A day off well spent

[grover]

Hi all,

Rather than just ask for help and advice i decided this morning to tell you about my day yesterday which i spent helping at a friends garage, and doing a cheeky service on my passat when we'd got their jobs done.

I've a W reg 115bhp PD sport that required a few service parts along with a new stat and some glow plugs. There is also the issue of the occasional moment when she goes into limp mode (17965).

Stat first - location wise ok (right side of head under glow plug no.2), allen keys were not too tight or seized, so the pipe/cover came off ok, and with some long nose pliers the stat, which was reluctant to come out by hand, did so without much fuss. With the new on in, and the pipe back on it wasn't long before a quick test drive showed it had been 15 min well spent. She was sitting at 60 - 70 deg consistently before, and now the needle splits the 90'C marker as it should.

Glowplugs - i suspected these to be tired, and rather than kicking the butt of what i think is the OE battery (Varta) on cold mornings i went about changing these at last. The pull-off connections are great, and with a little dexterity (and a gentle tease with some pliers, one by one they came off. No.s 1 to 3 plugs were very easy to remove, just a long 10mm and a small extension - i had soaked them in WD40 the day before to help matters. The last remaining one required me to loosen the fuel filter holder (needs changing anyway ) and un clip the water pipes from their retaining clips (not the actual hose clips) which gave me enough room to maneuver and swap the last plug.

When changing the air filter i noticed a perished vac pipe near the turbo and repaired that too.

Oil, filter yaady yada...

She still holds back a little, but i gather i need to wipe the error first regardless? I did add a wynns additive to the tank, and use the spray-in-the-inlet can cleaner, which seemed to make an instant difference, so hopefully the renewed vac pipe, error deleting and cleaner will do the trick.


A good day in all, and i swear when i looked at her grill this morning and smiled she did so back!

Tom

[Hex69]

Well done that man, good write up.

[Y90USF]

good stuff im spending the day at the garage one day next week will let you know how i get on :P

[N_CURTIS]

Nice write up.

Especially interesting as I have the exact same car and like to do my own servicing using the facilities at a friends garage.

I usually end up giving him a hand with something while there.

Does your car have the AJM or ATJ engine?

[grover]

Hi,

I forget which code , but i'll double check - i swear it was committed to memory but alas they are all familiar!

I've not done a lot on her, but enough, and i'm more than willing to help with any question mate.

Cheers

Tom

[808]

Sounds like you had a day of fun. Glad to hear you didnt come across the part that takes 2 hours too undo even tho it should take 5 mins lol.
I have to say there is a great sense of satisfaction after servicing or repairing the old girl and im sure she appreciates the time you put in. Like a women look after her and she will look after you. I hope

[grover]

Not like a floor tile then?

Tom