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Author Topic: 1991 Jetta TD Question  (Read 7281 times)

May 24, 2004, 02:06:42 am

laser030

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1991 Jetta TD Question
« on: May 24, 2004, 02:06:42 am »
I have been looking for a TDI for a long time, having no luck for my budget I took a look at a 1991 Jetta 1.6L IDI TD.

Got a couple of questions about them.

1. About how many miles can you put on one of these before a major overhaul? This thing is pushing 235k, it still runs 390s on the compression.

2. What kind of gas mileage can I expect?  I have heard everything from 37 to 55, that range is a little wide.

3. How hard are they to start when REALLY cold (~-20F)?

4. Having only worked on older gassers, how much of a learning curve am I in for to work on one of these?

Thanks
-Scott


----------------------------------------------------
1989 VW Jetta NA 1.6L Diesel
348K and Stuck in the driveway!!!

Reply #1May 24, 2004, 01:02:27 pm

DVST8R

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1991 Jetta TD Question
« Reply #1 on: May 24, 2004, 01:02:27 pm »
Well I will answer these to the best of my knowledge

I have personally owned an 86' with over a half million km, ruffly 312,000 miles and when I sold it, it was still going strong.

Gas miliage tends to very from person to person and driving styles :twisted: however anything under the 40-42 ish seems rather low, mabey one of our auto-xer's will jump in here and give us there #' under race conditions.

As long as you have good compression, good glow plugs, and make sure to plug it in they have no problem starting, I used to frequently start mine @ -40 (F, or C there both the same) When I lived in Edmonton and that was with the jetta with the half a million K's.

As for the last one it depends how readily you accept change, you have to throw out your ideas on to lean, to rich spark, and the way the engine is timed, but with a little time and some reading it will become quite understandable and for the most part far more striaght forward then gasoline.

Hope this helped some.

If anyone has anything else to add that would be great as I am by no means the formost expert on this board :mrgreen:
The Brett of the board...



The Dark Side of Beauty.[/i]

Reply #2May 24, 2004, 05:50:58 pm

Rat407

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1991 Jetta TD Question
« Reply #2 on: May 24, 2004, 05:50:58 pm »
I picked up a 91 Jetta TD with 157K miles on it. Had a bad head gasket but didn't find that out till I got it home and drove it. It also had zero oil pressure at idle at the head. The oil light would come on at low RPM's I checked the pressure with a manual gage, had 65psi at the filter but 0 at the head. So I just decided to yank it and redo the engine, this way I know it will be good for at least 200k. The rest of the Jetta is in awesome shape with all new parts. It looks like the previous owners dumped a ton into it only to find the oil pressure problem the straw that broke the camels back so to speak.  So now I have a great shape car and a soon to be engine.

My question is what is it with the 91 Jetta TD?  It seems that there are a ton of questions on  vwdieselparts.com forum  about that year jetta. Is it a major problem year or is it a major production year and that there is a ton of them around?  Just was wondering.  The one I got is a 4 door, with new shocks, struts, exhaust, brakes, and the tires still have the rubber tips on the tread side. The interior is mint and it has AC, Cruise, sunroof, rear defogger and tilts wheel.  It ran great when it ran but the zero oil pressure didn't sit well with me. So now it is getting a major engine bay cleaning, new clutch and all related parts there, short throw shift linkage, due to the over temp problem I got a new radiator only to find it wasn't the problem, so I'm keeping it anyway.

I'm like a kid in the candy store and can't wait for the machine shop to finish so I can put it back together and get it in and running.  

I personaly feel that if you can find one in good shape and running for a good price it is well worth it. Gas isn't coming down and they really are simple to work on. :)
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1991 Jetta  ECO TD

Reply #3May 24, 2004, 08:01:46 pm

laser030

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1991 Jetta TD Question
« Reply #3 on: May 24, 2004, 08:01:46 pm »
My only big concern is if it will keep running, I do not have time right now for another project car.  They are asking $4500 for it, with new:
Timing belt, head gasket, tires, struts, injectors (reman), injector pump (reman.), transmission (rebuild), and waterpump.

The big thing I see missing there is with 238K, shouldn't the turbo or rings be  in need of rebuild soon?  I might still be thinking gasser here, but the highest mileage gasser I have had was my '84 ranger which made it to 277k before succumbing to an oil-leak => FIRE!!!!

I think I am going to have a shop run a comp check, from what I remember ~390+ is good on these engines, but any advise would be helpful.
----------------------------------------------------
1989 VW Jetta NA 1.6L Diesel
348K and Stuck in the driveway!!!

Reply #4May 24, 2004, 08:03:11 pm

laser030

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1991 Jetta TD Question
« Reply #4 on: May 24, 2004, 08:03:11 pm »
By running a comp check I mean I do not neccessarily trust that after 13 years and 238K the comp on all cylinders is 390, I want an independent to look at it.
----------------------------------------------------
1989 VW Jetta NA 1.6L Diesel
348K and Stuck in the driveway!!!

Reply #5May 24, 2004, 08:26:41 pm

cheng

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1991 Jetta TD Question
« Reply #5 on: May 24, 2004, 08:26:41 pm »
you have to get your gas engine preconceptions out of your head. :wink:

for a diesel 390 is low!

but if all four are within 10 or 15% of each other you shouldnt have any problems. (with that. for now.)

ken
80 Rabbit 1.5L
82 Caddy 1.6L
84 Jetta Turbo 1.6L
85 Jetta Turbo, hydraulic

ALL DIESEL ALL THE TIME, BABY!

