Diagnostic How-To

[Jettage1]

If this has been posted (all in one place) before, just tell me...

I was thinking it would be useful to compile some basic "state of tune" diagnostic info in one place.  If it is useful enough, it could be moved to the "how to" section.  Seems like many folks (lately me!) ask similar questions along these lines:

My car makes white smoke and is loud.  What's up?...  or
My car is hard to start and makes funky red smoke - yo dude what do I do? or
I have clouds of black smoke accompanied by loud belching sounds , or

Well, you get the idea.  And many of you are very kind to repeat roughly the same answers over and over, with slight permutations.  This is great, of course, but maybe a sticky would be easier - it could be added to as needed.

I was thinking it could cover symptoms like smoke, (quantity, color, and operating temp.), timing symptoms (advance, retarded), glow plug issues, idle speed, cold start behavior, knocking/tapping noises, +++etc.

Stuff that Bentley doesn't cover in enough detail, but folks here have lots of experience with.  

Unfortunately, my learning curve is still steep, so I'm not the one to write it all - just to suggest.  Anyone think it would be useful?  If so, we could figure out how to make it a community effort...

[jtanguay]

there should be a flow chart created for this exact purpose.  it would take some time to create, but would benefit everyone.  any idiot can read a flow chart... (not calling anyone idiots  :lol:)

[AudiVWguy]

I agree, seems kinda slow right now anyway. How would we start this?

[Jettage1]

How would we start this?

I'm sure there are multiple ways...  Maybe if we just keep pitching in on this thread & then eventually someone can condense & clean it up into a single post (or several) that could be stickied?

I like the flow chart troubleshooting idea...  Not sure how to implement it on a forum though.   Maybe one could be created & linked (PDF) based on the info gathered here?

Another idea could be to just pose symptoms and possible causes:

Knocking sounds from engine:  timing too advanced, bad injector, bad hydraulic lifter

Very visible grey smoke, not at WOT:  ________, etc.

We could always add more detail to go with each area - like how to check for a bad injector or whatever.

[jtanguay]

[size=0]

[/list][/size]

i made that up pretty quick... as you can see each item in that flowchart has its own link... i think we should create specific threads (possibly in the FAQ) that cator to each individual problem listed, and have them linked to different useful threads as well as pertinent info on the current problem being troubleshooted.  the threads would all link back to the flow chart as well, keeping everything tied together.

i know the colours are probably not the best, but i just used them for illustrative purposes... they can be changed later  :lol:

i'll accept anyones input/advice on changes to the flow chart design/layout.  should we incorporate each problem into the same flow chart? like no start, rough idle, smoke, loud, knocking, etc??? sort of like a master flow chart, linking to a bunch of different threads.

 

[Smokey Eddy]

wow this is a genius idea. I don't have much to contribute as i learned from you guys but i just want to cheer you on in making this work!!!

EXCELLENT idea.

[Jettage1]

Ohhhhhhh.  Now I see what you were getting at.  Pretty slick with the links to other threads, etc.

I like it - it gives you the opportunity to have a master chart with low detail, linking to other threads, etc. with more specific detail.  

In terms of whether to have one master flow chart, I suppose one could start with that & if it got too big or "broad", it could be further broken down.

I guess we'd start with the flow chart, then create (or find good, detailed) threads that answer the issue at hand, right?

[burn_your_money]

Does anyone know how to make a link open a thread part way down a page? This would cut down on the number of threads we would have to create for this idea

[dillenger1]

would it just be for fuel/timing situations oe more complex like no boost or oil in exhaust.maybe flow to other mechanical problems.

[jtanguay]

Does anyone know how to make a link open a thread part way down a page? This would cut down on the number of threads we would have to create for this idea

i was also thinking of that... i'm pretty sure that it can't be done, but want someone to prove me wrong  :lol:

would it just be for fuel/timing situations oe more complex like no boost or oil in exhaust.maybe flow to other mechanical problems.

i think we should cover as much as possible.  

edit: i just figured it out!!!

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http://www.vwdiesel.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=18502&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=9

the part where it says start=9 the number here indicates the first post to be displayed from the thread.  this way we can keep it all contained in one single thread.  the posts in the thread start with number 0 being the first.  then just link back from to the main post from each diagnostic post in the thread  :wink:

click this link to see what i mean.  it will make this post look like its the very first post in the thread  :wink:  the problem is that it opens a new browser window... which will mess things up a bit...

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[html]<a href="http://www.vwdiesel.net/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=18502&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=9" target="_parent">link description here</a>[/html]

i think thats the right syntax... but it doesn't work for me... i think only for admins.

[turborabbit]

Folks, I know I'm self-taught ( with the help of Bently), but, personally, I follow the rule of KISS.  Check the fuel (break a union), check the timing (pop the valve cover), then check compression and glowplugs and get ready for a tear-down. What other motor can one overhaul for less than 1C for n/a and 2C for my beloved TD? Trust me, the only thing I hate worse than mechanics is getting screwed by one, so I do it myself-it takes weeks for my hands to look clean, again, but it's very rewarding.

[79rabbit4dr]

I was thinking it could cover symptoms like smoke, (quantity, color, and operating temp.)

i KNOW there is a post on this somewhere, thought i bookmarked it but can't find it. Was a great write up though.

I'm trying to document all the things I do and post them up w/ plenty of pictures but it would be quite handy to have it all listed in the FAQ section as a sticky.

[79rabbit4dr]

i THINK this was the one I read a while back... but I seem to remember responses... it's a decent one none-the-less.

http://www.vwdiesel.net/forum/index.php?topic=10588.0