Drive to Cali, kick it in the sun a few days, and sell for $3500
I would start saving for a manual swap. I have seen several auto trans that go right around 150,000 miles
How many KMS on it? I would check the intake see if its clogged up and needs to be burnt out.
Typical things apply to any diesels, check for leaks, hoses etc...
the wife doesn't drive manual and I was thinking of the intake. what's the easiest way to check it?
the wife doesn't drive manual and I was thinking of the intake. what's the easiest way to check it?
I live in Halifax, but easiest way is to pop the upper boost pipe to intake coupler off, shine a light in and check.
Can almost guarantee that intake will be clogged plan on cleaning it with the timing belt job. I would do a trans flush asap. Best way to do it is new filter and atf then after about 1k miles empty all the fluid you can through the drain make sure to catch it all measure it and refill exactly that amount. 1k more new filter and fluid again at the point the fluid in the trans will be almost all new and the the trans should be good to go for at least another few years. Mine was starting to surge a bit a did a change of the fluid and it's totally fine now. With the first filter chop it open and inspect to see if it has any metal in it or anything also check the magnet in the pan. You will need vag com to do this job unless you do it on a cold transmission and measure exactly how much fluid come outs and refill with fluid that is the same temp at the same volume that came out.
If the autobox starts going it's usually either the solenoid pack or the torque converter from what I have read.
You can get both for under $600 total IIRC. I believe that the solenoid pack can be replaced without dropping the tranny. There are some good threads on TDI club about testing the tranny out. To check the torque converter take it out on the highway and then slowly accelerate watching the tach. The RPMs should slowly increase with speed. If the tach jumps around the torque converter needs to be replaced.
Free up the vanes on the turbo before beating on it. Although being an auto, it's probably used to revving up higher than a manual so this may not actually be an issue.
