Really stupid question....but...

[surferchick2]

How can you tell if a Beetle is a TDI if there's no TDI badge or the engine cover is missing. I'm going to a salvage yard that has like 15 new beetles, and wanted to know in case I need TDI specific parts. It may not be necessary, but Im now curious.

[MichelleRoze]

I believe the engines look COMPLETELY different. Best way to tell, get inside the car and pop the fuel lid. It will say DIESEL FUEL ONLY in big letters. If it doesn't...its not a diesel! best way I can think of finding out without knowing complex parts of the engine. And in all honesty....I don't remember what a gasser engine looks like...so I couldn't tell you what's different. Just try that, that should be sure fire way to know. Good luck.

What parts are you looking for? I can possibly help you find out if they are TDI specific. Plus, I would ask a moderator to move your thread to the 1.9 TDI section. It'll get more attention there. I hope you find a TDI out of those 15 NB. They are hard to come by.

[surferchick2]

oh wow...add more stupid. Yes, MOD, please move...sorry. I thought I posted on the TDI section. That was a finger problem though. LOL

Gosh, that's right. I didn't even think of looking under the fuel lid. There was a TDI sighting thread and someone asked how they could tell a beetle was a TDI, and I was wondering how without putting my hands on their car also.

Thanks for your help! Right now, most of the parts are universal. Mainly simple things that I really don't *need*, but I do need an airduct (the one that sits in front of the intercooler) and am not sure if they're the same. I ordered it from VW, but it won't get here until monday or so, and I'm leaving for two weeks on sunday, so I was hoping to find one at our salvage yard since my grill's already off and I have to keep it off when installing the duct. While I'm there, I'll search for some minor cosmetic parts that I've been putting off.

[MichelleRoze]

Well...without putting your hands on someones car....I look for soot on the driver side backup light. Either a dark ring around it or soot all over the back is a big indicator. I don't care how much you clean, I'm a clean freak when it comes to getting the soot off and I still have a dark ring around my backup light. Actually makes the light look like it's darker. Let me see if I have a pic....here it is. This is after a fresh wash...and my driver side back up light is STILL darker than the passenger side.



that's how I would tell without touching a car. But otherwise I think the bodys are pretty much the same. Now I'm sure if you popped the hood there would be something about the engine that's different. What I'm not sure. lol Maybe someone else will chime in with a good idea! lol

[Growler]

Guess that someone should be me Thanks michelle

the 1.8T newbeetle also has the same airduct in it. those are easy to spot because of the seperate rear wing at the top of the glass.

the TDI also had lots of small diameter metal pipes leading to the area where you would expect spark plugs to be. the 4 pipes connect on one end at the injectors, and the other end at the injection pump.

another dead giveaway of a TDI with no motor cover is the cylinder in the center front with the black cap on it to the right of the orange dipstick. that is where the oil filter cartridge goes. only the TDI has this cylinder under the hood. there is also a black sphere about the size of a softball nearby as well.


here you go, see if you can spot the things i mentioned in this photo of my golf engine bay. the Newbeetle is similiar.

[surferchick2]

Thanks for all the great info! I went outside to look at my backuplight, and the pipes on mine face down. I had to get on all fours to even see them. Are yours custom, or were they different depending on the year?

Regarding the duct, do you happen to know if there were other years that fit a 2003's? If I have to, I'll pull it off when I get there and try to match it up. Im not as savvy with my beetle (yet), so Id be afraid of missing something minimal. That just happened with the grill and it's been a PITA.

I appreciate the pic of your engine. I'll probably print that up and carry it with me as my cheat sheet for now.

[DZLBUG]

Don't take this the wrong way but...

Stick your finger up the butt (tailpipe) and then look at and sniff your finger.

[surferchick2]

So if the beetle used biodiesel, I check for the smell of chicken or tofu?

[MichelleRoze]

Originally Posted by DZLBUG

Don't take this the wrong way but...

Stick your finger up the butt (tailpipe) and then look at and sniff your finger.

LOL That's probably the truest way!! lol Love it.

