Volkswagen Beetle Owners: Problems & Solutions

[Comic Gal]

Amy Davidson wrote:

My daughter has a 99 vw beetle with 160,000 and wants to drive it from maine to washington state
what are her chances she will succeed.

Perfect...i have driven mine from charlotte nc to chicago Il. 4 times in 2 months!

[scott morgan]

how do i reset the alarm system on a 2000 vw beetle

[alicia]

I have a 2002 beetle turbo 1.8 l and i am having some major problems.we have changed the cool temp sensors but the oil light keeps coming on. I belive it is possessed big time . please help

[catdogballard]

I have a 2000 2.0 automatic VW Beetle fuel pump has been replaced twice, new mass air flow sensor, new o2 sensors, new timing belt, new plugs and wires, new battery, new hoses.... what else could be wrong with this thing... I am so frustrated with this car... could it be the coil??? please help

[byron]

What's the best way to remove door panel. The window has jumped off the track. The motor is still functioning. Any advice?

[wallygater]

one of my famely members had a cooling prablem the cooling fan would not come on we fix the problem ...on top of the battery there are fuses and wires and bolt conetions we cleaned and replaced coroded conections and everything started to work properly

[phillip]

can i change sparkplugs on a 1999 beetle or have to take it to the shop

[parid dema]

I had the O2 sensorand fuel filter changed. Airbag light came on; are these connected to each other

[Aric Stevenson]

Where do u add water to a 99/00 Beetle. I don't see a radiator. My red water light is flashing.

[jolene]

i have had hundreds of exorbitant repairs and other costly expenses with my 99 beetle. i want to contact volkswagen itself but have been unlucky to find a phone number or email for a complaint department. my local dealership doesnt have one (or wont give me it). anyone out there have any contact info

[april]

i have 2003 beetle turbo, i have 88k miles the timing belt broke while driving yesterday. i've taken it back to the dealer for all services,was never told to have timing belt checked. I've only had the car for one year. is there anything that can be done as far as getting a new car,or help with repairs?

[Salvage]

i got a 99 beetle too, unfortunately, and let me tell you it is a POC (piece of crap.) im going japanese and avoiding all german cars period!
p1580 on the obII diagnosis. ive change 4 different throttle bodies now and the same thing.
HHEEELLLPPPPP!!!!!
somebodies!!!!
HHEEELLLLPPP!!!!!

i had a 95 325i before also and ive experience all the type of overheating horror stories ive read on this beetle thread. avoid them i tell you. dont be deceived by their good looks. DON'T!

[Iyo]

Got a 2001 VW Beetle 2.0 Turbo...red blinking light suddenly appeared, coolant fan was not working had the fans replaced and car is still overheating. Please help!!!

[nanette]

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!!!

So is mine! No loss of coolant, but warning light goes on then off blue then red then it beeps at me, even if I just turn over the engine. Called Volkswagon and in a panic they told me to bring it in immediately. But I know the coolant levels are fine.

[Betty]

John Vannatter wrote:

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

I bought a 2000 VW and they tell me the first thing to go out is the Tubo Charger. The car acts real slow, most of the lights are on. I replaced the tubo and running great. I bought a use one from a wreck vw. The dealer;s price is way tooooo high. They also tell me to replace the water pump every 60,000 miles as they have alot of problems with that. If you don't it can lead to a val job. Good Luck.

[Paul]

I have a 1979 vw super beetle fuel injected. It starts and runs perfectly until the outside air temperature reaches 85-88 degrees. Then it will not start or run ar all. The air flow meter and the temp sensor in the block have been changed. I have tested the fuel pump and it works fine below 85-88 degrees but when it gets hotter there is no power to pump. Air flow meter tests good with voltmeter even when motor will not start. Help Please.

