Car People, especially manual/volkswagen experience

This is my second Volkswagen Jetta, but this one is a manual turbo. I always knew what would go wrong or what it sounded like when things went wrong, but I think something is wrong with the manual/gears. I have a mechanic that I really like because he loves Volkswagens and he always treats me right. His shop is about an hour from me so I don't want to drive all the way up there to have him look at my car, drive back, and then save up money. I have a feeling this is going to be a hefty bill :tears:

Ok, so this is what's going on. When I'm in 3rd gear and around 20-30 rpms and push the gas peddle somewhat hard my car stutters. It continues to do it in 4th and 5th gear at 20-30 rpms. If I drive it really hard it doesn't stutter, but that means I'm cruising around 45-50 rpms before changing gears. Redlining is at 65. If I drive it like a granny and nicely push the gas peddle it doesn't stutter in any of the gears.

I change the oil myself, because it needs full synthetic and it costs $75 at a shop and $22 for me to do it myself-I always keep up with this. I haven't had any major fixes. The most expensive fix I had was my timing belt, because the car is so darn small it takes 6-7 hours just to change the belt. Other than that it's been regular cosmetics that needed fixed/replaced.

Oh I should maybe add that an old man hit me this summer and my radiator and ac had to be replaced. I'm not sure it that matters. The shop the insurance company made me take it to said the engine wasn't touched. The stuttering didn't happen for several months after the accident, so it's probably not related.

Any idea what would cause the stuttering?

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Originally Posted by Isis

This is my second Volkswagen Jetta, but this one is a manual turbo. I always knew what would go wrong or what it sounded like when things went wrong, but I think something is wrong with the manual/gears. I have a mechanic that I really like because he loves Volkswagens and he always treats me right. His shop is about an hour from me so I don't want to drive all the way up there to have him look at my car, drive back, and then save up money. I have a feeling this is going to be a hefty bill :tears:

Ok, so this is what's going on. When I'm in 3rd gear and around 20-30 rpms and push the gas peddle somewhat hard my car stutters. It continues to do it in 4th and 5th gear at 20-30 rpms. If I drive it really hard it doesn't stutter, but that means I'm cruising around 45-50 rpms before changing gears. Redlining is at 65. If I drive it like a granny and nicely push the gas peddle it doesn't stutter in any of the gears.

I change the oil myself, because it needs full synthetic and it costs $75 at a shop and $22 for me to do it myself-I always keep up with this. I haven't had any major fixes. The most expensive fix I had was my timing belt, because the car is so darn small it takes 6-7 hours just to change the belt. Other than that it's been regular cosmetics that needed fixed/replaced.

Oh I should maybe add that an old man hit me this summer and my radiator and ac had to be replaced. I'm not sure it that matters. The shop the insurance company made me take it to said the engine wasn't touched. The stuttering didn't happen for several months after the accident, so it's probably not related.

Any idea what would cause the stuttering?

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I'm sending you a PM now. It will be long so give me some time to type it.

Jim Smith

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Originally Posted by j_h_smith

I'm sending you a PM now. It will be long so give me some time to type it.

Jim Smith

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Sweet, thank you!

Jim pointed out that 20-30 rpms doesn't really make sense. I'm not sure what measurement Volkswagens use, but it goes 10, 20, 30, etc rather than 1, 2, 3, etc. :confused:

Another PM is on its way!

Jim Smith

How long has it been doing this? Also what year? Do you have a CEL associated with it?

I have an '03 GTI 1.8T with the 5-speed and mine did something similar. But mine would do it in the lower gears. When I'd accelerate it would lag and stutter right around 2k rpm and about 3k would be fine. Once I'd get in 4th or 5th it was fine. Mine progressively got worst and then finally a coilpack went out. In my case that coilpack would intermittently work for a brief moment and then be fine. The stuttering I had was from that cylinder not firing for just a brief moment. But once it fired it would be fine. I didn't have a CEL until it finally stopped working all together.

I limped it to the dealership, bought all new coil packs, popped the new ones in, and all was fine after that. Not sure if this could be what is up with yours. A set of new coil packs is about $100 and 10 minutes of your time to install them. Might be worth replacing them and see. Best case is this fixes it. Worst case is you spent $100 and its not fixed, but you'd still have new coilpacks.

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Originally Posted by Blue Apple Herps

How long has it been doing this? Also what year? Do you have a CEL associated with it?

I have an '03 GTI 1.8T with the 5-speed and mine did something similar. But mine would do it in the lower gears. When I'd accelerate it would lag and stutter right around 2k rpm and about 3k would be fine. Once I'd get in 4th or 5th it was fine. Mine progressively got worst and then finally a coilpack went out. In my case that coilpack would intermittently work for a brief moment and then be fine. The stuttering I had was from that cylinder not firing for just a brief moment. But once it fired it would be fine. I didn't have a CEL until it finally stopped working all together.

