Friday, March 26, 2010

what is likely the cause of a draining battery in 03 VW Jetta?

Question 1
what is likely the cause of a draining battery in 03 VW Jetta?...  My daughters battery keeps draining in her 03 Jetta, but the battery is brand new. We have had the alternator checked and been told it is good. I have also found in looking online that this seems to be common problem among jettas. Have been told it could be anything from her alarm system to seat warmers staying on, but we just dont know what to try ! Help! This is getting ridiculous and the dealer costs way too much to even think about taking it there! We do know that it needs a new fan motor as it is overcooling....would that have anything to do with draining the battery? The dealer wants $800 to fix that. Please give us any suggestions to try so we are not continually having to jump this car off. Sometimes it goes for weeks with no problem and then it will start again with the battery draining.

Answers
1)   The only way I know to find the shorted circuit is to have use a meter that is able to measure the current draw from the battery and start pulling fuses one at a time. When the meter drops to 0 then you have found the circuit that is draining the battery. I have a friend that has a Jetta and had the same problem and it ended up being the power seat switch on the drivers side. When my friend drove the vehicle there was no problem but when his wife drove it the battery would be dead the next morning every time. The reason for it was he moved the seat the whole way back and somehow stopped the shorted wire from draining the battery. Then when his wife moved the seat forward it would drain the battery again. Hope I have been helpful. - king_davis13

2)   hi my son just had this problem with his jetta they checked his seat belts ,thought that was it turned out to be a couple of things it had a bad ground and a wire going to the fuzz panel that was causeing it to drain went bad,also check your idle air control sensor he had a problem with that it wouldnt shut off he didnt go to a dealer cost to much lucked out found a vw mech. that had a small little garage and only works on vw"s next town over best of friends now but once again check your grounds first good luck - Chet

3)   I am not sure how to perform a self-test on a VW. You can try this: get in and close the doors. Hold the trip reset button in and turn the key to the on position. Do not tun the vehicle on. Release the button and look at the dash. It should begin a self check. Wait for a trouble code to appear. It should be something that starts with either a P or C. That's a Power train code or a Chassis code. Since your battery is draining for no apparent reason, you have a direct short somewhere and a DTC (diagnostic trouble code) should appear. If this method does not work, a lot of the guys at most Auto Zones and Checkers will read it for you with their tool for free. If one won't, go to Pep Boys and fill out there rewards application. It's free! Then, take your car around back and have them read the code for you. If you have a rewards card they do a free code check, if you don't have the rewards card I think they charge like 50 bucks or something. Still cheaper than the dealer reading it. After you get the code go to this website: http://pics.tdiclub.com/data/517/135237938dtc.pdf and look up your code. You should now know where your problem is. Post on here again with the code and problem to get advice on fixing yourself or go to the auto parts store and ask someone there. Do your best to avoid a dealership, they usually want your first born. - steven s

4)   Good Grief, ppl sure dislike dealerships, dont they? Any dealer, be it Chevy, Honda, etc.
Had a similar problem with my VW.
But I took it to my local dealership. They diagnosed it for abt. $30 . They traced it to an Aftermarket Radio that an audio shop had installed for me. I had to take it back to the audio shop to have it re-wired. So it was not the car's fault after all.
BTW, I go to my dealer because they do the job right the 1st time and guarantee it. Plus, they have all the special tools and experience . Sure they charge a little more. But you get what you pay for.
But I understand everyone has their own way of doing things that work out best for them.
Also, be sure to check the trunk interior light. My brother's Mazda had a light that remained in the 'on' position and it caused his battery to die overnight too. So check all interior lights. - fenton

5)   Fix the fan thing absolutely and screw the dealer any shop can work on that.

Daughter driving pretty sedate, I have seen where the RPM's are so low cruising around town with the Monsoon Stereo blasting and the fan on high and the headlights on (DRL's) that the battery goes down. Did it myself to my 2003 GLI just this winter. Keep the reves about 2500 when cruising and back the fan off full blast and well we gotta have tunes. Seems to have cured mine up. Road trip on the freeway helps too.

SCI, 2003 GLI - sci


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Question 2
how much should i expect to pay for parts and labor for new alternator in VW Jetta.?...  Car is 02 Jetta and needs new alternator per my mechanic. He has quoted $410 to put on new one. Does this sound right? I thought this was high as we bought one for my sons car and my husband put it on himself for about $80 last year. But maybe more difficult on this VW which has been nothing but trouble since we got it.

Answers
1)   The alternator shouldn't be over 120, and 3 hours to replace it seems a tad steep to me too.

Shop around for another mechanic.
Or do it yourself and save a wee bit. - Briano

2)   I wouldn't install it myself. I just had something done at my VW dealer and it was $70/hour. That sounds way too expensive.
http://www.volkswagen.pe/html/volkswagen_jetta_peru.html - alexpassini

3)   A new Bosch alternator for your car is going to run between $275-350 depending where you buy it. If you don't think you're going to keep the car much longer, you can purchase a low mileage used alternator for under $100 online. Installation is not that difficult if your husband has replaced alternators on other cars. If he is a "do it your selfer," Advise him to retract the accessory belt tensioner by using a 16mm open ended wrench to pull the pulley half towards the front of the car, and locking it in place using a 20d common nail or a small allen key. With belt tension off, it is simple to un-bolt and replace the alternator. - gti_4cefed4

4)   An 02 Jetta at 410 sounds like a new Bosch Alternator, anything less is thievery.

What the heck kind /yr car does your son have(jeesh!).

I would demand that they remove the alt and have it rebuilt by a local rebuilder and that should slice 150 off that bill.

SCI, 2003 GLI, Former shop owner - sci


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Question 3
What was a good year for gti's?...  I looking to buy a used gti. I've seen a few and they range from 2000-2008. What was a good year in gti quality, and which ones have been known to be less reliable?

Answers
1)   2007's seem to have very little trouble. - Impalaman62

2)   2006 onwards was a good time in terms of performance, handling, gas mileage and reliability. The later the year though the more reliable. By 2009 the reliability is pretty much bullet proof. However 2010 is even more reliable as the changes were mostly cosmetic. - Nichole Marie

3)   If looking for style and don't care much for reliability, practicality, or anything making it useful check out a MkII GTI which goes up to 92 I believe. After that look into the MkV. It is probably the most reliable and practical of all the GTI variations. - GT

4)   1992 GTI 16V on the A2( MK II) chassis. They are classics anymore, but are the most visceral and enjoyable of the lot. The Recaro's are the best seats ever put in a VW. The Close Ratio 5 spd and twin Cam is like blasting off on a crotch rocket! They are some of the best Auto Crossers too.

SCI, 2003 GLI- Had A2 16v's for 21 years of love and racing - sci


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Question 4
Will two adult bikes fit in the back of a VW Golf with the back seats down?...  I can't test is as I'm borrowing the car and don't have it yet. Tring to work out whether to buy a bike rack or not. Bikes are both Adult mountain bikes.

Answers
1)   yeah, if you remove the front wheels of both bikes, done it in my golf, it is aggro but they will go in. - movana

2)   My wife and I have Mt. bikes too.
When we 1st began riding, we had a 2000 Golf GTI. Both bikes fit the Golf w/ seats folded flat.
However, we had to remove the front wheels and juggle the bikes to fit. The frnt. wheels had to be bungee corded to the sides. For safety we bungeed both bikes to the anchoring devices in the hatch.
We did this for 1 season. It quickly became tiresome. And it meant we had limited space for our other camping gear and bike equipment. Plus food, etc. But we accomplished it.
For the next season we decided to go with an aftermarket roof rack. Big mistake. Looked cheap and did not fit well at all.
We finally realized that the Genuine VW roof rack that is custom made for each VW, was the best.
It looks great and is aerodynamically designed. And its much sturdier too.
The bike racks that hang on the back are an option too. But we have kayaks and the VW roof rack can accomodate them too.
We are happy campers/bikers/kayakers now with our roof rack! And it leaves the entire interior free for gear and goodies! - fenton

3)   Probably you might have to remove a wheel or 2. - Lotus

4)   Movana is right. And when you do get the rack, get a Thule. Thule makes the racks for VW. - djaca70


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Question 5
can i install a turbo in a 2.0 jetta?...  

Answers
1)   only after engine modifications it would be expensive - Harley Drive

2)   yeah you can .. but you would have to make a few changes to the engine because then you would mess it up . - juan b

3)   Yes, thousands of people have already. Go to the VWvortex.com forums and learn all about what needs to be done. - gti_4cefed4

4)   Possible but a lot less work and cheaper to change your car and get a 1.8t version and change out the turbo to a higher pressure one. A lot more mods around for it too such as better ECU software. - Nichole Marie


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Tuesday, March 23, 2010

In which country did the Volkswagon originate ?

Question 1
In which country did the Volkswagon originate ?...  

