Was that the first filter change (at 115,000 miles)? Or did you change the filter every 20,000 miles like you're supposed to? If you
didn't change the filter every 20,000 ... then it's very likely your pump is shot. The pump will run you between $2,000 and $3,000
to replace (and that buys a lot of $50 filters).

Also, did the mechanic check the bolts that hold the pump? If one loosened and the pump moved (even a very small amount) the
injection timing will be off and you'll have clouds of white smoke.

"Dave" > wrote in message news:1110719618.a49294d987a8bc536bacaf4c69bb0674@t eranews...
> Thanks for everyone's input. I changed the fuel filter about 10000
> miles ago. I'm not quite convinced that it's the injection pump. At
> least I wan't to check out all options before I sink money into a new
> pump.
> Dave
>
>
> On Thu, 10 Mar 2005 20:16:30 -0500, "Erik Dillenkofer"
> > wrote:
>
>>How often did you change the fuel filter (routine maintenance)?
>>
>>"Dave" > wrote in message news:1110502015.6683db5bdf67a943c704bab011c49670@t eranews...
>>> Has any TDI owners had a problem like this one? Any advice or inputs
>>> would be most appreciated. Is an injection pump replacement a common
>>> occurence? The car has 125,000 miles and I changed the fuel filter
>>> about 10,000 miles ago. If I have no other option but to replace the
>>> injection pump, is there a good place to get a used pump? Where would
>>> be the best place to buy a new pump?
>>>
>>>
>>> The Story:
>>>
>>> I recently took my 99.5 Jetta TDI on a road trip. Two days driving
>>> down to FL and two days back to OH.
>>>
>>> The trip down was uneventful but the trip back was another story!
>>>
>>> The trip back day 1:
>>> On the way back, after I crossed the GA border (cheaper fuel prices)
>>> I topped off the tank with diesel. The engine light came on almost
>>> immediatly after starting the engine and the glo-plug light also
>>> started blinking. The car was running fine until I stopped for lunch
>>> in SC. Upon starting the car and leaving the parking lot, it started
>>> bucking and running like crap. At highway speeds it seemed to do ok
>>> but I could still feel it "missing" and when I got off the interstate,
>>> in NC it seemed to run rougher at lower speeds. Finally reached my
>>> overnight destination.
>>>
>>> Day 2:
>>> I drove to a VW dealer where my brother-in-law works as a mechanic.
>>> On the way there, the car continued to buck and carry on while at the
>>> same time sending out a James Bond smoke screen from the tail pipe.
>>> He hooked up the computer and it had a code for the quantity adjuster.
>>> The code could not be erased either. He seemed to think it was the
>>> injection pump going bad. He also said it should make it back to OH.
>>> To make a long story not as long, the car finally gave out 3 hours
>>> from home. Just before it died, the idle was very erratic and it
>>> didn't like the slower stop and go traffic in the small town I was
>>> passing through. Once it finally decided that it could no longer
>>> maintain the engine rpm enough to continue, it quit. I couldn't get
>>> it to start after that. Had a friend pick me up from my home town and
>>> finally got back. What a long day.
>>>
>>> Day 3:
>>> Let it sit on the side of the road all day in disgust.
>>>
>>> Day 4:
>>> Loaded it on a flat bed trailer. The car actually started and ran
>>> just enough to get halfway up the ramps onto the trailer and it looked
>>> like a smoke grenade went off around us. Towed it home and put it in
>>> the garage where it sits, unable to start.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>