Thanks man. I've been getting a CEL for "P0128: Coolant Valve Tempature below Control range" I'm assuming it's the Coolant temp sensor so i was gonna start there before attempting to replace my thermostat. Plus im pretty sure i have a bad o-ring in my vacuum pump i gotta replace so this video defintely helps. Any other recommendations for longevity would be sick too. Just picked up my first TDI a year ago. Same as you, '03 ALH jetta 184k miles.
Do maintinance on fuel filter, pick up assembly,tranny fluid and use mobile one full synthetic diesel truck oil if you want less carbonation. Get timing belt done every 120k. Injector cleaning same time, remove them and get the properly adjusted by pro. Oil cooler pre turbo will b a pain but extend turbo life. Fix major oil leaks. Use oe parts.
I think you and the friends you mention, instead of messing about with bodge repairs with silicone sealant, you might try sourcing your sensors, seals, clips from somewhere other than cheap knock off outlets. Here in the UK, new sensors for the Golf Mk4 cost £40 from a VW dealer. From eBay, the cheap copies complete with seal and clip cost about £5. They are the source of many of the problems with aftermarket sensors, and seals. In between the 2 polarities are the Original Equipment suppliers to VW. These typically cost anywhere between £10 and £30. I believe these are made by Meyle, Febi Bilstein, and Beru. The obvious lessons being ... don't buy cheap cr*p. But also no need to pay outrageous prices for parts at a dealer.
Andrew Preston interesting comment, both sensors came from vw dealer and are oe. As far as the point of vid it was to point out an obvious defect in engineering as o ring, plastic slip clip and flange design are inadequate imo.
I know this an old video but your advice is absolutely spot on. To anyone reading this please follow the advice given above and don't make the same mistake as me. I recently had a coolant flange problem with my MK4 Golf 1.9 TDI. I thought i had found a cheap ebay replacement for around the £10 mark so i decided to purchase it. Upon receiving the item although it looked the same visually as my original after trying to fit it is when all the problems started. Firstly i couldn't get the flange to bolt up properly to the cylinder head no matter how hard I tightened the two 10mm bolts. Upon further inspection I realised that this cheap flange had small gaps in the metal inserts where the two bolts go in and the original didn't. The second major issue was with getting the coolant temperature sensor to seat properly inside the flange it kept popping out every time i fitted it in and it almost ruined my car when it decided to come out while I was driving literally loosing all the coolant in the car! In the end i got a brand new OEM coolant flange from darksidedevelopments here in the UK and also a BERU temperature sensor with a new o ring and c clip. The bottom line is you can either cheap out like i did and suffer the consequences due to poor design and quality or you can get OEM original and have no issues what's so ever. Thank you so much to the OP above his comment literally nails it on the head and if there is anyone else having issues with there temp sensor or coolant flange do the RIGHT THING and get OEM and get it the FIRST TIME and stay away from cheap crap! Here's a link to the rubbish i brought the first time round: www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152980600476?fits=Car+Make%3AVW%7CPlat_Gen%3AMK+IV%7CModel%3AGolf&hash=item239e5ab69c:g:XfAAAOSw629azxsX&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA0Ft3jF%2FHLEVUnax%2BKBmpxpj8nUBh4gBdPwU%2Fx6643G5EvWmyrJN2iMJ%2BmDWF3vec9DTdQzCJwlP1I7Vv5PjKyfJ%2BN%2F050WR00Wr5u6qdIUG0Uon%2Be494KxyAxMFFRIIKs0OoyPMNEOQiSAif63d0qv0l45k%2FRPnPH2JFxKXZ1kZrSsfyjWtd%2By3StdZuY39TZup%2Fo8NGPPtzmgdnA%2BLeEi9crNeQJONbmfJSRnT2T0Lrae0vN9OvRFVdnkq%2FrtP0ZPxK33%2Bb2s4dV9o5XLGrIys%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR4SUhISIYw
Use only vaseline on your temp oring works better and keeps it pliable longer Also take off your bottom plastic cover under engine keeps it cooler way easier no water problems with splashing for me in seattle.
silkroad 079 the silicone works better as it wont wash off. I recommend a splash gaurd to protect oil pan and pulleys, belts. I use aluminum. Recommend panzer plate.
An ounce of prevention, thank you for the great advice and good tips.