Answers
1)   i believe germany - Kayrea

2)   In Germany. It was designed by Porsche at the behest of Hitler back in the 1930s. - mustanger

3)   Germany - Elizabeth

4)   Volks = Peoples, Wagon = Car
Germany 1930's
Porsche designer for the National Socialist Party circa 1935 - ( VW Beetle, a car for the masses)
Based in Wolfzberg Germany & factory in Mexico.
VAG = Volkswagen Audi Group.
Own VW Audi Seat Bugati & so on. - Jamie C

5)   Germany by Ferdinand Porsche - built as a vehicle the average person in Germany could afford to own -as requested by then leader Adolf Hitler. Volkswagon translates into Volks=people wagon=wagen so Peoples wagen (or the peoples car)Google the "History of the VW"

No different than Henry Fords "Model T" which was a car for all the people because it was the first one that was produced on assembly lines so the costs were reduced as more automobiles were constructed. Henry Ford did not invent the automobile. He created a working assembly line(as cars before this time were made one at a time by a whole whack of inventors. - Xavwieztsky

6)   in germany in the 1930's,also hitler big fan of the vw. - KAM

7)   Deutcheland, Deutcheland, Uber Alles ...

(Germany)

In fact, Adolph Hitler actually came up with the original design concept for the Bug. Go figure. - Paul in San Diego


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Question 2
what would you name a white vw beetle?...  its a gls 5 speed turbo..white...what would you name it

Answers
1)   junk - clydesdale44

2)   Personally I would call it Shop car! Cause its gonna be there a lot. - baddogjmh

3)   WHEETLE - Don

4)   i would name it Speedy white bug or speedy white - J0$H

5)   SPERMY........... - K.

6)   Herbie. - Natalie


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Question 3
I put a different kind of intifreeze in my 2001 Passat than the manual states - should I be...?...  ...worried or have it fixed?
It was only a few cups worth. I usually take it to the dealership for everything, but didn't want to have a huge bill over it! THANKS!

Answers
1)   I would drain and flush the system. You can buy the antifreeze at a part store it's made by Pentision. - uthockey32

2)   A few years ago there was some concern about certain kinds of antifreeze being kinda corrosive on aluminum. So a lot of owner's manuals had warnings about using anything other than XXXX Co. antifreeze.


I don't know for sure but now that almost every car has aluminum parts, all the antifreezes are compatible with aluminum.


So I would not worry about it. - Jill

3)   Having the system full of the wrong kind of coolant isn't as bad as mixing the coolants, actually. - Richard R

4)   save yourself money buy 50/50 mix of antifreeze at walmart 5 bucks a gallon drain old from drain valve at bottom of radiator it should hold a gallon your done drive it around block let cool check level in radiator i have 15 years ex my e mail is lyle.d@juno .com if you need anything - Linnaea

5)   The radiator is pretty big, and you only diluted the antifreeze that was in there. The importaint part of putting in the type recommended by Volkswagen is the anti-corrosion quality of the mixture. You still have that. If you have never had the coolant changed, or you think it might be leaking, it would be a good idea to have them change it next time in, and test the coolant system while they are at it. I have a 2001 1.8 Turbo myself, with 115,000 miles on it, but have never had to add coolant myself. I always go to VW for service just because they know the car so well.
If you have a sunroof, have them check the drains before Winter starts. If they plug, you can get water in the passenger compartment. I had enough to do electronics damage. - Charmian


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Question 4
2005 vs. 2006 Volkswagen Jetta GLI?...  I am looking to purchase either a 2005 or 2006 Volkswagen Jetta GLI and I am having trouble which year to purchase, considering 2006 marked the redesign of the Jetta line. I much prefer the exterior design of the 2005, but the interior of the 2006 is far superior.

I am wondering which year will be more reliable, and if insurance jumped significantly between the two years. Also, how much does the driving experience differ between the two cars (manual versions only), considering the 2006 has the new 2.0T vs a VR6?

Thank you for your input!

Answers
1)   The 2004.5-2005 Jetta GLI had the 1.8T motor and 6-speed 02M manual transmission as the only available configuration. The 2002-2004 GLI came with the new 24V VR6 motor you mentioned. Style always comes down to personal opinion, I prefer the Recaro seats and brushed aluminum trim found in the interior of the 2005, as well as the nice 18" BBS wheels that came standard. In stock form, the 2006 is going to have a little more power, and better handling, thanks mainly to the newly redesigned independent rear suspension. Brakes are the same on both cars. Check with your personal insurance provider for the price difference, but I would think they'd be very similar. Overall, I'd pick the 2005 because of the exclusivity of the GLI option package that year. It's a very sharp looking car. - gti_4cefed4

2)   If you are buying used car. don't buy german car. They are easy to break down and their parts are expensive to buy. Try Honda civic si or Subaru Impressa or Mazda speed3 - Caleb

3)   2006 has more power,however is expansive on insurance.So,it is up to what is your concern?For the situation like yours,I would like to suggest you get as much resource as you can before you make your mind,the resource here  autoinsurancepro.info  help me a lot when I met this sort of problem before. - ELIZABETH J

4)   You also should compare car insurance quotes for cars before buying one, for example here - carquotes.sinfree.net - Clay


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Question 5
Whats the Difference in Golf TDI And Gold TSI?...  Whitch is faster and whitch is the best one for my first car?
I MENT GOLF TSI !

Answers
1)   one is bad the other is worst.... golf..? you kiddin? - Derek

2)   Now that the B/S answer has been given.

The TDI is a turbo diesel. Depending on where you are in the world, it - the Mk6 - comes in 1.6TDI 90 up to 2.0TDI 170. The TSI is supercharged and/or turbocharged. Comes in 1.2TSI up to 2.0TSI.

Which one? It's really up to you. - vavavoom

3)   go for the tdi, either 1.9 or 2ltr.
the tsi is a bit lame. - Jamie C

4)   Golf tdi is a turbo deisel, golf tsi, also sold as a tfsi is a turbo petrol engine.

Id get the petrol one, the deisel engines sound like trucks, especially in the golf cos theyre a small car. - Natalie


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Friday, March 19, 2010

Can 99 jetta vr6 rims fit a 98 jetta?

Question 1
Can 99 jetta vr6 rims fit a 98 jetta?...  I need to buy rims, and have found some, but I'm not sure if they will fit...

Answers
1)   yes. - Shaft

2)   Yes.. - First NameHedley

3)   That depends in 1999 volkswagen made the mk3 and the mk4 model if you are going from the mk3 model to the mk4 they will not fit because the mk4 has 5 bolts and the mk3 has 4 bolts so you have to check that out. - Travis

4)   As long as the offset is right. - djaca70

5)   If both are 5 bolt they fit, period.
If that 98 jetta 2.0L has 4 bolt wheels then they do not.
Possible but unlikely that 98 has 4x100 bolt pattern

All VR6 VW have 5x100 bolt pattern, so do G-Ladder 1.8L Corrado's


SCI VW Since 1959, 2003 GLI - sci


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Question 2
do all VW's have engine noise?...  we purchased a 2000 Jetta yesterday. It has a kind of loud clanking noise when idling, but it gets much quieter the faster you go. The dealership said this is normal for a VW, but we are concerned. We have a warranty on the car and plan on having it put up on diagnostics this weekend, but I was wondering if anyone has heard of this before?
turns out it only makes the noise with the hood closed. open the hood-the noise goes away, lol

Answers
1)   Hello,

If it's a diesel then yes, there will be some chatter while idling. If it's a gasoline powered engine, then then you could have a problem. Perhaps somewhere along the line of a spun crankshaft bearing which is serious engine work.

Andrew - andrew the great

2)   You did not indicate whether it was gas or diesel. Diesels sound like they are falling apart. That is normal noise of a healthy diesel engine. For a gas engine, not so. Sounds like something is amiss. Possibly a stuck hydraulic lifter.
Good thing you are taking it in. Mention the noise to them. It is hard to tell from your description (one has to hear it personally) Something may just be loose, but I have no idea what that would be.
Of course the dealership said it was normal. They are not mechanics and they would not tell you of problems on a vehicle they were trying to sell. That would defeat their purpose(selling cars). They try to stay ignorant of how a car should sound or work. (heck, maybe on the side the same salesman sells shoes on the weekend) Selling is selling.
Do not treat VW differently than any other car. An engine is an engine. They all work(the gas models and brands) the same way. So, for him to say different is "total BS" - Xavwieztsky

3)   Loud clanking noise does not sound right to me. Certainly, our 2003 Golf 2L (gasoline) does not make any clanking noises when idling, nor has it done since new, and nor did any of the previous VW cars I have owned or driven. So in answer to your question:

NO, all VW's do not have the "clanking" engine noise you describe.

Some older diesel engines did used to sound louder when idling and cold when compared to gasoline engines. With the new technologies in use today (common rail direct injection etc.) this is no longer true, but if you are in the U.S. those technologies only made it over here quite recently.

