Author Topic: Newbie looking at 83 TD w/ water in fuel (Read 5692 times)

wolfsburged · « **on:** April 15, 2008, 06:32:19 am »

Hello all, first post here. I'm going to look at a 83 Jetta TD that the owner has described as having a lot of water in the fuel tank and filter. He said he picked the car up from someone else who had suspected it had blown a headgasket because it was running quite poorly. He suspects that it was just bad fuel, but doesn't have time or ability to work on it with 4 other cars and surgery on his hand.

Now I've had some experience with VWs, but I've never had a diesel or a turbo anything. So I am looking for some advice on what I should be aware of. I am hoping that draining the tank and replacing some filters will at least get this moving. What else could have been harmed - injection pump rusting? Could this have hydrolocked the motor? He has a spare 1.6TD to go with it, but hopefully the motor in it can be saved just from a path of least resistance standpoint.

I've been lurking for a little bit, but there is a ton to absorb!

Thanks,
Bill

burn_your_money · « **Reply #1 on:** April 15, 2008, 09:16:09 am »

Drain the tank, pump and injector lines and replace the filter.

To drain the pump without removing it just remove the power wire from the stop solenoid and crank it over. Draining the hard lines is as simple as removing them. Look for rust on the inside of the lines. That would be a very bad scenario.

Water is less compressible then diesel, less of a lubricant and promotes corrosion.

Odds are you will be fine as long as it wasn't filled with water instead of diesel.

Hydro locking would be very rare I would think.

wolfsburged · « **Reply #2 on:** April 17, 2008, 07:01:01 pm »

Well I went to look at it today. Guy says he's got the water drained out, but that the radiator fans aren't coming on, and it needs either new fan or switch or both. Engine bay looks good, body is straight and rust free, but windshield gasket is all sorts of screwed up, and its been sitting for about a year. Interior is gross, mold on the carpet and on the headliner, especially around the sunroof.

Interior is really scaring me away - I've had to deal with water and mold before and its not fun. Basically looks like I'd have to gut the interior and replace, not sure where I could get replacement stuff cheaply.

But it is a 83 with factory AC, cruise control, power steering, etc. Its in great shape otherwise...

burn_your_money · « **Reply #3 on:** April 17, 2008, 07:24:04 pm »

Quote from: "wolfsburged"

But it is a 83 with factory AC, cruise control, power steering, etc. Its in great shape otherwise...

3 of the worst inventions ever put in vehicles... well maybe not cruise.

Just drive around with no interior. Mk2 seats fit the front, and they are plentiful.

TedV · « **Reply #4 on:** April 18, 2008, 09:31:33 am »

If you decide not to get it... how much is the guy asking? Not too far of a drive from E Tn... yeah, like I need more projects. :roll: :lol:

wolfsburged · « **Reply #5 on:** July 14, 2008, 04:44:06 am »

Well its been awhile since my first post, but the car came home with me over the weekend. It turns out it is actually an '84.

As a bonus, I also dragged home two MK2 Jettas for parts. One is a very rusty '86 TD and the other is an '89 N/A.

I was fairly successful in cleaning out some of the mold over the weekend. The two MK2s are hogging the garage at present but will be parted out and removed hopefully in the next week or two.

I've purchased a new oil filter, fuel filter, timing belt, diesel purge, and have a few gallons of fresh fuel to try to run it off of.

The guy said that he was able to start it with the key, so heres to hoping a simple cleanup and fan diagnosis will get this thing going.

I'm keeping the '86 TD motor as a spare (apparently has a leaky IP, good turbo). The '89 motor and transmission are going to a friend. I'm also keeping the '86 radiator as a spare.

The '86 has a diesel tachometer and W-terminal alternator. Will the Mk2 tach fit into the Mk1 cluster? It looks to be the same size...

Otherwise are there any other good things to grab from these Mk2 Jettas to use on my Mk1?

I will post some pictures when I get home from work.

wolfsburged · « **Reply #6 on:** July 15, 2008, 05:23:57 am »

The 86 going into the garage:

The Mk1 before cleaning:

Parts cars in the garage:

The Mk2s are getting torn apart for parts, some local VW friends are coming over this weekend to get stuff and strip them down. Any leftovers will probably go up for grabs online.

Once the Mk2s are gone, I can pull the Mk1 into the garage and start working on it.