My tips are aftermarket. The pipes are supposed to point down. But if you look at the backup light, it's darker on the driver side due to the soot.

Here it is, stock: Still darker backup light.

[surferchick2]

I like your pipes better. My car is getting more cosmetic enhancements than me. Now I know what a guy with a trophy wife fells like...

[jazzcat]

take the picture above and check the fuel flapper thingy if there is no engine

what parts are you looking for specifically? if you are just looking to tinker on one in the safety of the junkyard(safety being car is already done for can't hurt it anymore than it already is) then go nuts on them..let us know if you are looking for specific parts or anything..

growler-did you notice any big difference with your race pipe in place? i was advised against it for the anti shudder valve that comes with it but ive seen more and more that are running those without any issues

[CoriBug]

How about the fuel filter? In TDIs it is in the engine bay on the passenger side. In gassers it's close to the fuel pump under the back seat. I didn't know there was a difference until Casey's problem at Roswell!

[surferchick2]

Originally Posted by jazzcat

what parts are you looking for specifically? if you are just looking to tinker on one in the safety of the junkyard(safety being car is already done for can't hurt it anymore than it already is) then go nuts on them..let us know if you are looking for specific parts or anything..

Just little things, like the rubber guards in the hatch, 12V cover, third breaklight and wheelwell protectors. There are a couple of things I don't really need, but would like to find in better condition if the price is right. Nothing major, and I did pm a few people over the last few weeks, and didn't get responses so I think the items Im looking for are just to small to bother. lol

The salvage yard isn't that far, so I might just look around and see if anything else I want pops up. They're the yard associated with the VW dealerships in the seattle area (same owner), so maybe there are some trade ins in decent condition(or whatever) that they decided to junk.

[ChristopherC]

Better to make a list of as many discernable differences as possible and take it with you. Sometimes junkyard cars can ben in pretty bad shape (catastrophic accident, already parted out, etc.).

[Growler]

Originally Posted by jazzcat

growler-did you notice any big difference with your race pipe in place? i was advised against it for the anti shudder valve that comes with it but ive seen more and more that are running those without any issues

only differences..

regarding the missing anti shudder, all you notice is one more little shudder at shutdown than you would normally have. after about a week, yo don't even notice it.

I drive a 5 speed and am confidant that if my engine runs away, I can stall it by standing on the brakes. if not, I believe that the antishudder wouldnt stop it anytways.

if you ever watch the motor while someone shuts it down, you will notice that the ASV only closes for a second or two before it reopens. if the motor is REALLY running away there is no stopping the motor. it runs on its own oil..

the ASV is ONLY there to smooth out a normal shutdown. not stop a full on runaway.

if you are familiar with the 96-97 passat or the 97-99 jetta tdi, NONE of them have an ASV, its not needed.

I sleep just fine at night

[surferchick2]

There were sooo many parts piled in the cars, but I didnt find an airduct though. Oh well. I was able to find all of the little pita things I was missing so that was good. I found a piece to secure my 3rd brakelight, so I got that done. It was kind of sad seeing all those wrecked beetles and wierd finding personal items in the ones that were so bad it looked like there were no survivors.

Anyway, engines were pretty much gone in all of them (only one cover with a 1.8T) and any obvious signs of a TDI.

[ChristopherC]

Maybe it's just me but when I'm in a junkyard I feel like a 5 year-old in a Toys-R-Us.

[surferchick2]

lol...it was pretty exciting to find something I wanted. Like a treasure hunt. There were times, though, when I'd lift a panel of some sort to look under it, I'd be afraid to find a human body part.

[Yello_jellybean]

I was just gonna say look for glow plugs. That is how I would tell. I just learned how to change my own glow plugs last week, so that is what I would look for. I suppose not everybody would know what and where to look for them but, IF you do, that would be a good way to tell, because the gasoline powered cars don't have them.

[MichelleRoze]

I love going to junkyards. It's exciting to me. To see all those cars, where the parts are for the taking. Though I too get a little nervous when you see ones where you KNOW no one survived....I've seen some with blood stains. EW. Kinda creeps you out for awhile, then ya move on.