What could be causing my 1991 Volkswagen Jetta GL to be losing power like this?

Question 1
What could be causing my 1991 Volkswagen Jetta GL to be losing power like this?...  Ok I already know that my 91 VW Jetta GL needs an exhaust manifold replaced, and I am wondering if that would cause it to lose power at 2500 rpms? It will be going just fine then if I let it get above or at 2500 rpms it just bogs down, and will not gain speed no matter how much gas I give it, the CEL comes on most times when this happens, but if I push the clutch in and rev it past 2500 to like 3000 rpms the light goes off, but still lacks power. I changed plugs, wires, cap, rotor, cleaned intake, ran injector cleaner, changed fuel filter. I even replaced the catalytic converter, to no avail. I just bought car the car, and drove it 75 miles to get home, and this problem never arose, it did surge a little but never lost power like this. If any one can give me a few things to look into I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks
Another thing, the car did set for a year with a full tank of gas in it, but I used most of that up and put fresh gas in it.

Answers
1)   It's the manifold. Why did you throw parts at it, when you know it is the manifold? Also, you should have had the seller have the manifold repaired/replaced prior to purchase. - djaca70

2)   I'd take it to a mechanic - John

3)   You already know it needs an exhaust manifold? How do you know this. I think you are mistaken or foolish. Have you had the CEL scanned for a code????? Yeah, there is a lot of data missing here. Still could be other stuff.

Timing, Mass Airflow Sensor, Badd parts in the ignition(out of the box or installed poorly) Plugged muffler from a FAILED catalytic converter.

Time to go to a shop. Pretty much any shop can work on these so skip the VW Dealer.

Jack, 2003 GLI, VW since 1959, ASE Cert Auto Tech since 1978 - sci

4)   I think it's fairly obvious why the previous owner sold it , the last time I heard of this , the cam belt had been replaced three teeth out from where it should have been, why do you think the exhaust manifold needs replacing? any problem with it would be very obvious - Harley Drive

5)   Your VW is to old, visit mechanic. - Alfa R

6)   Good Jokes, Cars, and Great Sex all depend on Proper timing.

If you haven't timed your car then do so now.

To time the 91 you have to have the engine up to temp.
then using a timing light on number one plug.

unplug the CTS sensor (blue one on the side of the head upper water outlet flange) and rev the engie 3 times over 3000 rmp.

Holding it steady at 2250 RPM, then adjust the timing to 6degrees BTDC. (there is a timing hole in the transmission housing.

I would then replace the CTS sensor (cheap at Napa ) as that is known to cause issues. If you haven't replace the fuel filter now would be a good time to do it.

If you head a whine from the rear passenger side wheel arch when this happens, then you have a restriction in the fuel as in the in-tank fuel pump (also known as the fuel-transfer-pump) is going out or gone out, and causing a restriction to the main pump.

This year of jetta has 3 fuel pumps one in-tank, that feeds to the primary.

I would also highly suggest that you remove the vacuum line that runs from the throttle body to the fuel pressure regulator (on the rear of the throttle body) and see if there is raw gas in it. That is gas that drips out of the hose, if there is then the Fuel pressure regulator is bad.

I would also strongly recommend that you replace all the vacuum hoses on the car as any slight leak causes them to act the ass.

Lastly, make sure that the big black hose from the air filter box to the throttle body is not wholed, and that it is tight to the throttle body and to the airbox. - Briano


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Question 2
my vw key stoped working and my interior lights!?...  ok so i changed my interior lights to blue..

when i was putting in the final LED bulb it didn't want to turn on...so i checked the other one and it didn't work either i checked the front dome light and it didn't work either!! it was working fine until i started to replace the bulbs.

When i was getting out of my car i drooped my keys on the concrete i picked them up and i tried to lock my car but it didn't want to lock or unlock, i tried to open the truck and still nothing! the little red light flashes when i press any one of the keys, the car starts and i can manually unlock it it just doesn't lock or unlock w hen i press the button....

then when i went to my car to close my sunroof i turn the dial and it didn't move, i moved around the dial but it just stayed the way it is. im hoping its gonna fix it self by morning but i highly doubt it....

does anyone know what might be wrong with it?

no i did not replace the battery yet because the battery is brand new and the light flashes so its not the battery fault

please anyone help? :(
xthomas2009x@gmaill.com emaill Mr thanks

Answers
1)   take it to a mechanic - John

2)   sounds to me like you have blown some major fuses by changing your lights. buy some fuses and change them, then see if it all starts working again.
failing that, take it to a mechanic - stevie

3)   You have a short in one of the fuses. VWs are prone to that. - Michael B

4)   the central locking , the immobilizer and the window/sunroof circuits all read the electrical load from the door switch/interior light circuits in order to determine if the car is ready to lock, LED lights produce a very low current so the circuit is read as permanently on since there is no difference between the off and on load ie the doors etc are still open so the locks will not lock and the immobilizer will not set, if you want led lights you need a load resistor fitted to each one cheap leds do not have one expensive leds generally have one built in for cars that use filament bulbs - Harley Drive

