New car, new to the forum.

[Sixdown]

Hey!  I just bought a 1985 Jetta Deluxe 1.6 NA 5-speed with a VW remanufactured engine with ~40,000 miles on it.  The chassis has absolutely no rust, but there's a water leak somewhere which leaves water sitting on the rear floor after rain.  Any info on that?

Carfax claimed 178,000 miles in 1998, so the chassis probably has far more than that by now.

Anyway, I need to paint the car due to faded paint, replace the shocks, and change out the coolant.  Already changed the trans fluid (looked horrible) and oil.  Is the oil supposed to be completely black in a diesel car?

Here's a picture of the car the day I bought it:

[burn_your_money]

Wow nice car. You can probably get away with a good wash and wax instead of a full paint job.

I can't tell from the picture, do you have a sunroof?

Diesel oil is always black. It's the soot from the combustion. You need to make sure to use diesel rated oil in it.

You are familiar with the filling proceedure for the transmission right? Letting it leak out the in bolt.

[Sixdown]

Yup, I allowed the trans fluid to leak out the filler plug, and I used Rotella T in the engine.  At least I can now take comfort in seeing blackened oil.

The paint is much worse on the hood and roof, which you can't see from the image, so a repaint is still an option on the table.  Oh, and it doesn't have a sunroof.  On another note, the seats are horribly uncomfortable.

[8v-of-fury]

On another note, the seats are horribly uncomfortable.

Obviously you haven't done road trips in a pre-1985 VW lol. Now THOSE seats are uncomfortable. I currently have '91 seats in my '84 and love em.

My Gf drives a '90 and has the same driver side rear floor wet problem. I dunno where it leaks in from.. must be the rear door? I don't know really

[maxfax]

What a horrible piece of junk...  You should just give up on it now and ship it up here to Central Pa to be scrapped..  


My 86 Jetta Coupe had the wet rear floor problem..   Turned out to be the rear window seal on that one...

[MizpahPAH]

Nice find!!

My 86 Jetta had water leaking in and would settle just behind the drivers seat.

I pulled the door panel and the plastic was pulled away from the door all shrunk up and the drain holes in the bottom of the door
were plugged up.
I removed the plastic with plans to replace as soon as it stops raining and no more water on the floor.

all my door panels do get wet at the bottom so looks like I will be changing all the plastic soon,

[745 turbogreasel]

 Is the oil supposed to be completely black in a diesel car?

Not only that, but everything it touches becomes completely black as well.

[theman53]

Nice car.
It is the same color as my 86 jetta...which was made in late 85. I need to repaint as well so when you find out what color that is let me know because the color code on mine is gone. Nice find.
For the water my friend tells me to always poke holes in the 2 or 3 little ridges in the floor pan. He always does and has never had one rust since doing that. He just takes a small screwdriver and puts one hole in the back of each dip.

[fdnyguy]

Are you allowed to have cars that old in Potomac?? 

Welcome to the site. The knowledge you can get here on VW diesels will spin your head.

Good luck with the car. I have an 89 and threw Recaros inside. I need to get them recovered, but a big difference in comfort over the original cloth seats.

Stay safe, stay well. Jimmy.

[Sixdown]

Nice car.
It is the same color as my 86 jetta...which was made in late 85. I need to repaint as well so when you find out what color that is let me know because the color code on mine is gone. Nice find.
For the water my friend tells me to always poke holes in the 2 or 3 little ridges in the floor pan. He always does and has never had one rust since doing that. He just takes a small screwdriver and puts one hole in the back of each dip.

I will check to see if the paint code is still intact.  Is there a way of searching for the paint code via the VIN?  I will also go ahead and check to see if the leak is due to the window seal or the plastic moisture barrier on the door panel.  Either way, punching some holes in the floor panel seems a little overboard, no?

Are you allowed to have cars that old in Potomac??  Grin Grin Grin Grin Grin

Welcome to the site. The knowledge you can get here on VW diesels will spin your head.

Good luck with the car. I have an 89 and threw Recaros inside. I need to get them recovered, but a big difference in comfort over the original cloth seats.

Stay safe, stay well. Jimmy.

Yeah, my car is probably the only diesel within miles here in Potomac, and the loudest thing in my neighborhood.  I saw some Recaros for sale and will keep an eye out for more.

[theman53]

I cannot remember where mine was supposed to be. It has been awhile since I looked, but I think it was supposed to be in the trunk. Paint code that is. Still great car.

[Sixdown]

Oh, and what shocks does everyone recommend for the car?  The previous owner told me that he replaced them about a year ago with cheap junky Monroes, and they're already bad.  How about KYB or Sachs?

[fdnyguy]

Just kidding with ya. I have a pal that lives on Esworthy Road near Seneca, and didn't think that car would 'blend' in with the luxury sedans that permeate the area..

Again, good luck with the car.

Stay safe, stay well. Jimmy.

[Sixdown]

Just kidding with ya. I have a pal that lives on Esworthy Road near Seneca, and didn't think that car would 'blend' in with the luxury sedans that permeate the area..

Again, good luck with the car.

Stay safe, stay well. Jimmy.

You're completely correct!    My car doesn't blend in with anything in this area...

[fdnyguy]

Just kidding with ya. I have a pal that lives on Esworthy Road near Seneca, and didn't think that car would 'blend' in with the luxury sedans that permeate the area..

Again, good luck with the car.

Stay safe, stay well. Jimmy.

You're completely correct!    My car doesn't blend in with anything in this area...

Their loss!!!!. Even if I won the lottery ( I miss it by 6 numbers 2x a week), made out in the stock market (Yea, ok...lol), I still love driving my Mk2 Jetta. And would continue to do so, even if I lived on Esworthy Drive.


At first I didn't care about the old clunker. Then I found this site. Now once it is fixed, I will be driving the crap out of it... Right, Tyler? 

Stay safe, stay well. Jimmy.