Reply #6May 24, 2004, 08:34:37 pm

Rat407

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1991 Jetta TD Question
« Reply #6 on: May 24, 2004, 08:34:37 pm »
Isn't Kelly Blue Book around $2500 for a 91? I think that is what I looked up when I bought mine, although I got it for way less than that.  They might be holding out for someone to come along with no clue as to what it is worth or just doesn't care. That is kind of high even if all that is new or remaned. IMO  Heck I will not have no where near that when I get done with mine.

I would say if it tests out at 390 and all 4 cylinders are real close then it is still pretty healthy. I would also put an  manual oil gage on the head sending port. That can tell you possibly the condition of the bearings.  My main's looked great and I replaced the rods and installed a new oil pump and I still didn't have oil pressure which led me to believe that the intermediate shaft bearings are worn.  I had the head checked and it was good so the low oil pressure is a mystery. I even replaced the vacuum pump with a good one.

Hopefully someone else will chime in. I still think the price is way to high.
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Wholesale pricing available!
1991 Jetta  ECO TD

Reply #7May 25, 2004, 08:19:10 am

BlackTieTD

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1991 Jetta TD Question
« Reply #7 on: May 25, 2004, 08:19:10 am »
i think $4500 is steep.

390psi is low... thats what my engine put out with bent valves.

fresh new head with straight valves, new head gasket, it now puts out 500+psi on every cylinder.

i'd keep looking! good luck  :)

Reply #8May 25, 2004, 10:04:47 am

QuickTD

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1991 Jetta TD Question
« Reply #8 on: May 25, 2004, 10:04:47 am »
Quote
i think $4500 is steep.


Are we talking about $CDN or $US. Makes a substantial difference. laser030, since you haven't filled out your profile completely we don't know which $ we are talking about...

Please folks, at least enter your country in the "location" field. Makes it much easier for us to answer questions involving $ value, fuel mileage (imp or us gal), odometer readings (235k miles or 235k km?), suggest parts suppliers so on and so forth...

4500 seems pretty steep though, US$ or CDN$.

Reply #9May 25, 2004, 11:36:24 am

laser030

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1991 Jetta TD Question
« Reply #9 on: May 25, 2004, 11:36:24 am »
Sorry, it is US and in Miles.
----------------------------------------------------
1989 VW Jetta NA 1.6L Diesel
348K and Stuck in the driveway!!!

Reply #10May 25, 2004, 05:07:20 pm

BlackTieTD

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1991 Jetta TD Question
« Reply #10 on: May 25, 2004, 05:07:20 pm »
Quote from: "QuickTD"

4500 seems pretty steep though, US$ or CDN$.


exactly.  :?

Reply #11May 25, 2004, 06:39:13 pm

janb

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1991 Jetta TD Question
« Reply #11 on: May 25, 2004, 06:39:13 pm »
Too Much... Way too much,
390# is too low for healthy diesel
eco-d  '91 and '92 is not very preferred, tho unique and desired by some.

no fuel enrichment, smaller turbo = lower HP;  low ratio tranny, means 60 mph is really reving high; cat in exhaust ;o(

this was posted earlier in the month, and is fair; tho no bargain (phoenix)
"Filip S." <[email protected]>  

--170,000 miles is that alot for diesel
--5 spd manual (shifter feels great, clutch should be replaced soon
like in 10,000 miles, but drives perfect, i just dont' have the money
to replace it if i wanted to)
-- yes its turbo diesel
-- interior is near perfect with minor, minor wear on carpet, and
burn hole in rear deck due to cutting of the metal
-- comes with brand new pioneer head unit, and 2 rear Pyle speakers
(360 watts)
-- exterior is white looks decent for its age, i got rear ended and
the back bumper is scratched some bit, dont' have money to fix it.
-- engine runs great, compressor went out so i replaced it with
another one from an old jetta. a/c needs recharging, R-12
asking $2499, i dont' deliver, just come and get it.
anything else just ask, or call me me 623 332 2809 or email at
filip9999@y... thank YOU DIESEL GUYS!!!

he was really hot to sell, so possibly gone by now
there are 2-3 / year in PDX area via ads (a2 TD's)  A rebuilt one from Hood River awhile ago for $2500
I have 17 VW-d's and am in Washougal, highest price paid was $1400 for a one owner '91 NA.  It is really nice.  Usual price $100, at http://www.sergeantstowing.com/auction.php
The Stealth Rabbit
VW-d's are forever

Reply #12May 26, 2004, 02:07:34 am

VWRacer

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1991 Jetta TD Question
« Reply #12 on: May 26, 2004, 02:07:34 am »
I agree that $4500 (either Canadian or US) is too much. I recently paid $1000US (in California) for a very good '85 Quantum TD. It feels like it runs perfectly, though with the Pro-Tech Dyno I can detect the clutch slipping a bit after 2 or 3 hard 0-60 launches...  ;)

As for the 390 compression, that is near the bottom acceptable. My Bentley quotes 377 as the minimum acceptable, with 73 psi difference allowed across the 4 cylinders. Sounds like it would be okay for a daily driver at one-third the price.

Just my 2-cents...  :D
Stan
C-Sports Racer