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Author Topic: Considering a '96 golf TDI... anything to look out for?  (Read 2655 times)

April 29, 2008, 03:44:23 pm

zyewdall

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Considering a '96 golf TDI... anything to look out for?
« on: April 29, 2008, 03:44:23 pm »
On ebay, so it's hard to check it out ahead of time...  It was imported from Canada recently according to the owner (must have, since I know that TDI's didn't come to the US till '98).  170k miles.  Had TDI badges on the car, so I guess it's really a TDI, not a 1.9TD? Looks like a turbodiesel VW from the engine pictures, but I don't know enough to tell the TDI apart from the TD.  They're asking $5,900.  Brand new timing belt and full service.

I'm considering selling my '91 GTI with the 1.6NA engine, and going to something newer and more powerful on the mountain passes (and with A/C -- that's the big one, now that I have a big fuzzy dog that doesn't like hot weather).  Oh yeah, and a new job that pays enough to buy a used TDI, and everyone makes fun of my old VW I still drive.

EDIT -- from the pictures, the air cleaner is over on the passenger side of the engine compartment (by the timing belt), not up to the drivers side near the brake booster like some of the later model Golf TDI's have.

ebay listing
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Volkswagen-Golf-gl-Golf-TDI-Turbo-Diesel-Manual-50-mpg_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ15292QQihZ011QQitemZ320246008429QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

Thanks

Zeke


'84 Mitsubishi 4x4 2.3L turbo biodiesel pickup
'91 VW Rabbit GTI with 1.6 biodiesel transplant
'81 Toyota longbed 2wd 2.2NA biodiesel pickup (for sale)
'89 Subaru 4x4 touring wagon
 '82 subaru 4x4 TDI wagon -- project on hold
1976 Ford Sasquatch pickup

Reply #1April 29, 2008, 06:12:12 pm

MikkiJayne

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Considering a '96 golf TDI... anything to look out for?
« Reply #1 on: April 29, 2008, 06:12:12 pm »
Thats NOT a TDI - it's a TD. Probably an AAZ engine.

The easy way to tell is the injection pump has a throttle cable, whereas the TDI is all electronic. Plus there's no intercooler.

Thats a ton of money to pay for a 170k TD by UK prices but I don't know if it's reasonable in the US?

Reply #2April 29, 2008, 06:26:06 pm

zyewdall

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Considering a '96 golf TDI... anything to look out for?
« Reply #2 on: April 29, 2008, 06:26:06 pm »
Hmmmm.   I suspected as much...

Aside from the price, I might rather have a mechanical pump instead of the electronically controlled TDI... I've heard of lots of problems with the electronics on the TDI's (including from a friend who had a 99 TDI Jetta).
'84 Mitsubishi 4x4 2.3L turbo biodiesel pickup
'91 VW Rabbit GTI with 1.6 biodiesel transplant
'81 Toyota longbed 2wd 2.2NA biodiesel pickup (for sale)
'89 Subaru 4x4 touring wagon
 '82 subaru 4x4 TDI wagon -- project on hold
1976 Ford Sasquatch pickup

Reply #3April 29, 2008, 06:56:07 pm

Tintin

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Considering a '96 golf TDI... anything to look out for?
« Reply #3 on: April 29, 2008, 06:56:07 pm »
It's an AAZ motor, the injector are TD, not TDI, the oil gauge are red, TDI are yellow, the PCV pipe looks like AAZ with the circlip at the base....  no maf,  no intercooler, also It's a 020 tranny, TDI has 02A  ...  etc......

Reply #4April 29, 2008, 07:53:52 pm

jimfoo

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Considering a '96 golf TDI... anything to look out for?
« Reply #4 on: April 29, 2008, 07:53:52 pm »
Probably won't pass a lot of states emissions checks where they plug into the ECU since it doesn't control the engine.
Jim
1966 Land-Rover 88" with 1.9 1Z which has been transformed to an M-TDI
TFO35 mechanically controlled VNT, IC , and 2.5" exhaust.
Driven daily

Reply #5April 29, 2008, 08:47:12 pm

zyewdall

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Considering a '96 golf TDI... anything to look out for?
« Reply #5 on: April 29, 2008, 08:47:12 pm »
Quote from: "jimfoo"
Probably won't pass a lot of states emissions checks where they plug into the ECU since it doesn't control the engine.


Here in Colorado, all we have to pass for diesels is the opacity test... lucky.

How's performance of the regular TD compared to the TDI?  Without the electronic control and variable vane turbine and intercooler... probably not nearly as much power.  But, simpler too (essentially just like my pickup), and it's got to be more than a NA 1.6 :D   The question is whether that's worth it for the price... or should I look for an AAZ to drop into my GTI....  I already swapped one engine in there, I could probably figure out another without too much trouble  :)  Hmmm.....  What do you think I could pick up an AAZ engine for? (remember that they were never sold in the US, and I'm smack in the middle, in Denver).

Z
'84 Mitsubishi 4x4 2.3L turbo biodiesel pickup
'91 VW Rabbit GTI with 1.6 biodiesel transplant
'81 Toyota longbed 2wd 2.2NA biodiesel pickup (for sale)
'89 Subaru 4x4 touring wagon
 '82 subaru 4x4 TDI wagon -- project on hold
1976 Ford Sasquatch pickup

 

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