I felt like my TDI deserved a thread

**mikev1** · 04-24-2011 11:26 PM

I have a 2002 Jetta GLS TDI that has been in my family since it was brand new. The wastegate actuator died at around 80k so both the turbo and actuator are fairly new. I want to keep it OEM but put an OEM+ spin with my own personal touch onto it. Things I have done since the car became mine are a stage 1 REVO remap, K&N high flow air filter, swapped the grille for an OEM one but one that I finished in satin black, and a stubby antenna from ECS, and put new tires on it, all small things that I feel have made it stand out a tiny bit, but not enough. The car just got a new valance and new OEM floor mats as the old ones were on their way out. Last year a majority of the electrics were replaced after a major short, this includes a new altenator, new fuse block on top of the battery, new connecting cables, etc. Also it was rear ended in the beginning of March and the whole back of the car is basically new and resprayed to match. I am posting to share my cars slow progress and I also am open to suggestions and criticism as to what i can change, good or bad.
Thanks

**Zach!** · 04-24-2011 11:30 PM

Looks like a good start, I think textured rubs would look awesome!

**cruggiero** · 04-24-2011 11:31 PM

coilovers would be nice. nice work so far though

**JivETTA 1.8Turkey** · 04-24-2011 11:32 PM

nice canvas.

**Ryan =)** · 04-24-2011 11:33 PM

nice man

**mikev1** · 04-24-2011 11:34 PM

wow I never expected so much positive feedback! Thanks to all!

**Ryan =)** · 04-24-2011 11:35 PM

Originally Posted by mikev1

wow I never expected so much positive feedback! Thanks to all!

**mikev1** · 04-24-2011 11:39 PM

Right now I am really trying to focus on maintenance and getting the car to peak shape so that it will be ready to handle more years to come. Recently the transmission fluid was flushed and changed, the serpentine belt changed, new pads and rotors in the back, wheel balance. The right front fender is new as VW warrantied it because of a rust issue. Things to come in the next year or so are the timing belt and water pump, egr valve and intake manifold cleaning, vacuum pump gasket change, and maybe a few other small things. Other than that the car runs great! And this picture goes out to REVO for making an awesome tune for my car.

**mikev1** · 04-24-2011 11:54 PM

Originally Posted by cruggiero

coilovers would be nice. nice work so far though

Coilovers eventually I hope. Funding for the ones I want would be difficult as I am a student and have a few other hobbies I dump money into such as mountain biking. I was thinking Raceland for a while but then I thought it would be a waste, I would rather get something good that will last and perform better, I was thinking H&R or KW if I had a grand+ kicking around sometime in the future.

**TurboWolfVdub** · 04-25-2011 12:06 AM

**gettinhyphy** · 04-25-2011 12:16 AM

very clean, coils will make it lookin right

**Vuck Folkswagen** · 04-25-2011 12:17 AM

I was expecting more.

But ok

**furr** · 04-25-2011 12:18 AM

**mikev1** · 04-25-2011 12:21 AM

Originally Posted by gettinhyphy

very clean, coils will make it lookin right

I agree completely! They are next on the list for upgrades. Ill be sure to get it washed and waxed up again and get some better HD pictures up soon!

**GTIDamien_407** · 04-25-2011 12:28 AM

Just a heads up I read on TDIclub that k&n's aren't good for tdis cause they **** up the mafs which are pretty expensive, they also did an airflow test and the oem filter flowed better then the k&n. If you search it in google you should be able to find it just search "k&n in TDI" or something. Anyways just a heads up apart from that nice car looks like your off to a good start.

**mikev1** · 04-25-2011 12:30 AM

Originally Posted by GTIDamien_407

Just a heads up I read on TDIclub that k&n's aren't good for tdis cause they **** up the mafs which are pretty expensive, they also did an airflow test and the oem filter flowed better then the k&n. If you search it in google you should be able to find it just search "k&n in TDI" or something. Anyways just a heads up apart from that nice car looks like your off to a good start.

Thanks for the info, it's news to me. Maybe AFE Dry flow will be a bit better? Any thoughts/suggestions?

**bryanboley** · 04-25-2011 12:47 AM

oiled filters are bad for our cars cause they will casue the MAF to fail prematurely.

by the way, op's license plate reminds me of

**mikev1** · 04-25-2011 12:51 AM

After some research on TDIClub it appears that using the stock air filter and changing it regularly is the best way to go. They are around 20 dollars so I will probably pop one in tomorrow. My car gave no indications of any faults on a VAG COM scan about a week ago and the filter has been in there for a year now so hopefully all is well in the intake dept. I guess problem solved, if everyone agrees I guess lets keep the discussion rolling about the progress and suggestions.
Thanks

**mikev1** · 04-25-2011 12:52 AM

Originally Posted by bryanboley

oiled filters are bad for our cars cause they will casue the MAF to fail prematurely.

by the way, op's license plate reminds me of

hahaha, wouldn't be the first time I heard that one, deff not the last.

