Thread: TDi $8,000 damage?

Originally Posted by jeppy

Long story short, during August 2008, I took my 96 disco TDi onto the highway (for the first time in ages) comfortably doing 100kmph, after about 20mins I pulled over because I noticed a bit of steam coming from the hood. There is bubbling water all over the head gasket and gas everywhere. The waterpump apparently blew and all the water somehow made it into the pistons and melted them.

I get it to a reconditioning place where it STILL is today. I took it in so I could get a quote on how much it would be and they told me they would have to take it apart to get an idea. I told them to call me when they find out. The only call I get (months later) is to tell me that they have fixed it and want $8,000, which is more than the total value of my beloved disco.

I got him down to $7,000. But the reason it's still in the yard is because I only asked for a quote so I could THEN decide what to do. But they went ahead and fixed it without my consent and now I am stuck with this 7 grand debt. My rego and insurance is about to run out too and I had only used it for 2 months.

It is a nightmare.

They haven't even bothered to send me the bill yet with all the details. But does 8 grand sound right for a recondition?

I love my disco and really want it back because I am going camping in less than 2 weeks!!!

The figure sounds about right for a full rebuild, BUT I am alarmed that it was repaired WITHOUT your consent

A phone call to the MTA in your state is in order here!

JC

Originally Posted by justinc

The figure sounds about right for a full rebuild, BUT I am alarmed that it was repaired WITHOUT your consent

A phone call to the MTA in your state is in order here!

JC

Thanks for the quick reply! It's good to know that I am not being ripped off, but you are right about calling MTA. I think I should do it just to give them a boot up the backside to liaise with their customers more. If they communicated with me and let me know what was going on this may have never happened!

My next question is when I do get around to getting my disco back I will have to run it in for about a thousand k's, I suspect. This will be difficult to do in less than a week. Will it be okay to take it for a weekend on the beach while I am running it in? My instinct says no, but you guys will know better than me.

I have another question, since I got a full rebuild, should I get my diff and gearbox serviced immediately after my 1k of running it in?

Forgive my lack of knowledge, but I am here to learn and become a part of the community!

Running in an engine can be tedious any many differing opinions here and there.
I run my new motors in for a fair while.
Say 3-5K km's.
Change oil after 1000 km's and so on.

I tread very lightly and you will probably feel when it starts to loosen up.
I would also follow the guidelines the place that did the recon for you.

If not driven for such a long term, I would service all fluids, diff, gear bos and transfer case.

It will probably have new radiator fluid in due to rebuil but check just in case and check for water leaks.
Big enemy of those motors.

Good luck and enjoy.

Originally Posted by big guy

Running in an engine can be tedious any many differing opinions here and there.
I run my new motors in for a fair while.
Say 3-5K km's.
Change oil after 1000 km's and so on.

I tread very lightly and you will probably feel when it starts to loosen up.
I would also follow the guidelines the place that did the recon for you.

If not driven for such a long term, I would service all fluids, diff, gear bos and transfer case.

It will probably have new radiator fluid in due to rebuil but check just in case and check for water leaks.
Big enemy of those motors.

Good luck and enjoy.

Thank you for backing up my instinct. I would rather take greater care and see that it runs the best it can rather than put it through some rough work fresh into it's new life.

I didn't think of servicing the transfer case, no doubt my mechanic would have done it anyway.

Can't wait to just drive it again! Except for work utes, I have been without a vehicle for 10 months! I also had to miss out on several adventures

Note for anybody owning a TDi engine, I wish this not to happen to you! So please check your pump is in good order. I've read they are one of the first things to go after 200-300k! I was the unlucky one!

Sorry to hear about the situation! I too would be seriously peeved if I wasnt told and suddenly I get the bill.

Can I also recommend that you spend a little more and buy an engine saver. I have both the water level in radiator but also the heat sensor bolted to the block.

Cheers,

Originally Posted by stooge

Sorry to hear about the situation! I too would be seriously peeved if I wasnt told and suddenly I get the bill.

Can I also recommend that you spend a little more and buy an engine saver. I have both the water level in radiator but also the heat sensor bolted to the block.

Cheers,

Thanks for the good tip. I will definitely look into that. Is there any specific place I can purchase these that you may already know of?

I am of course going to be extremely paranoid for life about things exploding in my engine bay! So thanks for giving me a place to start.

Originally Posted by jeppy

Thanks for the good tip. I will definitely look into that. Is there any specific place I can purchase these that you may already know of?

I am of course going to be extremely paranoid for life about things exploding in my engine bay! So thanks for giving me a place to start.

stooge is on the money, i installed one and it has alerted me to low water twice

Low Water Alarm Sensor

great service from david as well, pretty sure he gives an aulro discount as well