Bought 2 TDI's and have a question

[jason92300]

I just bought 2 TDI jetta's one is a 98 and the other is a 99. Got both for $500 . Problem with the 99 is it has no title, trans is stuck in 3rd, missing front seats, trunk lid gone. Plus side is it runs. (basicly a donor car). The 98 is a really nice car and was recently daily driven until it developed a miss. The owner (buddy & guy I work with) pulled the valve cover to find a cam follower/lifter had came apart and gouged the head and cam pretty good. Now, I havent had a chance to really look at either cars closely so I don't have engine id codes yet. Basicly wanting to get suggestions and tips on getting the 98 rolling again with out spending alot if I can use parts or the whole engine from the 99. So, with out knowing engine codes yet is there any parts that can be interchanged between the two?

[Vincent Waldon]

1999.5 was the switch-over year for TDI engines, so you're on the edge.

Are the valve covers identical?  Three nuts on top to hold them down?

If so, both are AHU engines...swap at will.  

Otherwise your 1999 might be an ALH engine... 8 small hex bolts holding down the valve cover.  Very different head etc... the bottom end shares some parts, ECU and turbo are different.

[jason92300]

I'll get some more info and pics tomorrow. The owner of the cars seemed pretty sure the engines have differences. I was hoping the head would work. I'll let you know.

[8v-of-fury]

if it doesn't work out for you.. you'll make your money back ten-fold by parting them.

If he said there is differences, you probably have one of each gen of TDI motor.. sadly.

[jason92300]

Well, I went over to take pics and as you can see they are completely different. Didn't even bother with digging for the engine id codes. Damn..

The 98



The 99

[R.O.R-2.0]

Well, I went over to take pics and as you can see they are completely different. Didn't even bother with digging for the engine id codes. Damn..

The 98 - this would be the AHU



The 99 - this would be the ALH, and its got a VNT turbo. that was worth your 500 bucks right there.

98 is a AHU.

99 is a ALH.

alh engines have the sweet VNT turbo. hard to say if its a VNT15 or VNT17 tho. the 17 is more desirable.

[jason92300]

Any benifits/differences running a VNT style turbo over wastegated turbo? I was thinking just to put the injector back in the ALH and get it running and sell it as a complete swap or I could part the engine and use the turbo if its straight forward install and noticable power increase.

Also, i'm looking for a complete head for the AHU. Any recommended place to get one? Other than the dealer..

[R.O.R-2.0]

what do you wanna put the VNT on? it doesnt fully work like it does on the TDI without the ecu and vacuum actuator.

some people have built vane control systems for their VNTs with cables and such, but i just bolted mine on my engine, opened the vanes manually, left them there, and boosted away!

it will fit on a 1.6 or 1.9 tdi or idi..

alh will make the best use of the turbo, the vanes make it spool alot faster than a wastegated turbo.

unless you wanted to make a rabbit super fun to drive..

[snakemaster]

i would say the 98 is a 1z or afn   and the 99 ahu , i could be wrong on the second one

[8v-of-fury]

The 1Z and AHU are practically identical (actually.. What is their difference?)

First could be either 1Z or AHU, as I'm almost certain the 98 Jetta's got the 1Z too. Atleast that's what my 98 owners manual said..

The second picture is without a doubt ALH, and is a 1999.5 model. If it were early 99 it would look like the first picture. because the pump is angled out from the motor, it is unmistakably an ALH.

[the caveman]

Passats had the 1Z, they had different EGR plumbing and the very early ones had an extra injector that shot fuel into the converter. As you can guess, they rare, and almost all have that deleted. SOME very early production Jettas had the 1Z, but that was because the shells were ready before the AHU's were and they installed a couple. Don't know if any made into Canada. Otherwise all mk3 Jettas had the AHU. Then the ALH came out with the mk4

[snakemaster]

Do you guys get the afn  in Canada/usa 

[rallydiesel]

No.