**Edleman** · 04-25-2011 01:05 AM

on the black grill i just did it my self!

**iTz JERSEY** · 04-25-2011 01:08 AM

**mikev1** · 04-25-2011 01:23 AM

Originally Posted by Edleman

on the black grill i just did it my self!

Sweetness! I love the look of a satin black grille on mk4's, they look like they belong there. I have the privilege of a spray booth (not bragging) so I was able to do a pretty good job on mine, they almost always come out good though. Post pics of yours!

**Jetta11J** · 04-25-2011 08:03 AM

TDI love!!

**mikev1** · 04-25-2011 08:27 AM

Originally Posted by Jetta11J

TDI love!!

Exactly!

**E36_M3** · 04-25-2011 08:38 AM

Originally Posted by Zach!

Looks like a good start, I think textured rubs would look awesome!

Only if the op does oem. Please don't paint them.

**Nitemare3o5** · 04-25-2011 08:38 AM

alh diesel <3

**mikev1** · 04-25-2011 09:07 AM

Originally Posted by E36_M3

Only if the op does oem. Please don't paint them.

OEM ftw, of course. No cut corners here, do it right or do it twice.

**i3rent** · 04-25-2011 09:17 AM

Do work

**pnyknights** · 04-25-2011 11:01 AM

Originally Posted by mikev1

Right now I am really trying to focus on maintenance and getting the car to peak shape so that it will be ready to handle more years to come. Recently the transmission fluid was flushed and changed, the serpentine belt changed, new pads and rotors in the back, wheel balance. The right front fender is new as VW warrantied it because of a rust issue. Things to come in the next year or so are the timing belt and water pump, egr valve and intake manifold cleaning, vacuum pump gasket change, and maybe a few other small things. Other than that the car runs great! And this picture goes out to REVO for making an awesome tune for my car.

I have pratically the same car, except I think base model cause I don't have any of the fancy extras in it. Bought it used. I keep hearing about the fender rust warranty but I never got anything about it (Checked the mk4 DIY/FAQ and couldn't find anything about it in there). There's been rust bubbling under the same fender since last year or so and its slowly eating at the paint now.

How's your boost? Mine is constantly overboosting and going into limp mode. Thinking (trying to save up) for a bigger turbo for when it finally gives.

**Doctor Meat Does Housecalls** · 04-25-2011 11:05 AM

Wow. That car has gone through a lot!

Treat her right and she'll last forever.

A little lower never hurt anything.

**mikev1** · 04-25-2011 02:22 PM

Originally Posted by pnyknights

I have pratically the same car, except I think base model cause I don't have any of the fancy extras in it. Bought it used. I keep hearing about the fender rust warranty but I never got anything about it (Checked the mk4 DIY/FAQ and couldn't find anything about it in there). There's been rust bubbling under the same fender since last year or so and its slowly eating at the paint now.

How's your boost? Mine is constantly overboosting and going into limp mode. Thinking (trying to save up) for a bigger turbo for when it finally gives.

We had the exact same issue, this refers to my earlier point about the wastegate actuator. It was constantly boosting either under or over and would go into limp home mode. We bought a wastegate actuator from Forge Motorsport but could not get it adjusted correctly. We decided that as a daily driver we couldn't afford to loose use of it anymore, so we had brought it to a mechanic who replaced the whole turbo as well as the actuator. An enormous bill but well worth it in the end.

**mikev1** · 04-25-2011 02:24 PM

Originally Posted by Gunslinger7

Wow. That car has gone through a lot!

Treat her right and she'll last forever.

A little lower never hurt anything.

I deffinetly plan on keeping her for a while. Maintenance is key for me, and also a proper TDI driving style helps as well.

**mikev1** · 04-25-2011 03:40 PM

K&N Filter swapped for a MANN air filter. Peace of mind now knowing that the MAF is safe.

**mikev1** · 04-25-2011 06:29 PM

TTT

**GTIDamien_407** · 04-25-2011 07:28 PM

glad you chaged the filter my bro bought a k&n too and i told him to take that **** back haha, also all jetta tdi's should have a recall on the fenders cause they have this foam on the inside of them that makes them rust, i have a pic on my phone of a tdi fender with a giant hole in it and you can see the foam but i got no transfer cable but i do have an idea ill see if it works.

edit: best i could do, don't know how to turn the flash off

VWVortex

Thread: I felt like my TDI deserved a thread

Thread Tools

Search Thread

Display

I felt like my TDI deserved a thread

Posting Permissions