Stuck in the Mud

gator1979 · 01-24-2010

Well guys, I finally found the limit to the amount of mud that you can tread through in a Touareg. I can post more details later but I have a technical question first. After driving forward / reverse with mud past the top of the tires for a few minutes, she died. A few guys helped pull me out, popped the hood, checked the air filters and they were clean. No mud in the intake...she turns over just fine, all electrical is working fine; just won't start. Finally towed her home before night fall.

I am thinking the automatic cut-off switch to the fuel pump may have tripped. Any ideas? Will pulling the battery reset this if that IS the problem. No, I haven't VAG'd yet. Will have to hook up with the guy in my area this week if need be.

Here are a few pics.

DoubleDown · 01-24-2010

I don't know the answer to your question, maybe a sensor relating to the exhaust being blocked? All I can say is it looks like you were having a blast before she died on you. Good luck, let us know what you find.

gator1979 · 01-25-2010

Still waiting on my VAG-COM guy so I thought I'd post a few new pics.

This shows how well the door seals REALLY work.

**TREGinginCO** · 01-25-2010

Dude... I hope you didn't swamp that thing... but the "accent paint" looks cool!!!

gator1979 · 01-25-2010

Yeah, I was going for the 2-tone. LOL

**T-Regasaurus** · 01-25-2010

Subscribed to this thread pending resolution. Since the motor turns over fine and you checked the intake and found no muddy remnants, I can't imagine there is any ingestion problems. When I high centered my Treg last year, it got pretty peeved at me and triggered a drivetrain warning light as well as ABS code. Both went away after cycling the key. I too suspect some sensor is angry about your muddy hyjinx

gator1979 · 01-31-2010

Update: I was able to clear all the codes today via VAG-COM, and there where a lot of them to clear (will post results later). Then re-tested and nothing recoded. I now have the Touareg on the charger because the battery was dead. Next step, start her up in the morning....fingers crossed.

gator1979 · 02-01-2010

Verdict: I ended up breaking the timing belt...ouch. Anyone have a link to a DIY? All I could find were a few pics. No real DIY.

**AndrieK** · 02-02-2010

How the hell does that happen...?

Mud in the sprockets or something...?

gator1979 · 02-02-2010

That's right, I pulled the plastic covers, it was covered in mud and the belt was snapped. I'm sending it to my shop today to do my 80k timing belt, water pump and pullies service (20k miles early) and am crossing my fingers that there was no internal damage.