I limped it to the dealership, bought all new coil packs, popped the new ones in, and all was fine after that. Not sure if this could be what is up with yours. A set of new coil packs is about $100 and 10 minutes of your time to install them. Might be worth replacing them and see. Best case is this fixes it. Worst case is you spent $100 and its not fixed, but you'd still have new coilpacks.

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It's been doing it for several months :oops: It has slowly gotten worse, but still tolerable. I'm not sure what a CEL is, so I suppose I couldn't tell you.

It's a 2000 1.8T, and it started out only in the lower gears. It sounds a lot like the issue you had with the lagging and stuttering.

Thanks for the advice, that will be something else to keep in mind!

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Originally Posted by Isis

It's been doing it for several months :oops: It has slowly gotten worse, but still tolerable. I'm not sure what a CEL is, so I suppose I couldn't tell you.

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Sorry, CEL = Check Engine Light

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It's a 2000 1.8T, and it started out only in the lower gears. It sounds a lot like the issue you had with the lagging and stuttering.

Thanks for the advice, that will be something else to keep in mind!

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OK, just checking. I'm not at all familiar with the newer 2.0T. Do you know someone that has a VW with the same engine? You could try swapping in their coilpacks for yours and see if that fixed the problem, that way you're not spending $100 without knowing.

But I'm no expert on cars, so it could also be something else. Good luck figuring it out!

Also to add if you don't know about it. Check out www.vwvortex.com

It's a VW forum that has an insane amount of information as well as knowledgeable people that can help. You could try the MKIV (the generation of your car) forums, and/or the 1.8T forums. They will easily provide you with additional things to look at/for.

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Originally Posted by Blue Apple Herps

Sorry, CEL = Check Engine Light



OK, just checking. I'm not at all familiar with the newer 2.0T. Do you know someone that has a VW with the same engine? You could try swapping in their coilpacks for yours and see if that fixed the problem, that way you're not spending $100 without knowing.

But I'm no expert on cars, so it could also be something else. Good luck figuring it out!

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About that.....my CEL has been on since I bought the car 3 1/2 years ago. It's really weird, on rainy days it goes off :confused: I've had it checked over and over again and usually the code is for nothing, sometimes it's for my 02 sensor. When someone shuts the light off it takes 1-2 months for it to come back on. My mechanic said my CEL is probably tripping because of emission levels. He has suggested that I get a new 02 sensor, but I haven't yet :oops: I never thought about that, perhaps the 02 sensor finally broke for good? Would the 02 sensor affect something that would cause stuttering?

I do know someone with the same engine, but I'm not so sure she would care to share it with me. Are the coilpacks pretty easy to take out and put back in?

Thanks for that VW forum link!

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Originally Posted by Isis

About that.....my CEL has been on since I bought the car 3 1/2 years ago. It's really weird, on rainy days it goes off :confused: I've had it checked over and over again and usually the code is for nothing, sometimes it's for my 02 sensor. When someone shuts the light off it takes 1-2 months for it to come back on. My mechanic said my CEL is probably tripping because of emission levels. He has suggested that I get a new 02 sensor, but I haven't yet :oops: I never thought about that, perhaps the 02 sensor finally broke for good? Would the 02 sensor affect something that would cause stuttering?

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A bad O2 sensor would result in pretty poor gas mileage as well. Is your gas mileage pretty poor? Not sure about stuttering, but bad gas mileage would be one of the giveaways for the O2 sensor. You may want to get the CEL scanned again and see what the code is. Autozone does it for free.

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I do know someone with the same engine, but I'm not so sure she would care to share it with me. Are the coilpacks pretty easy to take out and put back in?

Thanks for that VW forum link!

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The coilpacks are VERY easy to install/remove. If you can change your oil, you can do the coilpacks. In the MKIV forum on vwvortex, they have a stickied DIY thread that covers everything. Look in there and I think there's a picture step by step of doing coil packs. If you can't find it but convince your friend to try theirs out for 30 minutes, I can take some snap shots of my car and show you how to do it.

That does not sound like anything is wrong with your transmission. It sounds like something is going on with the air fuel ratio, or how the car is getting it's gas. This could be a bad spark plug, bad spark plug wire, fuel pump, fuel filter. Do you have any smoke? if so, is it white or black?
I'm not a mechanic, but my kids dad is a mechanic and I learned a few things over the years.

i had the same issue, however i have an Auto.
also with mine, it shuttered when i started the car a few times, but for the most part, while driving.

sounds to me like you need new coils, that was with my issue at least, and it has happened twice now.
i have an 07 jetta wolfsburg, thankfully i have a power-train warranty still, but it shouldn't run you more than 100$.

best of luck.:salute:

P.S.
Girls who drive VW's, are automatically hottttt!!!!:D

check your spark plugs and wires. i had a messed up wire and my plugs were misfiring.

plugs,coil pack,wires..had to deal with this all the time owning\tuning turbo cars...:gj:

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Originally Posted by Blue Apple Herps

A bad O2 sensor would result in pretty poor gas mileage as well. Is your gas mileage pretty poor? Not sure about stuttering, but bad gas mileage would be one of the giveaways for the O2 sensor. You may want to get the CEL scanned again and see what the code is. Autozone does it for free.