5)   it sounds like you have a blown fuse. you might have done that replacing the lights. this fuse is really hard to replace because you need to remove all the dash board covers by the steering wheel that are by your knees when you drive. IT IS A HIDDEN FUSE under the dash board. i had the same exact problem. i can't remember what fuse it is because i didn't fix it, but i think it is the big blue one (15 amps maybe). this fuse is not on the side panel by the door, again it is hidden. because at first, i looked for a blown one on the side panel and they were all fine. vw even has some fuses under the hood, but the fuse you blew is hidden under the dash. i had the same problem a few weeks ago. it was AWFUL! vw told me that my comfort control module needed to be replaced and it would be over $1000 to fix. they never even mentioned it could be a fuse.

luckily i know someone that knows what he is doing and dug around and found the fuse. he has saved me so much money! i had the same problems, my key wouldn't do anything, my interior dome lights wouldn't work, my windows didn't open, my power mirrors didn't adjust, i couldn't open my trunk, and my sunroof didn't do anything. i was also able to unlock/lock it manually and start it. also, you should still be able to open your gas cover (i was sooooo happy when i realized that!). if you take it to vw, make sure you tell them that you blew one of the well HIDDEN fuses under the dash board (their job security) because they will be so excited to tell you it is the comfort control module and take lots of money from you. a fuse is only like $3 to replace.

if you want more information on how to fix it, edit the question and leave your email address and then i can email you. i will ask him the specifics. hahaha, i drove around like that for 3 weeks, it was horrible! this problem definitely won't fix itself, believe me i know! good luck! - noname


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Question 3
I was priced £234 to fix my electric window on an audi 1999 audi A3 Did it myself for £12 and some easy labour?...  It was not an electrics problem nut a snapped bracket which broke when I tried to wind down frozen window. These brackets snapping are apparently a common fault.
I downloaded how to do it and took lots of pictures all I used was a small drill some cable ties and a good quality Araldite adhesive. If any one wants details just let me know how I can put them onto this site and I will. Ade W

Answers
1)   So basically you have no question.

Instead you're just bragging that you fixed a window.

And....?


Reported. - Vipassana

2)   ok - I Love Shoosies

3)   Yeah most of that quote was labour charges. Well done, I like people like You. - Civil Unrest

4)   Thanks for telling us you fixed your window - I really needed to know that.

Did you want to ask a question while you're here? - Tufty the Squirrel


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Question 4
How to adjust shifter linkage on a VW?...  I'd like to know if there is a way to adjust the linkage on a manual transmission in a VW to make it shift more smoothly. I recently swapped the tranny, and I believe the linkage is a bit off. It likes to jump smoothly out of 5th (no noise or grinding) at high way speeds and recently refuses to stay out of gear. The clutch is new and was installed professionally.

Answers
1)   Cable or rod linkage???? I seriously think you have a bad 5th gear from running the transaxle low on fluid. When you changed it out you didn't refill it or you refilled it incorrectly(easy to do).


Sorry,

Jack 2003 GLI - sci

2)   go to thesamba.com an put your questin on the board - David

3)   You didn't say which year and style of VW.

The 5th gear on the older dubs (81-95) were splash oiled, and failure to maintain proper gear oil in the tranny would cause 5th gear fall out.

The Missing Linz site has the breakdown of the linkages by year: and depending on the year it could be as simple as changing the shift linkages.

http://www.4crawler.com/Diesel/ForSale/ShiftLinkage.shtml

You don't have to buy their kits, some can be had on ebay for cheap. But it shows you how they go back if you don't have a Bentley or a Haynes manual. - Briano

4)   The most accurate description of the shift linkage adjustment for a MK4 chassis VW can be found right here: http://www.dieselgeek.com/TTXfiveinstall.htm. Scroll about 2/3 the way down the page to "adjustment." The site also provides a great link to a youtube video showing the process from start to finish. If you have something other than a MK4, please update your question and I will help you out there. - gti_4cefed4


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Question 5
I got my Golf MK2 GTI 8v up to 190Km/hr, is it good?...  I have a golf 1987 MK2 GTI 8v and got it up to 190Km/hr (120MPH) on the highway, is that good? or do you thing that it should be doing better?
I'm asking about the car's performance and not trying to show how big my balls are. It's an old car, and people say that MK2 GTI 8V have very low top speed. And I needed to get opinions to see if I should have gotten a 16V instead.

Answers
1)   Compared to aircraft, it's ridiculously slow.

Compared to the speed limit, it's completely illegal, and irresponsible.

So what, exactly, are you proud of?

That you can hit a gas pedal really hard?

Obviously, that takes skill.....we should all hail you as an amazing driver of a high performance machine. Obviously.

Way to be a "renegade". You're certainly different than all the other kids who do exactly the same thing and brag about it, as if they've done something new. - Vipassana

2)   It's good, is it second hand, it might have run twice on Odm.
if it did wow. good for you. keep it maintenance. also if you have lil money on the side drop a vr6 engine in it. you could also find some in the junk yards. - Zeus

3)   GTI 16v is much better - Alfa R


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