In any case, since you say the noise goes away when the hood is open, it sounds like it might be related to something else, such as the hood release mechanism, so you may have to get that dealer to check it out. Just to be safe, perhaps you should check that there is no sign of anything actually banging off the hood itself when it is closed, like a twig or something caught up in the fan behind the radiator. - kik2c


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Question 3
How Much Did My 1999 Passat Cost New?...  I have had my passat for a couple years and i bought it used but i was wondering how much it would have cost new? When i look at it it does not have any emblems that say GL, GLS, ect. Its a 1999 VW passat Wagon. It has a 1.8 Liter 4 Cylinder Engine, heated seats, sunroof, 6 disc changer, 17 inch Stock alloy rims. It does not have: 4 Motion, Leather, Tinted Windows, or Wood Trim. Its a Stupid question but I was wondering if anyone who knows anything about these cars or, for example, sold them at that time. It would be interesting to know.
Thanks

Answers
1)   follow the link for everything you need to know about your passat.

http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/pricing.aspx?year=1999&make=Volkswagen&model=Passat

http://autos.msn.com/research/vip/pricing.aspx?year=1999&make=Volkswagen&model=Passat%20Wagon - Shaft

2)   Depends where you live. Every dealer can put their own price on the vehicle. Depends if it was sold with certain accessories such as undercoating, rustproofing and the other accessories. So you need to find someone in your area of the world(where-ever you hail from) who bought the same car and can remember what they paid.. - Xavwieztsky

3)   This is a GL, with optional heated seats, roof, CD changer, and optional rims. About $22K. Does it have an automatic? If so, add about $1500. You can check the NADA guide too. - djaca70


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Question 4
what are those other lights in the dash of my car what do they do like the abs i haved never seen it on?...  the car is a 2000 plymouth neon if someone owns or knows about this car please advise me

Answers
1)   abs system is auto braking system - chauhan.ravi@rocketmail.com

2)   well its generally a good thing that you havent seen them on..when a light such as abs comes on that means your anti lock brake systems messed up, same thing for your check engine light etc - RAWRRAWRIMADINOSAUR

3)   Go get your brakes checked it's your Anti Lock Brake System . - What


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Question 5
Does anyone know where i can get some lowback seats for a 1965 beetle?...  Im looking for some lowback seats for my beetle i live in petaluma does anyone know of a pick and pull or even a vw graveyard anywhere in the bay area

Answers
1)   Try E bay - What

2)   i know about this website i dont know if you want the seats new or used but check out this website.

i hope this helps. - Ruben

3)   You can get them on www.thesamba.com or go to www.centralcoastvwclub.com and look in the classifieds there - vwbuggin64


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Wednesday, March 17, 2010

98 VW Jetta wont go over 25 mph?

Question 1
98 VW Jetta wont go over 25 mph?...  The car idles fine, when it's in park or neutral and I give it gas, it revs fine, but when I drive it, it accelerates and dies at about 25 mph. It doesn't stall, just kind of chokes. Any ideas? Thanks.

Answers
1)   Are you taking your foot off the accellerator at 25mph? maybe your subconciously thinking your going too fast and start to slow down for fear of crashing?

Be brave and keep the power on! - Henry

2)   1.Check to be sure all the vacuum lines are connected and connection is tight.
2.Check air cleaner to be sure it is not clogged.
3. Fuel filter
4. Look at fuel pump output. - Xavwieztsky

3)   Spin the pre-catalyst O2 sensor out of the exhaust and briefly drive the car just enough to check it for speed/power. It will sound terrible so be ready for it. lol If the car will run well without the sensor installed look for a choked converter or muffler; or even a crushed shut exhaust pipe. My money is on the converter, especially if the engine has been missing. - Six String Bandit

4)   A friend of mine has an 05 TDI Jetta Wagon. Had a similar problem that turned out to be a vacum line colapsing internally off the back of the turbo - Eric W


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Question 2
is 2010 GTI front wheel or rear wheel drive?...  FWD or RWD?

Answers
1)   FWD - emiller1998

2)   it's FWD. the R32 is AWD - blazeimurill

3)   It is WWD--wrong wheel drive - Ted


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Question 3
Which is better with mods jetta gli 1.8 or the vr6 and why?...  

Answers
1)   If I understand your cryptic question correctly, You are asking which one is worth modding up.

For a start the Golf is a better car. The standard 1.8 is gutless. The VR6 is awesome.
You would have to spend serious money to up the power of the 1.8 and not come even close to VR6's output. All monet you could spend on other stuff - gojuryu

2)   Actually 1.8t offers far cheaper engine mods than the vr6, a chip alone can do wonders for a 1.8t. The vr6 how ever will cost a lot more to upgrade but you will be able to get much higher hp and torque. If you decide to get an 1.8t i would recommend cat-back exhaust, a short ram air intake (no point getting a cold air because once the air hits the turbo it will be heated by the exhaust and be warm) dropping a KO4 and a chip. If you decide to get a vr6 i would recommend getting 268 cams (preferable schricks) , cat-back and a chip. Depending on where you live a cold air intake, but if you live anywhere where you will get a lot of rain/snow i would recommend taking the airbox off and replacing it with cone filter. If you are willing to spend about $4k on a turbo, your vr6 will spank most cars on the road. In my own personal opinion i would recommend a 24v vr6, it comes stock with 200hp and a 6spd transmission, with cams and a chip you will get about 30whp and 25 ftlb's torque.

All in all, if you are looking for a car to modify with shallow pockets i would recommend the 1.8t, but if you are looking for serious power and are willing to spend more money on i would recommend the vr6. It all comes down to your own personal preference. The Vr6 will have a smooth and steady power, where as the 1.8t has the benefit of being able to get a lot of power for a relatively cheap buck. - AJ

3)   The 1.8T is the better way to go if your interested in modding. Just a chip and exhaust will make it feel like you are driving a different car because of the power difference. I had a 01 1.8t for 4 years and sold it for an 06 2.0T and I miss my old car so bad!

P.S. APR is the chip brand to go with! - Matt


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Question 4
For how many miles does a vw bug last? and whats the mpg?...  

Answers
1)   The new water cooled bug or the old air cooled bug?

New - 110K with good maintenance, and 26 to 30 MPG
Old - 70K before rebuild and 23 to 26 MPG - Don S

2)   Well I personally have seen one gentle man put 1,000,000 miles on his Aircooled bug. - Briano


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Question 5
VW Passat won't crank after getting gas ?...  I have a 99' VW Passat and every time I get gas, it takes a couple of tries to crank the car? Does anyone know what this could be?

Answers
1)   I hope you are putting premium fuel only in it (91 or 93) Passat's require premium fuel. - romancandle

2)   To his point you should be putting in 91 octane minimum fuel in your passat. Go to autozone and buy a bottle of fuel system treatment and try that a couple times. If that doesnt help after a couple times check the fuel lines and injectors, they may have ethanol build up you might need them replaced. - AJ


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Tuesday, March 16, 2010

To buy or not to buy? A VW vanagon?

Question 1
To buy or not to buy? A VW vanagon?...  I have recently been interested in the vw vanagon. I don't have my drivers lisence yet, but will soon. I also have just been looking at different vehicles.I really want a hippie van. I like to go camping and stuff so that is definitely one of the reasons, but i would also just like to have more space. I've heard of people who have converted their vanagons to electric. Is this a good idea? I wouldn't worry about its declining value because i doubt we would ever sell it. I also would like an automatic, as I'm not very comfortable with a stick shift. Are there any vangagon owners who could give me more info about this vehicle? Anyone who know s the slightest bit of info about vanagons feel free to comment.Also does anyone know what their gas mileage is?

Answers
1)   They are horribly unreliable and unsafe. If you hit something with it best case you will get badly hurt. About the only positive is that they are easy to work on and it wont take long to get lots of practice. - emiller1998

2)   Do not buy one unless you are a mechanic or you know one who will work for free.

Go to www.thesamba.com.
Then go to the forum for vanagons and read your heart out, you will learn all you need to on that site - SJ

3)   You also should compare car insurance quotes for cars before buying one, for example here - carinsurance.yoll.net - Andrew

4)   Buy an old chevy van, still very cool, and a whole lot easier to fix! - onlyoldiron4me

5)   Well I, personally, would look for an earlier model. say, pre 1975. Those were simpler and the maint. was pretty straightforward.

Having said that the maint. is demanding. Easy to do but unforgiving if you skip it. Oil, lube, rust prevention are all easy to check and handle but, for example, an engine can go south really fast if you don't check the oil and change it at least bi-monthly.

On the plus side, the value of these things is going UP, not down. So if you buy it now it will likely be worth more when you actually start driving it.

Ok.. having said that.. skip the automatic and learn to drive a stick. THe autos have a bad record while the 4 speeds just keep going and going and are easy to replace.

that's my 2 cents...

. - ca_surveyor


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Question 2
Does Volkswagen make a 2003 Passat that has a diesel engine? Where can I find info on this car?...  I'm thinking of getting a Passat and the dealer said they had a 2003 that was diesel but it wasn't in the lot and I have been trying to find info on them. Is 100k for a diesel Passat alright? Is it worth $5,000?

