Thanks for the info. As for the car, 2006 jetta TDI. Needs new tranny and cam/lifters. I have too much in it, not to mention blue book is to high to trash it. I will be trading it in though to get rid of it. As an FYI...I found out this is a common problem with the PD engines. Go figure.
How many miles, and is it automatic or manual transmission?
I suspect it is automatic as those vehicles seem to be known for premature failure.
The cam problem is a quandary for you. It actually will need a new camshaft bearings and lifters.
I have found out that as the cam and bearings wear it progressively starves the top end of lubrication, So in fact the whole works has to be replaced.
If that vehicle is over 100,000 miles it probably does need a trip to the junk yard, or you will be putting good money after bad.
Next time avoid European vehicles, they are the absolute worst in terms of reliability and cost of repair. You can't even replace the spark pugs on a Jetta without taking off the exhaust manifold.
My wife insisted on having a Merc 320 E 4 matic, and what a piece of junk that was. Luckily I can wrench other wise it would have put me in the poor house. Got rid of it at 170.000 miles, but we had been traveling with a case of oil in the trunk for many miles.
You can't rebuild the engine as it is aluminum with chrome bores. It looked nice so I sold it for $4500 on car soup.
If the engine runs at all, I would put in a used transmission and SELL. If the engine does not run and the transmission is shot, swallow hard and have the knacker pick it up and keep your sound gear.
