Volkswagen Beetle Owners: Problems & Solutions

What is this discussion about? Volkswagen New Beetle, Coupe, Hatchback # 591 of 600 1999 VW Beetle Antenna Replacement by brain420 May 03, 2006 I am trying to figure out if anyone on here can help me. ( via Edmunds.com )

[bugaboo]

My New Beetle 2000 headlights stay on! Help!

[lgl]

my hot temperature light stays on and flashes, but the engine isn't overheating...

[frustrated new owner]

my engine bogs when I try to excelerate from a complete stop. Only does it in the low RPM's and only after the engine warms up. The shop says they cant find a single thing wrong.

[bjlasure]

does anyone know how to pop the light fixture out of an 06 beetle to change the lightbulb. The procedure has changed for this model year. Would also like to know how to disable the running lights to reduce the nbr of times i have to change these bulbs. Any Help??

[Whitney]

Has any one had huge problems with the '99 beetle? I am looking at one, and I cannot afford major repairs...

[clive south africa]

i am looking for a a classic beetle if you own one and thinking of selling it please email me at [e-mail]

[sharon]

lgl wrote:

my hot temperature light stays on and flashes, but the engine isn't overheating...

my car is doing the same thing. Had an issue with coolant, refilled car, light on again, replaced water coolant part ($40), boiled water out, replaced thermostat, light went off for a while, now is on blinking mode with no loss of coolant?
CAR is Possessed!!!

[carl england]

my 2000 new beetle keeps slowing down almost to a stop.theres no acceleration feels like your driving with the handbreak on,then all of a sudden it comes back to life for another 500 yards.best way to descibe it is it feels like youve just run out of fuel.

[carl England]

ANOTHER WAY TO DESCRIBE IT IS IT FEELS LIKE YOUR FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE AT THE SAME TIME AS THE ACCELERATOR.ANY ONE OUT THERE WHO CAN ADVISE PLEASE!!!!FOR THE LOVE OF GOD.

[John Vannatter]

sorry for spelling. It sounds to me like you have a pluged up catalitic converter.

[John Vannatter]

to Carl England I have a 2000 beetle diesel. I will say you are talking about a gas powered one. after looking things up I still think it is the catalitic converter. A muffler or exhaust would have to cut the old one off. The cat does not have any clamps. The catilitic converter will get really hot after a long drive. If it is pluged up it will usally get VEALLY hot in a very short time. hope this helps. P.S if you dont know what or were the catalitic converter is look online for one. it will show you that it is at the vere frount of the exuaust system.

[carl England]

thanks john,about 3 years ago i had the cat replaced but not from vw,it was a replica cheaper version,i did mention it to the garage but he told me it wouldnt be that.probably didnt want to replace it?also ive been told its the coils or the airflow meter?the car is unleaded and no warning light shows when the problem occurs.also on a long run on motorway it doesnt happen only when your driving around town.30 40 miles per hour.

[carl England]

john ive had the ht leads changed this worked a treat for two days cost me £50.then had injecters cleaned out no good!also had sensors changed dont know what they do?still same problem.next week will take to vw for diognostic will let u know.thanks again.

[John Vannatter]

carl, the vw dealer uses special software that can actualy talk to your car and tell you what is wrong. it all goes threw the factory radio somehow. if you have an aftermarket radio the dealers here will not scan. its most likely not the catalitic. your prob. would be worse on a long trip.i am starting to think it could be the transmishion. they are so hard to check and change the filter that they are often left out of the service one does to a car and if it has a pluged filter it might be hard to start out from a stop or it may be stuck in hi gear eather way the dealer can scan the car and then you can decide who you want to fix it. once the dealer gives you what is wrong, there may be cheeper people other then the dealer. Good Luck. John

[carl England]

to john thanks for your time i will take it to vw this week.youve been a great help cheers mate!

[Macca8]

Does anyone know where you can hire a classic white covertible beetle for a weeding in dublin?

[John in CA]

lgl wrote:

my hot temperature light stays on and flashes, but the engine isn't overheating...

I have same problem...we have replaced the radiator...smaller fan...control unit for cooling/AC...light comes on...fans not on...not over heating...stop engine and restart...light goes out for a while...AC not working...may be related...any suggestions?

[Sony]

carl england wrote:

my 2000 new beetle keeps slowing down almost to a stop.theres no acceleration feels like your driving with the handbreak on,then all of a sudden it comes back to life for another 500 yards.best way to descibe it is it feels like youve just run out of fuel.

My guess is a clogged fuel filter. It can't possibly hurt to replace the fuel filter and won't cost much. Try the cheapest fix first.

[ED Rymer]

sharon wrote:

<quoted text>
my car is doing the same thing. Had an issue with coolant, refilled car, light on again, replaced water coolant part ($40), boiled water out, replaced thermostat, light went off for a while, now is on blinking mode with no loss of coolant?
CAR is Possessed!!!

hey why dont you try a 4 pin coolant temp sensor they were revised along the way some cars still have the old version the new one is green by the way is the cel on ?

[Lonnie Bedell]

Whitney wrote:

Has any one had huge problems with the '99 beetle? I am looking at one, and I cannot afford major repairs...

The '99 model had HUGE wiring problems. They redesigned it the following year. I own a 2002 and have a lot of problems lately, but the 1999 was notorious.