Answers
1)   There's this little website that I like to use to find stuff out. Not many people know about it so don't tell anyone. Its called google! - JM

2)   Yes, Volkswagen made a TDI diesel Passat from 1999-05 for sure. 2004-2005 was a 2.0L 4cylinder diesel engine, before that was a 1.9L 4cylinder diesel. The 2.0 was much more powerful (134hp and 247ft-lb torque vs 90hp and 165ft-lb), but it's also hard to find. For a diesel engine, 100,000 miles is just getting broken in, unlike a gas engine where problems start happening after 100,000 miles. They will also get better gas mileage than their gas counterparts, but at the expense of acceleration. The diesel is much slower. - Sean

3)   100? Just broken in. And expected. But at that mileage you need to have the car looked at for all the other stuff (especially the timing belt needs replacing at this point as it is an "interference engine" meaning if the belt breaks the valves will hit the pistons and break, bend, and just mess up the innards. Also have someone inspect the Constant Velocity Joint boots and the axles themselves to see if there is any "play in them". Boots tend to split as they age and all the grease will fly out and dirt will enter and that is the end of that CVJ.
My car was a 25y.o.diesel Rabbit with 720K on the clock. and it would have continued (but the body rusted away). Was not burning oil or anything. Also, it was non-turbo. Did not go like a V8 but it went OK. @ 65mpg
A non turbo is a dog compared to a turbo, but then I did not buy it for "drag racing" and it is much better than a motorcycle (especially in the rainy weather). A turbo model I have had as well, and again you did not buy the car for drag racing. However, the turbo has alot of pull to it(at the expense of fuel economy) >in the 30's< - Xavwieztsky

4)   for the US market, in the B5/5.5 body style with a longitudinal engine, there is no 2003 Passat TDI. The 8-valve 2.0L Pumpe-Duse engine was introduced in Model Year 2004.

The dealer could have had a typo - cant_think_of_1


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Question 3
My golf mk4 drivers door will not unlock, key just goes around & around, can anyone suggest a way to open?...  I can open my passanger door but even from the inside the drivers door will not open, and the central locking will not open the door either. At the moment I don't want to contract vw as this will cost me to much.

Answers
1)   smash the window. the locks broken you cant do nething about it... youl have to pik it afta removing the window.. take it to a garage and pay them aroudn £40 theyl do it all for you i had the same problem - azam

2)   sounds like you may need a new barrel, you should open your door panel can take a look at the problem if it is your barrel then you can get one from vw they dont cost much and do the work yourself if its not the barrel then it might be an electrical fault and you would need vw to run a diagnostics to find the problem - Amilli_N

3)   Some cars have a security feature that makes the barrel rotate when an incorrect key is used, to undo this you should turn the lock to its original position (either dead vertical or dead horizontal) with the original key, remove the key then re-insert it. Dont know if this is the same for a Golf but worth a try.. - Regards - Daz - Darren M

4)   the rod has dropped off inner panel will need to come off to gain access - J R


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Question 4
Where can I find a Volkswagen Microbus?...  More commonly known as the "Hippie Van."

However I just want to find a light blue and white plain bus, like this one *without circles*:

http://www.autospectator.com/uploads/Volkswagen/Other/SCENTAIR_VWmicrobus.jpg

-or this-

http://www.snuffledopple.com/images/2531b.jpg

I really would like to find one, I'm willing to fix it up, but I can't find one ANYWHERE :(

Answers
1)   Might try ebay motors, or cars.com, or hemmings motor news, they specialize in older vehicle classifieds. www.hemmings.com. Not sure of the website but try the VW owners' club. Might have to check all of these sources fairly often, when one is listed I'm sure it doesn't last long. - Rick

2)   Well as you have discovered they are rather hard to find on the market (which will also reflect on your wallet).

If I were looking I would first try Craiglist (www.craigslist.org) and search not only for your City or metro area but for areas within 100 miles or so. WIth some slelective search edits you may find one either under autos or perhaps under autoparts where you might find one without an engine.

My second choice would be eBay. This is a global community but the search mode allows some edits to your locale with a radius feature. Again.. a broad search will get you more but they may not be what you are looking for. At the very least if you also check the SOLD auctions you may get an idea of their respective values.

Lastly try www.thesamba.com. Here you will find people who know about VW's selling VW's. So do not expect any bargains... but there may be more available because of that.

good luck in your quest...

, - ca_surveyor

3)   thesamba.com

There are many for sale there - Rod Knocker

4)   Try

www.thesamba.com - SJ


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Question 5
2004 Passat Timing Belt just broke, what now?...  Our 2004 VW Passat, original owners, only 49k miles, regular dealer maintenance, suddenly snapped the timing belt while car was stopped at red light. VW will absorb the "$5,000" cost of repairing this catastrophe. So what next? We get the car fixed, then will the car be prone to more future troubles? Why would this have happened in the first place? Thank you!

Answers
1)   Bearing failure in the tensioner pully? Monday belt? Got the engine hot on some other problem? Bad Luck....

Good on VW for standing behind this. God help you if it was at 60,001 miles. I am not a fan of the 20V Turbo Engine from Audi (Actually all 20V's).

Sell it as soon as practical and get a Nice Jetta VR5.

SCI VW since 1959, 2003 GLI (6 spd 24V VR6) - sci

2)   i hate to be a debby downer but on Volkswagen's, timing belts and water pumps are crucial to take care of on these cars. i know it's a very expensive thing to fix which is why every 60k miles your suppose to get these parts replaced so you don't have to worry about your whole engine getting messed up. i know your pain, but i love Volkswagen's too much to give mine up. good luck with future problems you may have. and try to keep your cars maintenance up to date. that's all there really is to say but watch out for those 2 things. - Anthony

3)   Most car manufacturer's 4 cylinder engines have a timing belt with tensioners, etc. Also, most 4 cylinder valve assemblies are 'interference engines'. This means that if the timing belt breaks, the valves 'punch' their way into the tops of the pistons. Therefore, you need new valves, pistons, etc. Expensive.
I do not know the engineering reason for this type of design. But most cars, some Hondas, Toyotas, etc. use this design , including of course, VW.
You are fortunate that it happened before the 60k warranty expired.
I own a '06 GTI with the turbo 4 cylinder. The owners manual does not state when to replace the timing belt.
So I e-mailed them at vw.com . Within 12 hrs they responded that I was to have the belt inspected at my regular maint. service at 20k, 60, 80, 100k. If the belt looked worn , it was to be replaced. VW also said to replace it at 105k regardless of condition. I wonder if the average Joe can do this inspection without taking it to the dealer? I'll ask on this site.
Why did this happen in 1st place? Because belts are just rubber-coated fiber. Belts must survive millions of revolutions , snaking around spinning steel gears. At 100+ degrees. They work hard, but get no respect.... Its a wonder to me why they dont break more often under these conditions.
IMO, the timing belt issue does not signify more woes. Other VW engines, the 5 cyl. and VR6, have timing chains that some say last up to 100s of thousands miles. My wifes 05 Jetta has a timing chain. Two of my friends have Passats and enjoy them immensely.
However, I must add that Consumer Reports gives the 2000 thru 2007 Passat 4 cyl. a below average reliability rating. But the 08 and 09 Passats get a green light as a Recommended Car to Buy. They said reliability was much improved. Also listed as Below Average Reliability were Cadillac, Chevy, Chrysler, Dodge, Ford, even Honda yrs. '01&02.... they have also suspended recommendations of all Toyotas because of the unintended acceleration fatalities.
Thanks for the question, as it emphasized my awareness of the timing belt. Definitely keep an eye out for it.... - fenton

4)   timing belt tensioner could have lost some tension due to wear causing alot slack in timing belt causing it to break.you need another engine valves bent when hitting pistons the piston heads is damaged.. - chevyman


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Monday, March 15, 2010

What are the best type of VWs?

Question 1
What are the best type of VWs?...  i really like VW cabrios but ive heard that VWs are super expensive to fix in the US and arent that great of cars.

Answers
1)   the best type of VW is the one that someone else owns! LOL!

They are VERY expensive to fix, buy a Honda. - PAUL

2)   u heard right !

dont get one . - jay

3)   The ones that are totalled and sitting in a junkyard for scrap parts. - Kenny

4)   A type 1, pre 1972 are the best. - Old Man Dirt

5)   GTI. but yea, i woulds go with a honda - Jacob

6)   I never heard that there to expencive to fix but the best VW is the CC. Sexy sporty sedan. Worth the money trust me. - Jack

7)   Yes, Most autos are EXPENSIVE to fix, that is the operative word.
However: If the car is Maintained, then you don't have to "fix" them that often.
If you want a Cabrio stick to the later ones. Stay away from the "Auto's" as the automatic transmission in them are the weak point.

I have Driven a 1981 rabbit diesel off the showroom floor for 300K until I sold it in 2000.
I have 2 Cabriolets 160K and 140K that are Daily drivers.

