1990 1.6td died while driving

[oblique]

Hi folks, just waiting for a tow as i write this.

1990 Jetta, 334kms. Appears to be stock 1.6TD motor, just picked this car up yesterday and was driving it back home.

Car ran ok, would smoke white in startup and make have under accel, power felt ok.

Yesterday eve the temp light was flashing but the temp gauge was ok so i kept driving. Died suddenly, turns over ok but doesnt sound the same, nothing clunky just seems like its missing compression? Good but of oil in the coolant reservoir.

Getting it towed to a diesel shop outside of Edmonton here but Id like to tell him as much as possible...what is the most likely culprit here?

Seller isnt getting to me

Any help greatly appreciated.

[ORCoaster]

Sounds like a head gasket failure to me.

[fatmobile]

The flashing coolant light is also used to indicate low coolant.

Since it died suddenly, check the timing belt.
Check the coolant level. Sounds like you looked in the coolant reservoir. Probably meant "bit" instead of "but".

Not sure a bad head gasket would cause it to die suddenly. But oil in the coolant means the head gasket will need changed.

[oblique]

Thanks guys for replying.

I believe the part number is 068 103 373 but Ill get mech to confirm.

So the cars on Alberta at a diesel shop and Im back in Ontario, thinking best move would be to ship them a new head and have them swap it out along with oil cooler and, full TB kit - that should solve the oil and temp issues? Mech seems to have access to machine shop to rebuild this but again, both are unknown to me. I've asked him to pull the head and assess damage/condition. For example, if the narrows between valves are cracked, is the head still usable?

Where do I get a god head? Right now partsplace is the only viable option - they have reman heads in stock. From what Ive been reading the quality is not the same as it used to be (offshore components, etc) but I don't see any 1.6TD heads posted anywhere.

[ORCoaster]

OUCH, that hurts just looking at it. 

[fatmobile]

Did you post an ad over on the vortex for a head?
Someone from Canada did and got a reply right away.
 Probably a hydraulic block but you can swap it to a mechanical head
if you plug the second oil return in the block and make it flat.

Sorry to see this happen to you.

 And I hate to add to your worries but,..
 With that many kilometers, when he goes to put the new timing belt on he needs to take a look at the intermediate shaft bearings.
 He will have to pull the intermediate shaft out a little to look at the outer one.
The shaft won't come all the way out without hitting the frame.
 If they are bad the engine needs pulled to replace them.

You will have low oil pressure if those are bad.

[oblique]

I think I will check it myself once I get back with the car, thanks for the heads up. I'd be doing all this work myself if I wasn't 3500km from home so trying to keep the mechanic's labour to a minimum.

[fatmobile]

Ok, it's not too hard to do.
 Pull the vacuum pump so you can support that end as you pull the intermediate shaft out.
 So the gear doesn't drag across the inner bearing.

[oblique]

Anyone have solutions for the oil drain line? It was siezed and he had to cut it. There's all kinds of kits on ebay but the oil pain connection is the issue, its an odd-sized flared fitting. I forgot to ask which turbo he found on there, will confirm.

[fatmobile]

He cut it on the flex section right?

 You can use silicone coolant line to replace the flex section.

[oblique]

So just clamp onto the flex sections then...is this really the best option? I've seen some threads about adapting the oil pan fitting but nothing conclusive. From there, kits are on ebay that include the turbo side flange...anyone try this?

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_nkw=t3+drain+outlet&_sacat=0&_oaa=1&_dcat=33742&rt=nc&LH_PrefLoc=3

[oblique]

Found a 90 NA 1.6 Jetta in a local-ish yard today! Cant believe my luck...what do you think?


some pics after cleaning, pics in order pots 1 thru 4.

[fatmobile]

turbo head.
Those cracks don't look too bad.
 When you pull the cam journals and lifters does the cam teeter/totter in the saddles?

[oblique]

Hey folks, just an update to where this is at.

Ended up shipping a new AMC head along w new oil cooler and turbo return line. Also sent him new turbo gasket and hardware kit and as well as the new water flanges for the head - he's supplying everything else.

He's being very vague with time estimates - I know hes busy and understaffed like everyone else but I'm also a little concerned about labour being I am about 3500km away.

How long should the job take? From stripping it down to cleaning and reassembly, etc etc. Conservatively.

[fatmobile]

If he is familiar with these engines, maybe 5 or 6 hours.
 Probably a couple hours to get everything set up, exhaust, intake, injector and coolant lines pulled.
Another hour to pull the head and clean things up, then a couple 2 or 3 to put it back together.
 If all the bolts cooperate.