well screwed up and damaged the valvetrain, destroyed a few hydraulic lifters.

I ended up rebuilding the valvetrain, putting the head back on and doing the belt.

vstech · #39 08-18-2009, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oracle12345

fyi I didnt have the vagcom but I had a a few thousand dollar snap on scan tool to do the job. I put the car back together and it ran fine. Funny you bring it up because I had to do the belt since the owner tried to do it himself and well screwed up and damaged the valvetrain, destroyed a few hydraulic lifters.

I ended up rebuilding the valvetrain, putting the head back on and doing the belt.

... the "right" tool is only about $20... you have a multythousand$$ tool that's preferred to using the "right" tool? how is that better than the special tool you need to change the MB's chain?

Oracle12345 · #40 08-18-2009, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vstech

... the "right" tool is only about $20... you have a multythousand$$ tool that's preferred to using the "right" tool? how is that better than the special tool you need to change the MB's chain?

what special tools are we talking about here? the tools to hold the camshaft, injection pump and the tensioner so the timing doesnt get off? you can make the tools or get something that does the same job.

mb chain tool you cant get an alternative to, the vw tools you can.

lietuviai · #41 08-18-2009, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DieselAddict

How much does the Civic weigh and how much torque does it have? There lies your answer. I get 45 mpg in my Jetta in combined city/highway driving and I don't even try that hard. And it has plenty of torque to go over the mountains at 10,000 ft. The new Jettas get slightly worse mileage, but they have even more torque and weigh a little more.

According to one site it has "86 kW , 115 HP SAE @ 6,100 rpm; 110 ft lb , 149 Nm @ 4,500 rpm" which doesn't sound like much but it only weighs about 2500 lbs. It seems to have plenty of power going up hills and has no trouble passing on two lane roads which IMO is very important. The same site rates it at 32 city and 38 hwy which seems very conservative considering the figures I've regulary gotten.
I only prefer driving my 300D because it costs almost nothing to drive and it has more legroom.

#42 08-18-2009, 12:48 PM

The Jetta and Beetle diesels do indeed FEEL very fast. These little engines make their torque peak in an RPM range such that they do a very good job pushing your body back into the seat. This coupled with the low vehicle weight make them fun to drive.

When you drive one, however, notice how the seat of the pants (or back of the seat) feeling seems to go away a second or so after you feel it.

Torque makes a car fun to drive while horsepower wins races. I am not saying that the TDI's can't do both because I don't know. I do know that other than their weird, front engine, super understeering characteristics making them handle like a phone booth on a skateboard, they are a bit of a kick to drive, at least on straight roads.

I do believe, that if you put a really stiff sway bar under the back and put some decent rubber on the ground, you would have a neat car to drive, as front wheel drive cars go.

In fact, if you had a magic wand that could turn that engine 90 degrees and put a differential in the rear where it's supposed to be, you could make a car that would be a real kick in the A$$ to drive. It also would make that nasty timing belt job a good bit easier too.

My $0.02,

DieselAddict · #43 08-18-2009, 01:16 PM

Larry, you're absolutely right on the torque. I would say all modern turbodiesels feel faster than they really are, especially if you don't rev them very high. They have a very narrow power band and in the case of my TDI the meat of the torque is approx. between 1800 and 2500 RPM. After that the torque noticeably starts to drop off.

Regarding the belt, it does have the advantage that it doesn't stretch and some even say it's easier to replace than a chain. Maybe not a 240D chain, but I don't think the chain is all that easy to replace on a CDI or Bluetec. Even on my OM606 the valve cover alone would be a pain to remove with all the injector lines in the way and to remove those the entire intake manifold has to come off too. A 240D valve cover on the other hand is a piece of cake to remove.

I'm not anti-FWD like you. It has its pluses, like better traction in snow and no differential/driveshaft to maintain. But worse weight distribution and torque steer can be issues to some.