The key is to Maintain them and if it sounds like something is going bad, repair it or replace it. VW's like other car, you can ignore things thinking they will get better. - Briano

8)   I owned and loved to drive my 1998 Cabrio. Simply an amazing and reliable car! Drove it many years with zero issues.
I never had to buy parts to repair it. However, my neighbor owns a Honda and we often talk abt. our cars. It turns out that both cars are abt the same when it comes to buying replacement parts. For example we both had our timing belts replaced. Both of us took our cars to the Dealership for this service. I spent abt $12 more. Thats it. Not much difference, is it?
BTW, I sold my Cabrio to buy a VW GTI. Phenominal , fast car.
But I still miss my top-down , wind in my hair Cabrio.... after all, there is nothing like cruising the beach in a Cabrio ... - fenton

9)   Type 181 or type 2 microbus - Rod Knocker


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Question 2
are volkswagens expensive to maintain?...  everyone always complains how expensive vw's are expensive to maintain i was just wondering if this is true

Answers
1)   True. - Mike

2)   Overall, yes, a little more expensive. More than a Honda, less than a Mercedes. On the other hand, parts for my VWs are often less than those for my Civic... - Mark K

3)   I've spent more than 35 years in the automotive business, many of the last twenty-five years+ dealing with Volkswagens as well as other mainly imported vehicles in the USA. What I can tell you is that in general, most european vehicles are far more expensive to maintain than either Asian or US designed vehicles (built by the former "big three" domestic manufacturers).

The reason for this seems to be that the europeans have designed vehicles with very tight mechanical tolerances and maintanance must be followed exactly "by the book" in order to keep them running properly. The domestic and asian makes are well made, but in general, their mechanical components seem either to be built with more tolerance for abuse or they aren't over engineered.

The classic example of this is something as simple as a light switch to turn on the parking brake warning light. Now, a european luxury make had a very well made and finished hand brake handle that pulled up to set the parking brake. The switch for the parking light was very small and the handle had a small flat surface designed to hit the center of the switch exactly to turn it off. Over time, the hand brake handle bent however slightly, but it was enough that the hand brake handle would not hit the center of the very small switch to push it in and turn off the light. Because of the design and material of the hand brake lever, it became necessary to replace the handle to turn off the light. Now, as a practical matter, I used take the handle off and bend the arm that contacted the switch so that it would contact the switch properly and push in the switch to turn off the warning light. Eventually, that would fail and it became necessary to replace the hand brake handle. It wasn't cheap either in labour or part. The asians and americans had either a switch that was much larger in size or the surface area of the handle that pushed on the switch was larger or they had the switch built into the racthet area of the handle, all methods that worked well and avoided the issue of problems caused by the handle bending slightly over time.

Because the europeans sell far fewer vehicles in the USA, parts don't have as much movement, so prices for parts are higher and there are fewer people servicing them, so labour prices tend to higher as well.

This is just my view point based upon my many years of automotive experience in service both at the dealership level and independent shops. - a car nut

4)   it used to be that all european makes were very maintenance intensive, especially German cars. Seems like there was something that needed to be done to them about every thousand miles. But over there that's not considered a drawback. They're very "hands-on" when it comes to vehicle maintenance, they love to work on their cars, and they're sticklers for accuracy. - Rick

5)   From an actual owner's answer; No, VWs are not expensive to maintain.
I drove a 2000 GTI for many fun filled yrs.
Had a 1998 VW Cabrio too. My wife drove and loved her New Beetle.
My son has a 1998 GTI. His wife cherishes her '08 Rabbit.
My sister adores her 2000 Golf.
My 2006 GTI is a reliable testimony to VW basic maintenance. So is my wife's 05 Jetta.
All the above cars are maintained just like any other brand would be. By that I mean we change our oil/filters, air cleaner filters, spark plugs, etc. according to schedule. No more than any car owner would do to keep his/her car operating at peak efficiency.
Here is another example; my neighbor owns a Honda. We respect one another and also compare prices for parts and services. Guess what? In almost every instance , the two vehicles average out abt. the same. The thing is, all cars are 'expensive' when you actually have to spend money on them, right? My family has owned Fords, Mazdas, Toyotas, etc. and we spend no more on our VW maint. than we did on them.
So thats my honest answer to your question. - fenton


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Question 3
i got a question on the 1998 jetta?...  im looking at a couple and probably gonna get a 5 speed. is the jetta with the 4 cylinder any different from the VR6? if so which is faster and better quality. thanks

Answers
1)   I doubt any 10-year old German high can tout quality and they definitely do NOT tout reliability...at least not without a serious price to pay.

In other words, don't be looking at a VW that old.

Glad to help. - alfredb1979

2)   If the car is maintained before you buy it by the previous owners then it is no different than buying any older car.

The VR6 is a larger engine than the 1.8, reliability is in the previous maintenance, and the way it was driven.

How many miles each has on it tells you a lot, the biggest thing I have found was the condition of the brake, and gas pedal. If they are really worn, then that is a sign that the person drove it hard and stopped it that way to.

I currently own a 1993 and a 1992 Cabriolet that both have less than 180K. It took me about a year to get them to the Daily driver mode, but they have both been reliable and consistent cars for over 2 years.

I also drove a 1981 Diesel Rabbit off the showroom floor till I sold it in 2001 with 300k on the odo. It was maintained and pampered... Hated to sell it, but 6 cars and 4 drivers somethings had to go. - Briano

3)   My son owns a 1998 Golf GTI [same as the Jetta but its a hatchback].
The VR6 engine package comes with upgraded suspension and tires, wheels and a sportier interior. The VR6 engine is a powerful, robust design and will last 100,000s of miles. [it won many engineering awards.] My son just changed his timing chain at 135,000 miles.
The engine and indeed the entire car is reliable and still brings out the joy of driving.
The 4 cylinder is of course not as powerful. My sister owns a 2000 with the 2.0 engine. It has over 130,000 durable miles on it. No problems at all.
So, I suggest having the Jetta [or ANY brand of used car] thoroughly checked out by a mechanic. After all , some ppl. just dont treat their cars with respect. And then they complain and eventually sell them to unsuspecting buyers.
Hope your Jetta experience will be as good as ours has been.... - fenton

4)   get the vr6. Higher quality, faster, sportier, and a nice car. - Jimmy S

5)   If you gotta ask.... stick with the 2.0L 4 cylinder. They are nearly bullet proof and won't get you into trouble like that beasty VR6.

Sci, 2003 GLI (6 spd 24V VR6) - sci


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Question 4
My golf mk4 drivers door will not unlock, key just goes around & around, can anyone suggest a way to open?...  I can open my passanger door but even from the inside the drivers door will not open, and the central locking will not open the door either. At the moment I don't want to contract vw as this will cost me to much.

Answers
1)   smash the window. the locks broken you cant do nething about it... youl have to pik it afta removing the window.. take it to a garage and pay them aroudn £40 theyl do it all for you i had the same problem - azam

2)   sounds like you may need a new barrel, you should open your door panel can take a look at the problem if it is your barrel then you can get one from vw they dont cost much and do the work yourself if its not the barrel then it might be an electrical fault and you would need vw to run a diagnostics to find the problem - Amilli_N

3)   Some cars have a security feature that makes the barrel rotate when an incorrect key is used, to undo this you should turn the lock to its original position (either dead vertical or dead horizontal) with the original key, remove the key then re-insert it. Dont know if this is the same for a Golf but worth a try.. - Regards - Daz - Darren M

4)   the rod has dropped off inner panel will need to come off to gain access - J R


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Question 5
I need to know the EXACT model and name for this car/van?...  I know its a Volkswagen, but all I know is it's the Type 2 or Hippie Bus/Van.
But what is this exact one called? Because there's ones that are campers and whatnot and
I need this one. Help?

http://classicrentabug.com/images/campers/1960-split-screen-camper.jpg
And would anyone know where to buy one? In any condition, really...

Answers
1)   vw bus is all i ever heard them called. - ladystang

2)   It says it right in the URL
1960-split-screen-camper
its a 1960 VW bus - Garrett

3)   1960 Split window transportor
thesamba.com is a good place or craigslist.
Split window buses are the most sought after so expect to pay!!!! - La La


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Sunday, March 14, 2010

What are the best type of VWs?

Question 1
What are the best type of VWs?...  i really like VW cabrios but ive heard that VWs are super expensive to fix in the US and arent that great of cars.

Answers
1)   the best type of VW is the one that someone else owns! LOL!

They are VERY expensive to fix, buy a Honda. - PAUL

2)   u heard right !

dont get one . - jay

3)   The ones that are totalled and sitting in a junkyard for scrap parts. - Kenny

4)   A type 1, pre 1972 are the best. - Old Man Dirt

5)   GTI. but yea, i woulds go with a honda - Jacob

6)   I never heard that there to expencive to fix but the best VW is the CC. Sexy sporty sedan. Worth the money trust me. - Jack


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Question 2
where is the transmission for a vw beetle yr 2000?...  pleasee help <3

Answers
1)   Should be on the bottom right of the engine! - Do it Wright

2)   Connected to the motor. Under your car. - portumadre

3)   Wow!! It would seem that you are where you started off when you asked the question! lol!!

By you not knowing where this component is in the car, I presume that your knowledge is limited.

The transmission, or gearbox, is situated at the front of the car, on the left side. If you are standing in front of the car, looking at it, with the bonnet open, it will be on your right hand side. Situated quite low down in the engine compartment. I am interested to know why you want to know where it is.. Funny thing about gearboxes is, that you can't see if they are faulty..

