tdi bora

boxermad

went looking at a 99 bora tdi 90 bhp today, asking price was a low 1750, milage was 141800, t-belt was done afew weeks back (141) and a service, but yet when i checked the dipstick the oil was jet black (if it was changed a few wks shouldnt it be a browney colour? ) Also when i asked him who serviced it he said himself. (it sounds that something isnt write). Just wondering do ye know if there is common faults with these models?

Oil in a diesel will go jet black after a tiny miles. Best way to verify if the oil was changed is to have a peak at the oil filter. If he changed the timing belt himself ask for receipts for the belt and water pump. He should have them, if not presume it wasn't done. VW garage near me charges €450 iirc for a timing belt and water pump on the 1.9TDi.

tossy

Black oil wouldn't bother me,it goes black in a TDI almost instantly.The 90bhp engine is virtually bullet proof but like everything trust your gut reactions.

boxermad

RoverJames wrote: »

Oil in a diesel will go jet black after a tiny miles. Best way to verify if the oil was changed is to have a peak at the oil filter. If he changed the timing belt himself ask for receipts for the belt and water pump. He should have them, if not presume it wasn't done. VW garage near me charges €450 iirc for a timing belt and water pump on the 1.9TDi.

and do they give gearbox trouble do you no?

Wouldn't have a clue to be honest, not unheard of for an Octavia diesel to have box problems, presume it's the same box.

boxermad

RoverJames wrote: »

Wouldn't have a clue to be honest, not unheard of for an Octavia diesel to have box problems, presume it's the same box.

thanks for your help anyway...

VinnyTGM

It would be very rare for that engined Bora to give box trouble.

Fishtits

Best Diesel VAG have made in terms of reliability.

It won't win any awards in terms of sound quality, but its a good engine.

GTE

Its a great engine, probably the best TDI that was made since the newer ones were more prone to problems due to silly maintenance and then the newest ones seem to have an inherent problem anyway.

In terms of the oil. I did an oil change on my 90hp Golf a few weeks ago and the new oil was black instantly. Its the nature of a diesel.

My car is on 160000 miles and its fine. A small issue when starting up I have is that it takes a few seconds longer to crank but after about 3 to 5 seconds its fine and every start after that for that day will be perfect unless its left for hours and hours. I think I have a sensor that needs replacing.

The coolant temp sensor is one that should be replaced on that car. 15 to get the part and not much more then that to get it fitted by a good indy mechanic.

It is an old engine so it is loud by modern standards and it is not a rocket but for my car (Golf Estate) its not slow either. It will get you from A to B many times.

No gearbox trouble with mine.

EPM

Think it's the weaker petrol boxes that are more prone to problems. That's just from a bit of research I did when trying to find out some info a while ago

tossy

bbk wrote: »

A small issue when starting up I have is that it takes a few seconds longer to crank but after about 3 to 5 seconds its fine and every start after that for that day will be perfect unless its left for hours and hours. I think I have a sensor that needs replacing.
.

Glow plugs perhaps?

EPM wrote: »

Think it's the weaker petrol boxes that are more prone to problems

Not true the same boxes are used in petrols as diesels in others words that 5 speed box is identical to the 5 speed box in a 5 speed petrol (1.4 excluded) and the 6 speed boxes in m4 based diesels are identical to the 6 speed boxes in mk4 based petrols,so its a false statement to say its the weaker petrol boxes that give trouble.

The 1.4 box gives trouble,its a very weak box alot of trouble stems from people fitting bigger heavier wheels though.

Outside the 1.4 the only common Mk4 gearbox related issues are flywheels and the selector fork in the 6 speed 02M boxes has been known to break,but to say that petrol boxes are weak is misinformation my old 6 speed petrol box was handling 272bhp all day long,and i know of a few handling 300/400 bhp.

EPM

By weaker petrols I meant the 1.4. Wasn't aware rest were the same though. Handy info for when mine no doubt bites the dust again!

Mr Benevolent

How do you know the tbelt was done? Is there an invoice for the work?

tossy

EPM wrote: »

By weaker petrols I meant the 1.4. Wasn't aware rest were the same though. Handy info for when mine no doubt bites the dust again!

The gearboxes are identical its the bell housings that change depending on engine and 2wd or 4wd.

GTE

tossy wrote: »

Glow plugs perhaps?

Yeah, however the actual plugs dont come on that much as per the GP dash light so Ill see what is what at the next service. She started up perfectly this morning though!

tossy

bbk wrote: »

Yeah, however the actual plugs dont come on that much as per the GP dash light so Ill see what is what at the next service. She started up perfectly this morning though!

Well if its hard starting and the actual glow plug light doesn't come on then there is your problem,get it sorted before the winter because if we have another one like last year the diesel will never get warm enough to turn it over!

Skuxx

EPM wrote: »

Think it's the weaker petrol boxes that are more prone to problems. That's just from a bit of research I did when trying to find out some info a while ago

Yeah petrol boxes give awful trouble alright, mate of mine is on his 3rd in a 99 golf!!

GTE

tossy wrote: »

Well if its hard starting and the actual glow plug light doesn't come on then there is your problem,get it sorted before the winter because if we have another one like last year the diesel will never get warm enough to turn it over!

I know mate, I have been through the black to green temp sendor issue. Trying to find out if I needed the green or blue one was the worst thing to research! Actually I only got it fixed during or after the winter but even during the Summer it wasnt cold enough for the GP's to do a meaningful cycle at all and I would have the longer first crank. Ill have a proper investigation soon when things get less busy.

Anyway, that temp sensor issue is the only real issue with the AGR or ALH TDI. Id snap it if up OP if you want a reliable runner for the next few years.