Thanks man. I've been getting a CEL for "P0128: Coolant Valve Tempature below Control range"
I'm assuming it's the Coolant temp sensor so i was gonna start there before attempting to replace my thermostat. Plus im pretty sure i have a bad o-ring in my vacuum pump i gotta replace so this video defintely helps.
Any other recommendations for longevity would be sick too.
Just picked up my first TDI a year ago. Same as you, '03 ALH jetta 184k miles.
Do maintinance on fuel filter, pick up assembly,tranny fluid and use mobile one full synthetic diesel truck oil if you want less carbonation. Get timing belt done every 120k. Injector cleaning same time, remove them and get the properly adjusted by pro. Oil cooler pre turbo will b a pain but extend turbo life. Fix major oil leaks. Use oe parts.
I think you and the friends you mention, instead of messing about with bodge repairs with silicone sealant, you might try sourcing your sensors, seals, clips from somewhere other than cheap knock off outlets. Here in the UK, new sensors for the Golf Mk4 cost £40 from a VW dealer. From eBay, the cheap copies complete with seal and clip cost about £5. They are the source of many of the problems with aftermarket sensors, and seals. In between the 2 polarities are the Original Equipment suppliers to VW. These typically cost anywhere between £10 and £30. I believe these are made by Meyle, Febi Bilstein, and Beru.
The obvious lessons being ... don't buy cheap cr*p. But also no need to pay outrageous prices for parts at a dealer.
Andrew Preston interesting comment, both sensors came from vw dealer and are oe. As far as the point of vid it was to point out an obvious defect in engineering as o ring, plastic slip clip and flange design are inadequate imo.
I know this an old video but your advice is absolutely spot on. To anyone reading this please follow the advice given above and don't make the same mistake as me. I recently had a coolant flange problem with my MK4 Golf 1.9 TDI. I thought i had found a cheap ebay replacement for around the £10 mark so i decided to purchase it. Upon receiving the item although it looked the same visually as my original after trying to fit it is when all the problems started.
Firstly i couldn't get the flange to bolt up properly to the cylinder head no matter how hard I tightened the two 10mm bolts. Upon further inspection I realised that this cheap flange had small gaps in the metal inserts where the two bolts go in and the original didn't. The second major issue was with getting the coolant temperature sensor to seat properly inside the flange it kept popping out every time i fitted it in and it almost ruined my car when it decided to come out while I was driving literally loosing all the coolant in the car!
In the end i got a brand new OEM coolant flange from darksidedevelopments here in the UK and also a BERU temperature sensor with a new o ring and c clip. The bottom line is you can either cheap out like i did and suffer the consequences due to poor design and quality or you can get OEM original and have no issues what's so ever. Thank you so much to the OP above his comment literally nails it on the head and if there is anyone else having issues with there temp sensor or coolant flange do the RIGHT THING and get OEM and get it the FIRST TIME and stay away from cheap crap!
Here's a link to the rubbish i brought the first time round:
www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152980600476?fits=Car+Make%3AVW%7CPlat_Gen%3AMK+IV%7CModel%3AGolf&hash=item239e5ab69c:g:XfAAAOSw629azxsX&amdata=enc%3AAQAIAAAA0Ft3jF%2FHLEVUnax%2BKBmpxpj8nUBh4gBdPwU%2Fx6643G5EvWmyrJN2iMJ%2BmDWF3vec9DTdQzCJwlP1I7Vv5PjKyfJ%2BN%2F050WR00Wr5u6qdIUG0Uon%2Be494KxyAxMFFRIIKs0OoyPMNEOQiSAif63d0qv0l45k%2FRPnPH2JFxKXZ1kZrSsfyjWtd%2By3StdZuY39TZup%2Fo8NGPPtzmgdnA%2BLeEi9crNeQJONbmfJSRnT2T0Lrae0vN9OvRFVdnkq%2FrtP0ZPxK33%2Bb2s4dV9o5XLGrIys%3D%7Ctkp%3ABk9SR4SUhISIYw
Use only vaseline on your temp oring works better and keeps it pliable longer Also take off your bottom plastic cover under engine keeps it cooler way easier no water problems with splashing for me in seattle.
silkroad 079 the silicone works better as it wont wash off. I recommend a splash gaurd to protect oil pan and pulleys, belts. I use aluminum. Recommend panzer plate.