Hope this could help.
If you need any more assistance, feel free to mail me at hedley.suckow@gmail.com - First NameHedley

4)   Simply: in the engine compartment. It is bolted to the engine. Perhaps obtaining a book out of the public library on "how to repair cars" will give you all the diagrams and pictures you need to identify all the parts of the car. - Xavwieztsky


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Question 3
What was the gas mileage of the old bug?...  

Answers
1)   less than one would think for a 4 cyl - LAUGH AND THE WORLD LAUGHS WITH

2)   I had a 68 bug w/ a 1.6L & the gas mileage was not as good as you would think. Maybe on a good day 25mpg/city & 30mpg/hwy. Those old carb engines were a pain to keep in tune. That was 20 yrs ago when I had it & I'm sure now they make electronic injection & timing kits for them.
My old ride: http://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee132/eagle6014/68Beetle.jpg
Sorry about the poor pic quality, it was a scanned photo taken from an old Kodak 110. - The Eagle Keeper

3)   As the others said, less than you'd think. I remember getting 20-25 mpg. In the '50s and '60s, though, that would have been pretty darn good.

I also remember being surprised by the amount of room inside for a 'small' car. Certainly more headroom than my current cars. - Mark K

4)   in my 70 with a stock 1600cc single port, stock ignition and points. im getting about 25mpg combined. - Air-Cooled ACVW


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Question 4
how to make it woork?...  

Answers
1)   Replace it, repair it, rebuild it, give it a good whack with a ball peen hammer, lubricate it, etc.....etc........... - LeAnne

2)   Viagra? - Pen Man

3)   How to make what work? Aah, I know. Just bang on it with a baseball bat. lol - Mixed Beau


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Question 5
Why does my temperature red light keep flashing in my car? (2001 VW Beetle)?...  Ok here is the truth. My check engine light came on about 2 months ago. I was going to take it in to the dealer but then it went off the next day I figured it was a electrical thing. Then it came on again, I went to autozone and had them check it out. The machine said check coolant level. It was a little low so I filled it up and the light went off. Well a few weeks later it came on again took it back t autozone the machine said the same thing. The guy told me to replace my coolant sensor. So I bought one, but then the light went off and I honestly forgot about it. Well Monday not only did the check engine light come on the temperature light came on and flashed. Of course then I decided to have my dad change the sensor. Well it worked or so we thought. We had the check engine light reset and took it for a test drive. Everything went well until we were on our way home and the light came on again we check the coolant level had overflow, the sensor was in correctly so at this point I don't know what to do ? My dad thinks its either the water pump or the radiator.

Answers
1)   If still under warranty, you should have taken back to dealer the first time. Now take it back to dealer and explain what going on and don't tell them you have replaced the sensor. - swflsteelerfan

2)   If coolant gets very hot, it can trigger the temperature light to come on. I would check the coolant pressure and its condition to make sure it's not boiling at operating temp. check radiator cap and thermostat. be sure they're in good condition. - kritsada

3)   The temperature red light is flashing because you are on the verge of overheating.
I have not worked on a beetle since the air cooled ones; so I am gonna go out on a limb and say it has the "Rabbit" motor in it most likely. Only because I don't think that VW has made that many different motors.
Not that Rabbit motors are bad (but it is VW's first attempt at water cooled engines).

Now, locate the thermostat housing. If you are finding it on the bottom side of the engine(viewable from passenger wheel) then your problem is simple.
Bottom mount thermostat engines are not refilled the same way as a top mount thermostat. Remember that. It is not only VW that has bottom mount thermostat engines.
So what I would do is first make sure the engine is cold, (not run for a few hours), then I would put a clean catch basin under the motor in the area I am working(for you are gonna drain the motor of coolant) Don't go looking for any taps as there isn't any. Pull off the bottom rad hose that connects it to the thermostat housing by undoing the hose clamp.
That will empty the radiator. You have drained 1/2 of the system. To get the rest of the coolant, you must loosen(and remove) the 2 10mm bolts that hold the thermostat in place. Take your time and do not break them off. Now, once the housing has been removed you will look up in the block and see the shiny thermostat held in place with a big rubber "O" ring(that is your gasket-which is reuseable so don't break it and remove it. Hold the thermostat up with the other hand at the same time as you remove the "O" ring. Get your drain pan close because when you remove the thermostat(by grasping it with your fingers) the coolant behind it will come out. And there is a fair amount(to get your arm soaked and your face washed at the same time). Now your block is empty of coolant.
Chances are there is nothing wrong with the thermostat. So slip it back into position as it was, then the "O" Ring. (If you broke the O ring you can buy this seperate piece at VW or any autoparts store or heavy duty truck shop. So long as you bring the original with you. So they can find a comparable size. Silicone repair does not work here. You need to have the same thickness of "O" ring as you removed.
Now, you may find that the "O" ring will not hold up the thermostat by itself. This is where you hold up the parts in the hole and with the other hand, slip your finger thru the housing so it can hold the thermostat up into position and hold the housing in place at the same time. If you are in the process of doing it you will understand. With the housing held in place screw in the 2 10mm bolts by hand till they seat(then you are assured you did not cross thread them. Then cinch it tight with a 10mm wrench. >the open ended wrench in the VW toolkit is enough to do this job< You don't need to make it super duper tight (risking breaking the bolts that hold the thermostat in place).
No loc-tite is needed, no nothing. Now reconnect the lower rad hose to the thermostat and tighten clamp.
You can now get up.
Refilling any bottom mount thermostat is the same procedure (whether it be on a stationary engine, Ferrarri or your car.
Pull off the top rad hose from the rad. Now pour coolant slowly down the rad hose. This will fill the "backside of the thermostat" Remember, the thermostat is closed when it is cold so no coolant will leak past it and the "O" ring. It is just doing its job. By pouring slowly you are allowing the air to escape past the hose as the coolant goes in. I don't mean super slow, just at a pace you drink "coffee" at. I like pouring with an old tomato juice can which can hold a volume that is manageable with one hand (as the other hand is holding the hose) Sooner or later the block will fill up " the engine" as you cannot pour anymore in the hose as you are full. Now reconnect the hose to the rad. Clamp it.
Now, with the rest of the coolant, pour in from the top reservoir(this will fill the radiator and the heater hoses and the hoses in general. Any remaining fluid put into the overflow container located on the passenger side.

Now, with all the coolant gone and if you do not see any leaks from underneath, you are good to go, knowing that there is "no air in the system"

It is not a water pump or radiator issue.
>>I am saying drivers side and passenger side because that is the way I remember it in a Rabbit. If they have changed the location in the beetle make the adjustment in your mind.<<

If you are still suffering coolant blow out(overflow) a leaking head gasket would be my next guess for that excess pressure,,,,as the only source of compression is from the cylinders.

Another note to note: VW makes their engine so that anyone can work on it.....meaning you don't need a hoist. Just a hole in the ground(a pit) will do. So a lot of the work is done from the under side meaning working from a pit is the easiest way for a home owner to work on it. Or sticking the car up on a ramp and you laying on the floor. This applied to air cooled engines and so too with Rabbit & Jetta&Golf. - Xavwieztsky


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Tuesday, March 9, 2010

SKODA LAURA OR VW JETTA? WHICH IS BEST TO CHOOSE?

Question 1
SKODA LAURA OR VW JETTA? WHICH IS BEST TO CHOOSE?...  Dear Friends
Plz help me out to choose best car either i go with VW jetta or Skoda laura.
I use to have self-drive. kindly suggest me best among all aspects....

Answers
1)   Laura (aka Octavia in Europe).
A more modern design, VW quality at less-than-VW pricing, robust, comfortable and economic. A vast selection of engines and transmissions (this may vary somewhat depending on the local market). Excellent performance and predictable handling in all situations.
Both as a brand and as a model Laura fared much better then most VW and some AUDIs in independent reliability reports such as JD Power, with several "best in category" awards (eg in UK). One of the best used cars (DEKRA Germany).
With the regular servicing (not to be underestimated) and the right engine oil (remember, only VW specification products), you can make it last as long as you wish.
Most important, SKODA servicing labor rate is lower and parts cost less - in the end you get more miles per $ than out of any other similar car. - zzonyx

2)   the Skoda and the VW use the same floorpan, engines and transmissions, you get better trim in the VW but value for money, you cannot beat Skoda - robin y

3)   The Skoda is a better car, cant go wrong with it. - pbleek

4)   You also should compare car insurance quotes for cars before buying one, for example here - carquotes.sinfree.net - Antony


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Question 2
1969 vw beetle, 45,000 original miles and in good condition. How much is it worth?...  1969 VW Beetle, 45,000 original miles and in good condition. How much is it worth?

Answers
1)   look in www.hemmingsmotornews.com and see what they are selling for.....my WAG is 3 to 5K..but it depends on finding the guy/gal who wants it at your price - pedro7of9

2)   www.thesamba.com is a huge VW site with a lot of adds. Look through it to get an idea. It is hard to estimate a value without seeing the car. You can also post your car for sale there for free. - Rod Knocker

3)   I don't know about the mileage unless you can document it, since a 40 year old car would likely have had the spedo turn over more then a couple of times. Even in storage, there are parts of the bug that simply wear out by exposure (like rubber pieces, dashboards, headliners, etc.. )

So lets just say that it is a 69 bug in very excellent condition.

