Buying Jetta TDI, what to look out for?

R

rockytopcummins

New member
Joined
Jul 27, 2008
Messages
900
I've NEVER owned a car before, but I'm being forced to buy a commuter. So, I'm pretty much set on a Jetta TDI. The one I'm seriously considering is a 2006 with 77k miles on it.

I have no idea what to look out for or if these cars have any issues. I know people that have owned VWs and Jettas in specific and not had any complaints, but want to do my "homework" before I pull the trigger. Any advice y'all can offer will be great.
 
They call for a timing belt change at about 90.000.
Stay away from Auto tran, if you need to replace, expensive.
 
The advice I was given when I was buying my '02 was find out when the timing belt was last changed, find out what oil they use and intervals (VW's use special oil), and check all the electrical features on the car, since they seem to be the most common failure.
 
Timing belt should be changed 80-100k intervals find out when or if it has been done thats a $1500 job so you dont want to end up paying to have it done or worse have it break and cost u a engine.. Next a/c seems the compressors are junk, the windows in the vent system are a problem as well as the blower motor itself check all of that.. Also as stated the oil and change intervals as stated above.. Those are the main issues ive noticed with them.
 
$1500 job???

Dealer I'm guessing. You can get the parts for 300 and local places can do it for less. Just an FYI do don't turn away from it but use it to save some money when buying.
 
CREED1 said:
Timing belt should be changed 80-100k intervals find out when or if it has been done thats a $1500 job so you dont want to end up paying to have it done or worse have it break and cost u a engine.. Next a/c seems the compressors are junk, the windows in the vent system are a problem as well as the blower motor itself check all of that.. Also as stated the oil and change intervals as stated above.. Those are the main issues ive noticed with them.
Click to expand...

Good news is the dealership is checking this for me. They agreed to change it if it "doesn't look like it's been done before". Which, I'm new to timing belts and cars, I don't know how you could look at it and see.
 
Blueboy said:
They call for a timing belt change at about 90.000.
Stay away from Auto tran, if you need to replace, expensive.
Click to expand...

I wanted a manual, but this is going to be a car for the wife and me to share so it has to be an auto. I've literally BEGGED her to let me teach her to drive a 5spd so she could drive it or drive my drunk ass home in the truck from time to time, but she won't hear of it.
 
rockytopcummins said:
I wanted a manual, but this is going to be a car for the wife and me to share so it has to be an auto. I've literally BEGGED her to let me teach her to drive a 5spd so she could drive it or drive my drunk ass home in the truck from time to time, but she won't hear of it.
Click to expand...

Ummm. You married to my wife?
 
When they change timing belt make sure they change water pump
and bushings also. When you buy a deluxe kit, it comes with
everything. Kit cost a little over $300.
 
Also, check the cam lobes for wear. The cams in the BRM motors are known for the lobes wearing. It is very important to use the VW spec oil for these motors.
 
12vfleet said:
Also, check the cam lobes for wear. The cams in the BRM motors are known for the lobes wearing. It is very important to use the VW spec oil for these motors.
Click to expand...

Someone else was telling me about this oil. What's special about it, and can you only get it from VW?
 
You can get the oil from more places than just VW, just make sure it meets their spec.
 
Im on my second jetta and I have a few friends that have them also. You really want to stay away from the auto if you can. Also if the dealer gets in far enough to look at the belt have them change it with water pump and all the pullies. Jettas wire harness in the 1999~2002 are the most common for wiring problems. The harness would actually crack and cause gremlins. The 06 you are looking at should be ok. I ran my first one over 200k my buddy just retired his at 230 and it was still kicking. They are well built cars and will treat yiu as good as you treat it.
Good luck.
 
Thanks for all the advice everybody. I should be picking mine up by weeks end, so I guess we'll see. My initial loose number calculations imply that the car should be paying for itself in what I'm saving in fuel so I'm excited to get it and start racking up the miles.
 
12vfleet said:
Also, check the cam lobes for wear. The cams in the BRM motors are known for the lobes wearing. It is very important to use the VW spec oil for these motors.
Click to expand...

THIS is the real deal. You should pull the valve cover and look at the cam physically. If it has not been replaced odds are that it will need to soon. Colt makes a cam for it that is supposed to be stronger than the factory one. But these PD engines have a lot of load on the cam and they wear prematurely sometimes even when the correct oils are used. The lifters also need to be replaced and VW has improved them slightly and is now using a black oxide coating on the lifters...

The cam can be replaced when doing the timing belt and such but use it as a bargaining point to get another $1000 or so off the sales price as the cam replacement and timing belt service will cost you around $1500-2000 depending on where you get it done. Only go to a VW TDI specialist to get the service done as they are very finicky and an interference engine so a botched timing belt job can be VERY expensive down the line when something simple fails!!! Be sure to replace the water pump and all the idler pullies also there are several bolts that need to be replaced as VW uses one time use torque to yield bolts just about everywhere on the stupid car!!!

We did several articles on my '06 in Diesel World over the last year or so... They are pretty nice cars, but I am thinking about selling mine to get a Cruze Diesel. If you want one that everything is already done and is lowered on 18s with big Porsche brakes and tuned let me know. But you will need to talk the wife into driving a manual!

By '06 the automatic trans was much better but still expensive to service especially if it is the DSG which requires service every 40,000 miles or something like that.

Hope this helps.
 
rockytopcummins said:
Thanks for all the advice everybody. I should be picking mine up by weeks end, so I guess we'll see. My initial loose number calculations imply that the car should be paying for itself in what I'm saving in fuel so I'm excited to get it and start racking up the miles.
Click to expand...

I was averaging 560 miles a week on mine, it paid for itself the first year I owned it over the truck.
 
rockytopcummins said:
Thanks for all the advice everybody. I should be picking mine up by weeks end, so I guess we'll see. My initial loose number calculations imply that the car should be paying for itself in what I'm saving in fuel so I'm excited to get it and start racking up the miles.
Click to expand...

I figured my $4500 car should pay for itself in 30k km. I'm at 17k now in 3 months, so its almost free.
 
Chris Tobin said:
If you want one that everything is already done and is lowered on 18s with big Porsche brakes and tuned let me know.
Click to expand...

Make sure you post it for sale on here before trading it in, I know several people that would be interested in one.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top