Car People, especially manual/volkswagen experience

[Blue Apple Herps]

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?

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.

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!

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.

[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.

[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.

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

[mpkeelee]

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

[BallsUnlimited]

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

[SlitherinSisters]

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

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!

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!

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...

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

[dc4teg]

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....

[j_h_smith]

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....

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

[dc4teg]

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

No she said it was recommended to be replaced

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?