Assuming no rust.. good paint no rust...good motor... no rust... good transmission.. no rust ... good interior and a good floor pan (no holes under the battery) oh, and in case I forgot to mention it , no rust...

Show cars of that vintage bring in between $12,000 and $14,000 (use eBay and search for SOLD vw bugs to get a good idea),

Extremely Good but daily driver bugs bring at least $5,000 up to about $8 unless you have a convertible in which case add about $2500 to the top end.

Hope that helps... - ca_surveyor


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Question 3
where can i get a volkswagen logo sweatshirt?...  i have seen people with them, just a regular HOOD with the VW logo on the front, full size.

any ideas?

Answers
1)   http://www.cmgestore.com/vw08/SkuGrpListVW08VOU.asp - Almostowned

2)   This site on eBay has sizes from small to XL, and any color you want for $30 plus $7 shipping: http://cgi.ebay.com/S-XL-Black-Volkswagen-logo-name-Hoodie-sweatshirt_W0QQitemZ390104614020QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item5ad40c0484 - Paul in San Diego

3)   VW Driver Gear, go onto VW website, under owners. - Lil T


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Question 4
Which volkswagen bus should i buy?? 65,76, or 78?...  The opportunity to purchase a Volkswagen bus (my dream car) has become available to me, however, i know nothing about cars and i am not sure about which one to choose. there is a 65, a 76 and a 78. the 65 is a 4 cylinder and the other two are both v8s. the 78 is a diesel. so far that is all i know, but before i get into it id like to know if anyone has any knowledge on the subject that they could shed onto me? thank you :)

Answers
1)   Check the floor boards and body for rust. Most of that stuff can be hidden pretty easily, unless looked over well. - ikidyounot

2)   the 65 is worth the most and in my opinion the best looking.

If the other 2 have V8s, they are not stock. VW Busses came with air cooled 4 bangers and eventually went with a water cooled 4 cylinder.

When purchasing a bus, check the brakes, electrical and look it over EVERYWHERE for rust. Body rust is not a big deal, but a rusted out pan sure is. - Rod Knocker

3)   You also should compare car insurance quotes for cars before buying one, for example here - carquotes.sinfree.net - Bob


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Question 5
How much would it cost to paint a VW New Beetle?...  thinking about buying one for a good deal, but i want to paint it. i was just wondering about the price. please help.

Answers
1)   It all depends on where you go. It's not like there is a law that says it has to cost $1000 dollars or less to paint a VW Beetle. - Eric L

2)   Thats like asking how much it costs to get across town. You can walk for next to nothing or you can hire a limo..

I can paint your car with spray cans for under $100. Out here the equivilent is Earl Scheib and his $299 special (Clean off your own chrome afterwards)..

I can also get it hand sanded out after removing all the chrome, all the dents removed, good primer and then three coats plus a couple of clear coats and good baked drying before putting the chrome back on.. If you are changing the color 'jambing' will cost you a bit more (painting the inside of the door jambs and the inside of the trunk) about $5k

In general tho.. if you have few or no dents you should be able to get a good job for around $800.

Call around using the yellow pages and ask for rough estimates .. then go see the ones that sound right

. - ca_surveyor


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Monday, March 8, 2010

Am i going to have problems if i buy a Volkswagen beetle new version and it has 100,000 miles?

Question 1
Am i going to have problems if i buy a Volkswagen beetle new version and it has 100,000 miles?...  My parents are buying me a used buggie because the insurance on a new one is too high. the problem is its a standard and it has 100,000 miles and they are worried about how reliable it maybe. Is the high insurance a better choice or is it going to last? i only need it to go to college 45 min away and come home on occasion.

Answers
1)   Problems are likely. Better choice is a Honda. - Ya-who?

2)   I would not purchased a used car with 100,000 miles on it. It's going to give you a lot of repair costs. - Nesquick

3)   that's a lot of miles , it depends on how it has been looked after, if it doesn't have a full service history from a dealer don't bother, or you might spend more time repairing it than driving it - Harley Drive

4)   of course you would have probelms. if you decide to say how cares its a new car, then donttravel any where car beacause it will probably break down how about you find a diferent used car with less miles. good luuck! - *shortyjordy*

5)   Of course you will have problems, I don't know of any car that won't give you problems of some sort eventually. Now how severe of problems is anyone's guess. 100,000 miles is nothing on today's cars, IF the car was well maintained, and it also depends on what kind of driving gave the car that many miles. If it was all highway miles then the car still has another 100,000 miles of life. If it was used as a taxi in the city, then I would stay clear. Check the driver's door seal, and brake pedal for wear. If the door seal is worn, then the car was used for a lot of short trips, if the brake pedal pad is worn, then it was in a lot of stop and go traffic. If the car looks good, and is a good price, I wouldn't turn it down. - Shane A

6)   The New Beetle my wife and I drove for many years and 90,000 reliable fun filled miles was a true icon of economy.
However, even a Honda, Toyota, etc will begin to have to have some parts replacement at 100k miles.
Have the NB inspected by a reputable mechanic .
We are confident that our NB would have given us many more years of pleasurable driving, but we needed a larger car as our family was 'expanding'....
The NB was so good , we decided to stick with VW and so we purchased a Jetta. Our decision was proven correct as the 05 Jetta is a superlative car too!
Hope the NB is a good example and if you do opt for it that your ownership is as happy as ours was..... - fenton

7)   For a European car, 100,00 miles is nothing. Any car can have a problem at any time, regardless of miles, higher miles can put the car at more risk for problems. But this is not always true. - kid286

8)   A VW with 100K on it is just breaking in! Just make sure the car has got good service records, so you know what all has been done to it, and what needs to be done. Make sure the timing belt, water pump and tensioner has been changed, or it will cost around $700 to get done. If you dont, the engine will go BOOM and cost lots of money! If it has been done, you can easily get another 75-100K out of it with just normal maintenance! - onlyoldiron4me


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Question 2
I have a 1973 Volkswagen Beetle and the engine has not been turned over for 3years ...?...  Is the started motor jammed? If so how do I address the problem ... The battery is fully charged and all the lights come on . HELP
...

Answers
1)   You're Q is incomplete!
So do you mean that you tried to start it and it doesn't turn over?

Grab the main pulley, where the belt is attached to, and try to turn the engine by hand. If the engine is not frozen, you should be able to do it with ease. If it turns, then you're in good shape. if it doesn't, then you're in big trouble.

So if it turns, make sure the battery terminals attached to the battery are sanded and clean. No gunk or corrosion should be on there.

if it still doesn't turn over, then my next guess would be that your starter solenoid has jammed. Try banging on it with a hammer or something heavy. Don't break it, you're just trying to loosen the internals. Then try starting it again. Or while some one is turning the switch to the starter position, crawl under the car and bang the starter.

If it doesn't work again, call a mechanic - I Told You SO

2)   Take out the plugs and put a squirt of light oil down the plug holes. This will lubricate the pistons,rings and bores. Then try your start! - Big John

3)   remove the plugs and put some Redex in each cyl leave say over night, then with a suitable tool turn the engine over a few times manually,ok now turn over with the key with the plugs still out,clean the plugs with wire brush set the gap and replace now you are ready to start the car. - J R

4)   once you get your car started, i have got a funny feeling that you wont be going far due to your brakes would be seized especially if the car has been lying outside,

if you get a couple of guys to rock the car forward and backwards while your trying to start her, that might get the starter motor loose, i had to do it when i had my last car off the road for about 6-8 months, - snuff hunter

5)   I would do like the others say and lube it before you turn it over.

Put the transmission in gear. Push the car forward. This will turn the engine over. OR you can go to the engine and turn it over by hand at the pulley. Place a socket on the lower pulley bolt and try to turn it (car in neutral) if it turns over, the starter is bad or a wire is not hooked up. The starter is on the pass. side behind the engine (the top right engine mounting bolt also holds the starter in place). Make sure the starter has a fat wire connected to the battery and a smaller wire with a female spade connector plugged into the top of the starter solenoid (this wire goes to the ignition). If the smaller wire is not there, you can make a "jumper" wire and go from the terminal to the fat wire at the starter. This will make the starter turn over as long as it is not bad.

Good Luck!
I bought my 1973 Thing after it had been wrecked and sitting for years. I lubed it up, tuned it up, adjusted the valves and now I drive it every day. I did not have to put any money into the engine to get it running! - Rod Knocker


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Question 3
Black or silver Volkswagen Jetta?...  

Answers
1)   You gotta go with what YOU like bro. Not random people on here.
But since you asked, my personal fave is black. With blacked rims, not trashy ones but nice clean ones. Idk, it just looks mean. - RacoonNinja

2)   I would go with the black, silver cars are the most likely to get in an accident, because they blend in with the road! - onlyoldiron4me

3)   Charcoal grey. - djaca70

4)   Black. I have black car, and when it is clean it gets the looks from everyone. Silver are too common. - Zoolander900


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Question 4
Are Volkswagen Beetles safe ?...  I was really thinking about getting like a 2006- 2009 Volkswagen Beetle ..... BUT... Today, I was looking at one and it just looks like it could crush SO easy .. Like the front end is so small... So are they really safe cars ? I am highly concerned about the safety of the new Volkswagen Beetles.....