[Stet]

My 2000 turbo beetle (GLX) stalls sometimes while slowing down and stepping on the clutch. It only seems to happen when it is hot outside. I've replaced the spark plugs, mass airflow sensor, vacuum hoses. I was talking to a service rep at the dealership and he said he's never heard of that happening. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[fernando]

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.

Hi there Carl, I have the same problem in my 2000 beetle, If I step on the gas pedal the engine hesitates, lurches and sputters and it almost dies, it seems to be a common problem, I replaced the fuel filter to no avail, the manual calls for a pressure check on the fuel line supplying the injectors to eliminate the pressure regulator, so that is my next thing to do, I also get a misfiring engine code. I would like to keep in touch I am sure we can solve the problem in time, I have software and cable to connect to the obd2 on the car for diagnostics.

[camz]

I am having a very similar problem with my 1998 Beetle. It only has 68,000 miles but has been lugging around on city streets. It wont accelerate and feels like it is going to die. I have been using low gears (it's an automatic) but the problem seems to be progressing. I am afraid that there is a transmission problem. Any one know what's likely the problem? suggestions?

Heidi wrote:

I have 2000 Bettle new battery- new fuel filter and spark plugs- emmision light on always still stalling out then jerks real bad and no power- sometimes I can pull over give it "pep" talk and it ok but this morning it smelled hot and NO go power at all- it jerked enough to get it back in driveway.......HELP

[Fernando]

It is useless to post anything on this forum, no one actually offers any help or advise, i think mostly cause most posters are not experienced, that said here it goes any way, as i posted before, my beetle 2000, has a hesitation problem, fuel pressure is good, new spark plugs, new o2 sensors, obd2 scan as follows:

Wednesday,23,July,2008,16:22:0 2:59359
VCDS Version: Release 805.0
Data version: 20080625

----------
----------

Address 01: Engine (06A 906 018 JQ)

16:21:45 Group 003
0 /min RPM
2.78 g/s Mass Flow
3.9° T.B. Angle
0.0 °ATDC Ign. Timing

16:21:45 Group 001
0 /min RPM
96.0°C Temperature
0.0 % Lambda
110111 Bin. Bits

16:21:45 Group 002
0 /min RPM
99.4 % Load
0.00 ms Time
2.78 g/s Mass Flow

Thursday,24,July,2008,18:15:04 :59359
VCDS Version: Release 805.0
Data version: 20080625

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----------

Address 01: Engine
Control Module Part Number: 06A 906 018 JQ
Component and/or Version: 2.0l R4/2V MOTR AT V01
Software Coding: 00033
Work Shop Code: WSC 05078
3 Faults Found:

16684 - Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected
P0300 - 35-10 --- Intermittent
16687 - Cylinder 3: Misfire Detected
P0303 - 35-10 --- Intermittent
16688 - Cylinder 4: Misfire Detected
P0304 - 35-10 --- Intermittent

Readiness: 0010 0101

Thursday,24,July,2008,18:16:32 :59359
VCDS Version: Release 805.0
Data version: 20080625

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----------

Readiness Status: 0010 0101
Exhaust Gas Recirculation: Passed
Oxygen Sensor Heating: Passed
Oxygen Sensor(s): Failed or Incomplete
Air Conditioning: Passed
Seconday Air Injection: Passed
Evaporative Emissions: Failed or Incomplete
Catalyst Heating: Passed
Catalytic Converter(s): Failed or Incomplete

Thursday,24,July,2008,18:36:13 :59359
VCDS Version: Release 805.0
Data version: 20080625

----------
----------

Address 01: Engine (06A 906 018 JQ)

18:35:57 Group 002
760 /min RPM
32.4 % Load
3.71 ms Time
2.84 g/s Mass Flow

18:35:57 Group 099
760 /min RPM
78.0°C Temperature
2.3 % Lambda
O2-Reg.ON

18:35:57 Group 098
3.5° T.B. Angle
73.7 % Load
Idle
ADP. O.K.

if any one has a good idea about what is going on with this car, please share with us. thanks.