Car People, especially manual/volkswagen experience

[SlitherinSisters]

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

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?

[j_h_smith]

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

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?

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

Jim Smith

[SlitherinSisters]

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

Jim Smith

Sweet, thank you!

[SlitherinSisters]

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.

[j_h_smith]

Another PM is on its way!

Jim Smith

[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.

[SlitherinSisters]

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.

It's been doing it for several months 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!

[Blue Apple Herps]

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

Sorry, CEL = Check Engine Light

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!

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!

[Blue Apple Herps]

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.

[SlitherinSisters]

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!

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 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 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!