mk3 1.9td what to look for?

[brandon5]

Ok so im finally going to take the plunge and swap my engine. The motor im looking at tomorrow is a 1.9td idi from a 97 jetta. The engine has around 250 000 kms on it. It was owned by only one person before it and he sold it due to an expensive fix with the steering rack. Im going to be test driving it tomorrow and i want to know things to look for that will tell me if the motor is good or bad. I will also be buying the clutch and tranny.

Other than looking at it for oil or rust is there anything i can to to tell if its going to be good? I dont want another lemon.

Thanks

[burn_your_money]

Have a look at the crank pulley to see if it's wobbling.

Remove the oil filler cap with the car running. If it's puffing smoke like a freight train it's going to need rings.

An AAZ should be virtually smoke free in stock form. Once the engine is fully warmed up step on it and see what happens. Don't be worried about a bit of smoke though.

It's getting cold around here so check to see how easy it starts. Hard starting could be a multitude of problems either related or completely unrelated to the health of the engine.

The reverse idler is crap on the mk3s. Make sure to test drive it in reverse.

[brandon5]

Ok thanks, should i be buying the tranny aswell? seeing as mine has a fair number of kms on it (prolly 575 000)

[arb]

Ok thanks, should i be buying the tranny aswell? seeing as mine has a fair number of kms on it (prolly 575 000)

Ah, so you're not buying the whole car? Yeah, if the trans is not too much it would not hurt to have a spare since yours has a few km on it ;-)  My trans (FF) just popped last night stranding me - Good thing I picked up a spare trans.

[brandon5]

OK

So i just got back from driving the car. Its a really smooth ride. Clutch seems good i tried going in reverse and that was good to. It started up fine on cold start, puffed a bit of smoke on start up but the choke wasn't pulled either. Pulls pretty hard overall, i was impressed by how clean it was. The pulleys were good to and it didnt smoke while driving or out of the oil cap. He wants 650 with full engine, tranny, and full mk3 dash. Everything i need! he'll even deliver it, I think im gettin a stellar deal on this one.

Thanks for letting me know what to look for.
Ill make a post after the swap if done.

Brandon

[catlin_cava]

Thats a really good deal if the motor is in good shape. Around here just a motor runs about 300 to 600, I low ball cash in hand and usually get it alot cheaper lol

[brandon5]

Yeah for sure lol, Since im getting the full dash and tranny im gonna say 550 or 600 though. Like.... he did buy the car for like 600?

[catlin_cava]

I just picked up a 96 Jetta AAZ with 171,XXXkm on it for 200$ running, and he paid 700 for it.