HOW-TO: Troubleshoot Your Glow-Plugs
On a cold mornings the heat of compression alone is not enough to get our beloved diesels going; they need some additional heat that is generated by 4 glowplugs.
2609, 2009
0803, 2009
HOWTO: Diagnose the Dynamic Oil Pressure Warning System
Do any of these symptoms sound familiar???
“My oil light has started to come on when my car is hot”
“The oil buzzer goes on after I’ve driven on the highway for a while… if I rev the engine the buzzer goes off”
“My oil light came on but my oil level is fine”
“My oil buzzer comes on when the engine slows to around 2000 RPM…. It’s fine at 3000 RPM or at idle.”
Any of the above are telling you it’s time to check out your oil pressure.
2910, 2008
HOW-TO: Rebuild Diesel IDI Injectors
This How To document was designed to assist with rebuilding Diesel IDI injectors. Like all recipes, I recommend reading the instructions from start to finish before starting the project. I welcome your comments, so feel free to click on the comments link below if you have a comment to add or have completed this procedure and have a tip of your own to share.
0110, 2008
HOW-TO: Set The Injection Pump Timing
This HOW-TO describes using the factory-proscribed “dial indicator” method of setting the timing on a VW IDI diesel engine.
3009, 2008
HOW-TO: Pimp your glowplug wiring
This HOW-TO describes one way to dramatically improve your glow-plug wiring.
This is also one way to add glowplug wiring if you are convertng a gasser chassis over to a diesel engine and want to do without the official glowplug relay and associated harness.
0109, 2008
HOW-TO: replace your MK3 heater core
This HOW-TO outlines my notes after spending a wonderful weekend replacing the heater core in my 1994 Jetta. Not the worst proceedure I’ve ever had to do, but it does take time and needs a bit of thought.
0511, 2007
HOW-TO: Replace Starter Bushing
This HOW-TO covers removing and replacing the starter bushing in the A1/A2/A3 VW and their air-cooled cousins.
This is an important procedure any time the starter is removed, replaced, or if the bushing makes noise. In particular, most new Bosch starters come complete with a new bushing and a warning label that states the warranty is void if the bushing is not replaced.
1210, 2007
Useful Documentation
This section contains documentation that may be of use to the budding Volkswagen diesel mechanic…
3009, 2007
Cool Part Numbers
Over the years I’ve collected a number of hard-to-find part numbers for various things …
0709, 2007
VolksWagens I Have Known
Evidently it all started with my parent’s first VW…a 1958 Beetle they bought brand new for $1800…