Request for info

[burn_your_money]

I am just wondering if anyone can give me some info on a 1980 4 door diesel C rabbit. It use to be my Opa's so it means alot to me. Right now it is just sitting at my uncles (has been for the past 10 years) so it it will need a fair chunk of work. I don't know the mileage of it, but it's a diesel so it doesn't really matter. If you can tell me anything about this car it would be appreciated. Thanks

[GoodDayForADrive]

Mr Diesel can tell you everything about that car :D

[Mr_Diesel]

I can tell you that the rabbit diesel I had was the biggest POS I have ever driven:

http://www.dubnetworks.net/cody/rabbit/

Other than the horrid uglyness of this car, it ran pretty well... You really do have to be a bit more specific in your question... That question could cover 1 billion different aspects. One thing I can tell you is that it's probably going to need new glow plugs... Hop on www.vwdieselparts.com and buy you a set of 4, and install them.... If it has not been touched for 10 years, the crankshaft is probably siezed, so you are going to need to get a prybar on the crankshaft pulley to free the pistons from their deathgrip... Thirdly, the fuel system is probably full purged of diesel fuel... You need to take that little screw off the top of the fuel filter and fill it full of fresh diesel fuel. Next, take off the clear hose running from the filter to the top of the injector pump, and get some kinda squirt bottle and dump diesel fuel down that hose until you can't get any more down. (I like to take that little miniture "excess" fuel hose off the injector (cyl #1 on the passenger side) and pour diesel down the clear hose until fuel is spilling out of that hose you just removed. Now that the pump is reprimed, make sure all old diesel fuel is purged from the fuel tank, and put 5 gallons of fresh diesel in the fuel tank...

Note: Whilst under the hood messing with fuel lines, be sure to replace all old lines that are in question of leaking... LEAKING DIESEL FUEL IS HORRIBLE....

Next, you need to replace the oil and make sure the radiator is flushed out and clean... When replacing the oil, make sure you use cheap POS walmart oil when replacing the oil... When you get the car running run it for 300 miles or so, and change the oil again and use your regular oil of choice... Treat this 300 miles as a break-in period for the engine... DO NOT ever overrev the engine durring these miles, since the engine has sat for 10 years, chances are there is some serious buildup of crap in the crankcase. Don't forget to buy a new fresh battery.

Last but not least, be sure to replace all applicable filters (replace filter before filling with fuel :D )...

NOTE: After you have filled the pump and filter with fuel, now is the time to re-prime the injectors and lines... Most peeps say (including bently) to remove the fuel lines from the injectors and crank over the engine until fuel is seen spitting out of the lines... Personally, I prefur the easy, fastest, and most safe way of doing it... Bently's reccomendation causes diesel fuel to run down the side of the engine block, and get all over things, and it's just not safe... Get somebody with a truck or powerfull car to pull the rabbit with a tow chain. Make sure you turn the key to the on position, so that the steering wheel unlocks and the engine powers up... Go out to a deserted road in the "outskirts". Put the rabbit in 2nd gear, and pop the clutch... Let the car in front of you pull the rabbit until it starts... Just pop the clutch, drive for 100 feet, and tap the accellerator peddal... If the car lunges forward when you tap the gas, the engine is running and fully reprimed... ONLY TAP THE GAS OR THE RABBIT WILL "LUNGE" into the car in front of you... Do this until the engine is running.


This should be sufficient for your information, feel free to ask any other questions... You can also call me if you wish. (ask me for my phone number in PM)

[burn_your_money]

Wow, thanks so much for that post. That wasn't really what I was looking for at this moment in time, but after reading it all, it inspires me to get to work on the car. The reason why I didn't get the car before is because it is an american car and its still in the name of my opa who is now deceased so I know that it will be piles of work for me to get that car into my name.
As if you said the car was ugly... Rabbits are my absolute favorite car, if I get this car my Jetta is going up for sale.
Anyways, what I failed to be specific enough about in my previous post was this. I wanted to know reliability of this engine, and ease of working on it. Most times I hear about the diesel L, but this one is a Diesel C so I guess I also want to know what the difference is, if any.
Thanks again for that post. :D
OH yeah, the odometer looks like this 154XXX is that last X tenths of miles (or however you crazy americans work your odometers) or is it full miles?
I also found a little note book that shows every single oil and filter change that this car has had since it was brand new. It also has miles driven, fuel put into it, and MPG.

[Mr_Diesel]

no difference between the C and L. These engines are VERY reliable if you keep up on maintanence, and keep the glowplug system in top notch condition. Without your glowplugs you have no chance up in canada... In my opinion they are ALOT easier to work on than gas engines... Easier to maintain. Really the only maintenence is air filter, and oil changes. No spark plugs to worry about.

[burn_your_money]

I like the sounds of that. Any idea on my odomter question?

[Mr_Diesel]

My rabbit has 6 digits that read full miles XXX,XXX no tenths.

[burn_your_money]

Yeah this one has 6 digits but the last one is red. That's why I was thinking it might be tenths.

[Mr_Diesel]

Interesting

[burn_your_money]

When I go to free the pistons from their death grip, should I remove the plugs and should I squirt some oil in there? Can I just use my ratchet to free it? I'm not worried about breaking it, as it has a lifetime unlimited warrenty. I'm not sure if I've mentioned this but I found a note pad in the glovebox and it has every single oil and filter change recorded since the car was bought, as well as all the fuel that was ever put into the gas tank.

[burn_your_money]

Just an update on the situation, I'm probably going to go pick the car up this weekend, then I'll begin the process of trying to get it running in top notch condition again.

[burn_your_money]

Bad news, My uncle says he wants to keep the car. He says he's going to fix it up. It's been sitting on his lawn for 10 years, the chances of him fixing it up are less then 1%. I'm not impressed.
I think I should offer to fix it up for him, then maybe once I get it running he will notice all the work I put into it and the give/sell it to me, like he said he would last year.
What do you think? Any better ideas?

[GoodDayForADrive]

ouch

[Mr_Diesel]

Well... It's hard to get somebody to part with a car they "might be fixing".... If you wanted to get dirty about it, you can try telling him, well... let me take it and get it running good, and then we can discuss weather or not you still want to keep it.... Then while you have it, tear the whole engine apart, and take misc parts like... a piston, head, coolant bottle radiator, etc, and go hide them in a shed somewhere... Then when he comes to look at, tell him, it's a lot cause... It had some pretty bad dammage to the 3rd cylinder for some reason... I think those damn neighbor kids made off with a piston... damn that'll be 1,000 bucks for a new set!... Let me just buy this car from you and I'll put 4 or 5 grand into it to get it running again... Then offer him 300-500 CDN and I guarantee he'll go for it.

[GoodDayForADrive]

haha, an awesome plan, set forth by Diesel

[Gotturbo]

wow

[burn_your_money]

Its a good idea, but he's family, and he knows it ran fine 10 years ago...
I'll just buy a look-a-like and be happy.