Answers
1)   Volkswagen are known for building safe cars. In a front end crash the front end is designed to crumble in the front and not affect the passengers in the car. If you look up safety tests you can find one of the beetle. - benson

2)   After many decades in emergency services the only word that I can come up with is NO!
Possibly slightly safer than a "Smart Car" - rottendog93

3)   short answer, yes they are.They recieved good ratings in all of the cirteria for frontal impacts. However, they did not do so well in the side impact tests, but the newer models perform better thanks to better airbags. interestingly enough, smart cars are actually quite safe as a result of the safety cage that is integral to the design...i love know-it-alls. For future reference, the IIHS is the go to site for questions like this. - Dude


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Question 5
Carpet kit for a '96 Volkswagen Cabrio?...  I can find plenty of places to get a carpet kit for a mid 80s-1994 cabriolet, but I need one for a '96. Does anyone make one? Will one for a '94 work? I've heard the '96 Cabrio referred to as a "Golf Cabrio". Would a carpet kit for a 2-door Golf fit? Any genuine advice is appreciated.

Answers
1)   I checked 15 carpet catalogs and no listings , I'd compare yours to the Golf I'm betting that it will fit - Fire1427

2)   Golf/Cabrio. Same thing. A couple of my friends have 98's one cabrio, one golf. no difference - kid286


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Sunday, March 7, 2010

Is that true on volkswagen vehicle that after 100,000 thousands miles it will star counting again starting #1?

Question 1
Is that true on volkswagen vehicle that after 100,000 thousands miles it will star counting again starting #1?...  

Answers
1)   some old cars would do that but not any thing made in the last 15 to 20 years - robert d

2)   That is not true. I have seen many VWs odometers with #s over 100k. It does not start over.
In fact I know of no manufacturer that does this. - fenton

3)   The older cars had speedometers that only had 5 digits so they went to 99999 and then rolled over to 00000. If your speedometer has 6 digits it will have to go to 999999 before it rolls over to 000000 or, in other words, It will have to go a million miles to roll over. My '68 Mustang has rolled over at least three times. - mustanger

4)   no it will not .. - Dubz

5)   Absolutely not. If this were possible sellers could say their car had 30,000 miles on it when really it could have 130,000 230,0000 or more. They make it so these problems don't happen. - War Eagle!

6)   Not at all. - kid286

7)   Yes, true on older VWs. I'm not sure when they changed, but my '79 Bus clicked over at 99,999 kilometres and all VWs I've had older than that have been the same. My later model Volkswagens certainly go beyond 99999. - bugmatic


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Question 2
is the volkswagen golf a good first car?...  any information on insurance, servicing, repair, fuel economy?
any personal experiences?

Answers
1)   It's a wonderful car! It's small which means you can park it almost anywhere and it's also got a solid engine that will work its butt off for you. The downside is that repair and maintenance on any German car is NOT cheap. I love German cars but they do cost much more to repair and maintain than American or Japanese cars. But if you can handle the extra costs in that department, it is definitely an awesome vehicle to have. - the_unluckiest

2)   get a fiat first
get used to it
then get a better car after a few yrs - Sudais R

3)   You also should compare car insurance quotes for cars before buying one, for example here - carquotes.sinfree.net - Oliver

4)   Being a young driver,you might want to consider a Golf for it's safety features.Many more are standard on VW than on other makes.I''ve had an '06 Golf for four years,it's been great.All I've bought is gas,and they only need oil changes every 10,000 miles after break in.I'm anything but a new driver,but it's more fun that more expensive cars I've had.8 airbags,traction control,solid and more fun and nimble than my last Saab.Insurance was low because of said safety features.I get about 23/30 as it's a lot of engine(2.5,5 cylinder) for a small car.I'm happy to give up a few mpgs for the pickup,especially when merging.If I had a teenager I'd probably insist they start out in one.There are so many idiot drivers out there. - Blixen E

5)   You also should compare car insurance quotes for cars before buying one, for example here - carquotes.sinfree.net - Vins

6)   my suggesting would be getting as much information as you can before taking any action,here

http://www.AutoInsuranceFree.info

is a good place for that purpose. - DAVID

7)   I got a 85 VW Golf as my first car. And I still have it. Its been a great car so far. If you keep them maintained regularly and look around for parts instead of just going to the local parts store or dealer they can be very cheap to maintain. - kid286


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Question 3
Some first car advice? Volkswagen beete mileage/insurance help?...  My dream was always to have a new style beetle. I've found this pale yellow one for £2150.

(Some people have said that's a lot for a first car and especially the insurance of £1900 a year, however I had money left to me from my daddy who passed away so I have more than enough for the car of my dreams and I do also have a job to pay for the hefty insurance- however other smaller engined cars have not been a huge amount less anyway).

However, the car has done 114,000 miles. Is that too much? Should I just walk away and not consider the car any further?
It won't cost 10 grand over 5 years lol, i've gone through all the quotes for the next few years and it drops dramatically after more driving experience.
And thanks for the advice so far everyone. I know the beetle wasn't a sensible idea, it's just hard when you have a dream...
Guess I'll have to stick to the micra... sigh.

Answers
1)   I'd say 114,000 miles is a lot for a small car particularly if its a petrol engine.
I'd shop around... - Number 6

2)   wow, i thought my daughters ins for a Fiesta 1600 sport was high at 800 quid... (originally it was 2200)

so shop around. and think about htis, over 5 years, owning this car will swallow up 10 thousand pounds, provided you dont have it stolen or written off...

by all means buy a beetle. although the new ones are more of a audi, with a body kit...

buy a cheap car and run it for a few years, then when youre 21, and have some NCB, and will have saved some money... and learned NOT to crash, or scrape it... (everyone does it) and then go buy your beetle... - fivetoze

3)   114.000 is a lot of mileage for a small car ,you will find that the 1.000 or 1.4 VW polo will be a better car for you insurance wise and for running cost

I hope this helps you . - keith p

4)   114.000 walk away fast as u can - patch

5)   You could try to use google it first,here

http://www.Autoinsurancepro.info

has some direct information which I think is might be helpful. - Martha H

6)   Help yourself - you can check your quotes in internet, for example here - autoinsurance.maclenet.com - John


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Question 4
Am i going to have problems if i buy a Volkswagen beetle new version and it has 100,000 miles?...  My parents are buying me a used buggie because the insurance on a new one is too high. the problem is its a standard and it has 100,000 miles and they are worried about how reliable it maybe. Is the high insurance a better choice or is it going to last? i only need it to go to college 45 min away and come home on occasion.

Answers
1)   Problems are likely. Better choice is a Honda. - Ya-who?

2)   I would not purchased a used car with 100,000 miles on it. It's going to give you a lot of repair costs. - Nesquick

3)   that's a lot of miles , it depends on how it has been looked after, if it doesn't have a full service history from a dealer don't bother, or you might spend more time repairing it than driving it - Harley Drive

4)   of course you would have probelms. if you decide to say how cares its a new car, then donttravel any where car beacause it will probably break down how about you find a diferent used car with less miles. good luuck! - *shortyjordy*

5)   Of course you will have problems, I don't know of any car that won't give you problems of some sort eventually. Now how severe of problems is anyone's guess. 100,000 miles is nothing on today's cars, IF the car was well maintained, and it also depends on what kind of driving gave the car that many miles. If it was all highway miles then the car still has another 100,000 miles of life. If it was used as a taxi in the city, then I would stay clear. Check the driver's door seal, and brake pedal for wear. If the door seal is worn, then the car was used for a lot of short trips, if the brake pedal pad is worn, then it was in a lot of stop and go traffic. If the car looks good, and is a good price, I wouldn't turn it down. - Shane A


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Question 5
99 VW beetle. I have oil mixed in the anti-freeze.?...  Engine runs great, no power loss, no vapor coming from exaust. There are no signs if water in the crankcase oil. What could be wrong? the motor is a 2.0L AEG.

Answers
1)   Possible head gasket, DO NOT start, run, or drive the car anywhere until you know for sure, you could cause damage to the engine. Get the car towed to a garage to be checked - PAUL

2)   You've blown a head gasket. Don't start it. Tow it to your mechanic. - Mike

3)   Chances are that you have a bad oil cooler. If you have a square box on the on top of your oil filter and it has 2 radiator hoses on it, then you could of blown the oil cooler. If it goes it can intermix antifreeze with the oil.

What the typical oil cooler on a VW looks like:
<http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y65/briano1234/Oilcooler/Oilcooler007.jpg>

Antifreeze in the oil can pit the crank bearings you need to get it looked at asap.

A blown head gasket would be indicated if your radiator hoses are under pressure, that is when they are warm you can squeeze them at all. (or they look really ballooned.) - Briano

4)   if no cel (check engine light ) or codes present on scan then check oil cooler. - Dubz


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