The coilpacks are VERY easy to install/remove. If you can change your oil, you can do the coilpacks. In the MKIV forum on vwvortex, they have a stickied DIY thread that covers everything. Look in there and I think there's a picture step by step of doing coil packs. If you can't find it but convince your friend to try theirs out for 30 minutes, I can take some snap shots of my car and show you how to do it.

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Hmm, I'm still getting about 30 miles per gallon. I reset my trip meter every time I fill up.

I might have to change my coilpacks. Even if it's not the problem, I'm sure it would be a good idea. I've put 68,000 miles on in 3 and 1/2 years, it's just about up to 140,000 miles now.

Thanks for the link and advice! I've been reading a lot of things on there!

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Originally Posted by singingtothewheat

That does not sound like anything is wrong with your transmission. It sounds like something is going on with the air fuel ratio, or how the car is getting it's gas. This could be a bad spark plug, bad spark plug wire, fuel pump, fuel filter. Do you have any smoke? if so, is it white or black?
I'm not a mechanic, but my kids dad is a mechanic and I learned a few things over the years.

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Oh thank heavens! I was terrified that it was my transmission! I was wondering about the air/fuel as well.

I don't have any smoke.

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Originally Posted by Joey'D

i had the same issue, however i have an Auto.
also with mine, it shuttered when i started the car a few times, but for the most part, while driving.

sounds to me like you need new coils, that was with my issue at least, and it has happened twice now.
i have an 07 jetta wolfsburg, thankfully i have a power-train warranty still, but it shouldn't run you more than 100$.

best of luck.:salute:

P.S.
Girls who drive VW's, are automatically hottttt!!!!:D

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You know, I have noticed a slight shutter when I'm sitting at a stop sign for awhile. It's very soft, but if I pay attention I can feel it. It usually only does it once maybe twice for a brief moment. I hope it's just my coils, that would be really nice!

:rofl: girls who drive VWs are hot! You're too funny. I do love my VW! I really wanted a third jetta but I hate the new style. My plan is to switch over to an Audi next summer. My little sister turns 16 and is going to buy my car. By then I should be done with college and have a big girl job! :D

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Originally Posted by mpkeelee

check your spark plugs and wires. i had a messed up wire and my plugs were misfiring.

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Originally Posted by BallsUnlimited

plugs,coil pack,wires..had to deal with this all the time owning\tuning turbo cars...:gj:

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Thank you very much! Seems like I should really be looking into some new coils!

3 things that are possible,
1. Fuel dilivery, this could be anything such as pump, wires, or fuelrail, or injectors
2. O2 sensor, most likely from the information
3. Transmission problem, possible clutch replacement, IMO this is the least likely of the problems but cannot be thrown in the trash with out a mechanic telling you that its not the problem


Good luck!, and those vw parts are quite pricy, its a shame...

EDIT: oh and forgot to add the ignition system such as wires, plugs, coil packs, distributors.... the list goes on....

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Originally Posted by dc1

3 things that are possible,
1. Fuel dilivery, this could be anything such as pump, wires, or fuelrail, or injectors
2. O2 sensor, most likely from the information
3. Transmission problem, possible clutch replacement, IMO this is the least likely of the problems but cannot be thrown in the trash with out a mechanic telling you that its not the problem


Good luck!, and those vw parts are quite pricy, its a shame...

EDIT: oh and forgot to add the ignition system such as wires, plugs, coil packs, distributors.... the list goes on....

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She didn't mention a Check Engine light, so I think we can forget about the O2 sensor. She's got 140,000 miles on the car without a tune up. I told her to get that done, a new air filter, change the fuel filter and put Sea Foam in her gas tank.

Get rid of the simple stuff. The stuff that she needs to do anyway. I believe she's just in need of a good tune up.

Jim Smith

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Originally Posted by j_h_smith

She didn't mention a Check Engine light, so I think we can forget about the O2 sensor. She's got 140,000 miles on the car without a tune up. I told her to get that done, a new air filter, change the fuel filter and put Sea Foam in her gas tank.

Get rid of the simple stuff. The stuff that she needs to do anyway. I believe she's just in need of a good tune up.

Jim Smith

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No she said it was recommended to be replaced

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Originally Posted by Isis

About that.....my CEL has been on since I bought the car 3 1/2 years ago. It's really weird, on rainy days it goes off :confused: I've had it checked over and over again and usually the code is for nothing, sometimes it's for my 02 sensor. When someone shuts the light off it takes 1-2 months for it to come back on. My mechanic said my CEL is probably tripping because of emission levels. He has suggested that I get a new 02 sensor, but I haven't yet :oops: I never thought about that, perhaps the 02 sensor finally broke for good? Would the 02 sensor affect something that would cause stuttering?

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