arrrrrg! Jetta codes

[Lostsailr]

So after dinner with friends we were on the way to a (bad) movie and all hell breaks loose with the Jetta. Check engine light comes on, starts shaking, looses power. Got home but local repair shop coudn't even deal with the codes, so we had to tow it to the dealer. Need to reflash the computer to sift out the junk codes. oh just :spank: me now!

So the over/under is $1000
who's in?

[Jim]

Tell me why we're VW freaks again!

I yesterday got up at 6AM to take the Vanagon to get inspected, last day of the month and tomorrow it's overdue.
The VW fires up fine, well maybe one sticky lifter but that's normal.
BIG PROBLEM, no headlamps... at all. :huh:
Searched the online VW Forums for answers and all signs pointed to a bad ground.
So hours later with insane VW wiring diagrams in hand, after removing the grill and headlamps, disassembling the dash pulling the gauge cluster and dropping the fuse/relay box, chasing MANY questionable grounds I finally found the F'ing overheated-corroded-shitty wire, replaced the spade connector and got the headlamps working.
So now I'm soaked and cold and decide to drive down to my buddy's shop to get the inspection sticker and get stuck in a traffic jam of truly epic proportions. While I'm sitting there I glance down and notice that the inspection runs out at the end of December, NOT November! :rolleyes:
So I pull a U-turn and head home to rest my frigging battered body so I can go to work 3-midnite.

The good thing was we need the Vanagon & trailer for 2 weekend events to hawl our coffee vending gear, and if I had not tried to get the inspection and found the lights out, we would have been screwed.

Sometimes bad shit happening actually pays off. :jim:

[JBetty]

So after dinner with friends we were on the way to a (bad) movie and all hell breaks loose with the Jetta. Check engine light comes on, starts shaking, looses power. Got home but local repair shop coudn't even deal with the codes, so we had to tow it to the dealer. Need to reflash the computer to sift out the junk codes. oh just :spank: me now!

So the over/under is $1000
who's in?


Was it raining or damp out?

[Lostsailr]

Bummer Jim. Glad you got it together though.
JB...no rain or damp...just many screwed up things. The dealer has it set, but needs one more part for tomorrow completion...$750 (would have been more except for the ignition coil recall and a thermostat warranty extension)...so my $1000 over under was right about spot on. The details will be interesting tomorrow. Turbo was also affected as I suspected.
And to boot, my ride to work today had an alarm clock/electricity issue and was late for the first time in 16 years...leaving me and my classroom scrambling to get the s*#t together. At least I got to the gym before killing anyone this afternoon!
Now...where's that 18 y.o. scotch?

VW = very whimsical

[JBetty]

Ignition coil recall?
For what models and years?
I just spent $500 for a new one. :joker:

[ricksvw]

I just got my order today from the BusDepot, one of my valve covers rotted out and was pouring oil all over the manifold. Ahhh if its not one thing. The Audi is still parked with a hot start issue to hopefully be solved this weekend.

[Lostsailr]

JB I think it was 2001-3??? or something like that. We have a 2001 and it was covered...that along with the thermostat warranty extension kept our bill down to a paltry $815...just for the holidays! Oh and the ignition wire harness ($310) is not good, but working for now) Where's your Farfegnugen now?

On a happier note...the bus reconstruction proceeds well. Missed the pics, but will post them this weekend. We await the rear wheel arches and rear panel (under engine lid) so we can get on with it. The right rockers are a finesse move, as we are trying to keep the upper half of the door track in place while we replace the 3 layers of rocker...oh we'll be rocking come Vibes '10!!!!!!

[Erinisme]

I didn't read the entire thread, but I have a 95VW cabrio that MEEPS (aka beeps) almost the entire time I"m driving :lol: I've gotten used to it..passangers not so much.

It firmly beleives it needs oil..I know it doesn't my mechanic knows it doesn't we've all tried to reason with it...I dont' have the time/money to fix a problem that's not mandatory...so I deal with the meep.

I have to say with all the shit this car has put me through in the past 2 years it's still MY FAVORITE CAR EVER!!!!

[Jim]

I didn't read the entire thread, but I have a 95VW cabrio that MEEPS (aka beeps) almost the entire time I"m driving :lol: I've gotten used to it..passangers not so much.

It firmly beleives it needs oil..I know it doesn't my mechanic knows it doesn't we've all tried to reason with it...I dont' have the time/money to fix a problem that's not mandatory...so I deal with the meep.

I have to say with all the shit this car has put me through in the past 2 years it's still MY FAVORITE CAR EVER!!!!

Sounds like just an oil pressure sensor. If you have nice clean oil in there and it still "meeps" get yourself a new one.
If you are interested I'm sure the VW-Heads will help instruct you.

[JBetty]

JB I think it was 2001-3??? or something like that. We have a 2001 and it was covered...that along with the thermostat warranty extension kept our bill down to a paltry $815...just for the holidays! Oh and the ignition wire harness ($310) is not good, but working for now) Where's your Farfegnugen now?



Mine is a 2002 and is running just fine now.
But I had to shell out $500 for the $350 coil plus labor, and I'd like to recover some of that if I can.
Any ideas on how I might go about doing that?

[Lemireacle]

Ignition coil recall?
For what models and years?
I just spent $500 for a new one. :joker:

I had to replace the ignition coil on my '02 Jetta after Wormtown last year. Trying to leave the festival on Sunday night in damp and somewhat rainy conditions, it wouldn't start. I stayed overnight and then left early Monday. The car started okay, but on the ride home, the car shook a bit and stuttered a bunch. I took the car to my mechanic the next morning, and he told me the igntion coil was shot.

It only cost me a little over $300, but I got a really good break on labor!!

[JBetty]

I had to replace the ignition coil on my '02 Jetta after Wormtown last year. Trying to leave the festival on Sunday night in damp and somewhat rainy conditions, it wouldn't start. I stayed overnight and then left early Monday. The car started okay, but on the ride home, the car shook a bit and stuttered a bunch. I took the car to my mechanic the next morning, and he told me the igntion coil was shot.

It only cost me a little over $300, but I got a really good break on labor!!


Yup. Same thing happened to me leaving Vibes this past summer.
After about 10 minutes it was fine and caused me no trouble for a few months. I have a garage to park in, but one rainy night I parked outdoors at a friend's that was that.
I'd like to know more about this recall and if I can get a refund for the part.

[Lostsailr]

Well we got a reimbursement form along with ours, so if you shelled out without one, you may have to work it out with VW.
The letter subject is: Voluntary Emissions Service Action 28F3/P1, Ignition Coil inspection/replacement (dated October 2009)

Be sure to have your VIN handy when you call, (local dealer perhaps, or VW office) as they seem to identify qualifying vehicles that way...our letter quoted ours when it said we were qualified.

Hope that helps.


Erin ... make sure there IS oil pressure. An old Audi we had way beck when did that, and then the engine fried, even loaded with oil, because if it ain't pumping oil, it's just like not having any in there. If oil pressure is confirmed by your mechanic, then sensor is prolly the issue.

[Erinisme]

Sounds like just an oil pressure sensor. If you have nice clean oil in there and it still "meeps" get yourself a new one.
If you are interested I'm sure the VW-Heads will help instruct you.

my has tried his hardest to make it stop. The sensor is in the heart of the engine. It needs to be taken totally apart to be replaced. When I go west coast for 3 weeks in august, he's gonna do it. :)