i took it in with a list of things to fix (including new shocks), and they found all kinds of problems which explained the crappy ride and deteriorated performance: broken springs, blocked intake manifold, failed oxygen sensor, failing fuel filter...
on the ride back home, it was magic. the ride was nicer, yes, but dear god i had forgotten how the thing used to accelerate. at 90 hp, you can't really expect too much, but damn it's nice to have back the car i was sold on in '98. this is the kind of improvement i'd expect had i had a chip put it. i wonder how many HP i was down...
i don't take enough pictures of it, so included is the one i took tonight back at home.
Unsexy update: the check engine light is on. i must take it back to my mechanic. yargh!!!!
Sexy update: it was a stuck-open valve on the EGR causing the check engine light. fixed! (dec 12)
Yet another unsexy update: the check engine light is back on. argh!!!!!! (dec 14)
Sigh: it's dec 19, 2 days since i dropped off my car, and it won't be ready until the 22nd. new EGR valve, i'm told. getting tired of this...
Dec 22 update: it's back! i think i forgot how to drive.
5 comments:
Is ECU remapping still an option?
it is, and i was hoping to spend some time tonight researching.
whats all the white stuff on the roof and hood? =)
@joe: i call it "freedom."
it comes from the sky and erases all the lines on the road. and then i can drive where i please.
re: ECU
been reading a lot at fred's TDI forums. seems chipping is almost a no-brainer, but moving up to larger fuel nozzles starts putting one in the territory of "needing other things to handle it."
my mechanic was pretty skeptical of it all, but since they don't do that kind of work (and are unfamiliar with all the options, ins/outs, etc) i guess that's to be expected.
sadly, it seems that any chip i got would have to be soldered on, and not just dropped in. yargh.
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