Our 85 Jetta GL 1.8L Auto Trans with AC just stopped dead at a light this
afternoon.  It has stuttered after going around a corner a couple of times
recently, but today, I pulled up to a light  with everything running
normally, and it just died.
After towing it to my neighbor’s garage, we pushed it inside and let it warm
up for an hour.  When I went over to try and troubleshoot it, it started
normally.
I replaced both fuel pumps about 1,000 miles ago with new Bosch units.  The
fuel cutoff relay is bypassed. When the car wouldn’t start, there was the
normal pump buzz which stopped normally once the lines pressurized.
The Jetta has an automatic transmission, and we’ve fought the heat-soak
problem for years, but in this case, the starter had plenty of "crank" – the
car just wouldn’t start up when cranked. Normally, it starts on the first
bump of the starter.
The wiring looked ok, with no loose cables or wires that I could see. I was
getting set up to check for spark when the car started. When we first pushed
the car into the garage, I removed the distributor cap to determine if the
rotor was turning, and everything was dry and clean inside.
Weather conditions when the car failed were raining lightly and 38 degrees.
The car has run normally in these same conditions (and lots wetter) for
months. Prior to the failure, I had driven about five miles, made one stop,
and then about two miles to the failure point.
It’s probably not related, but recently we have had a loud belt squeal upon
startup after the car sits idling for a bit (like at a stoplight), probably
due to a slipping alternator or air conditioning belt. I understand these
vehicles have a problem with the belts getting wet. Mine does not have the
suggested deflector shield installed to keep the belts dry. It’s slightly
worse when the air conditioning compressor is engaged by the defroster. It
usually clears up by the time you’re through the intersection. It was not
squealing when it quit running.
A visual inspection showed that the rubber fitting in the top of the valve
cover is loose and the plastic hose that goes across from that rubber
fitting to the fuel distributor is cracked, creating a vacuum leak. I have a
new rubber plug (PVC valve?) coming, along with replacements for the plastic
pipe and the rubber hoses for this subsystem. Could this be enough to cause
the engine to suddenly quit running, or am I looking for something else?
Pat Moore
pmo…@gatecliff.com

Has anyone installed the Phatnoise music system?  I am interested but
want to hear from any users.  How does the voice announcements sound?
How easy is the system to use?

Thanks !

Are there still r32′s available in mid-atlantic/northeast?

Thanks for info.

Well,

I pulled the trigger and bought a new 2005 Passat GLS TDI. Even got one with
leather.  I hope this ride lasts me a long time and serves me reliably.   I
pick it up next week.  Black with anthracite leather.  My local VW dealer,
who has a good reputation gave me a great deal.  I didn’t pay MSRP, just a
tick above invoice.

I am a stickler for proper maintenance and yes it will use the special oil
and so forth.

Looking forward to a good long ride….

Was the V6 used in the Passat in 1997 a true V6 or was it Volkswagen’s VR6? I
know that the B5 moved to the Audi sourced 2.8 but the 6 used in 1997 seems to
have identicle specs to the VR6 and I’m wondering if that’s what it was. If it
wasn’t a VR6, where was it sourced from? Was it the same engine that Audi was
using in the pre-30 valve A6?
Steve Grauman

Hi Folks,

  Daughter has a 2001 NB, and seem to have the common problem of headlights
burning out.  Just wondering if anyone has found a brand that may last longer.
I’ve tried the standard Sylvania H1-55W,and even the Sylvania Silverstar High
Output / High Dollar replacements and see no difference in longevity.  Even
tied some no-name from Ebay , Chinese I believe, with the same results, next
step will be to disable the DRL and see if that helps.  At least they are easy
to replace, but don’t want to be doing it with the snowy months comming up.
Any suggestions are  greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
  Butch

Had the 60k mile check and timing belt changed last week…car sat in
the garage from Wednesday night (when I picked it up at the Dealer)
until today.

Stopped for gas tonight and noticed that the Right Front turn signal
lens is *missing*

No collision damage…no broken pieces…nada…just a gaping orifice
with an amber bulb flopping around in the slipstream.

Did the mechanic have to pull the front end off the Passat (99 1.8T
Wagon) to change the timing belt? Is there a common scenario where the
lens does not get properly seated when being replaced (assuming front
end removal).

I am not amused. Curious…but not amused.

I’ve heared that the 1.8T engine’s timing belt needs to be replaced every 3
years or 60,000 KM  (37,500 Mi) Mine is a 2001 20V. Others have said it was
good until 5 yrs 100,000km (60,000 Mi). I couldnt find it in the owners
manual, and the dealer doesnt know how to respond to that ( kind of weird,
but i don’t know)
Any suggestions??
Thanks

I live in the cold canadian prairies and my 99 Passat 1.8T
was working fine up until yesterday. I went to start it and
and it started for 5 secs then stopped. after that, it would
not start again. It rotates with some decent power and I can
here it firing a little, but just will not start. I have tried
boosting it with cables and still not luck, sounds like it wants
to start, just wont. Not sure if this is related to the cold or
not, I cannot plug in a block heater like most people have but
I don’t normally use one anyways. Anybody have any ideas what
to check??

TIA
Darren

I currently drive a 2000 Hyundai Elantra GLS, which has worked out fine
for me, but I’d like something roomier and nicer, and I can afford it now.

The thing is I’m 6’3", 275 lbs. I fit in my Hyundai alright, but my hair
brushes against the top sometimes, and my legs get cramped from not
enough width on 1+ hour drives, which I do quite a bit. I’ve sat in the
Camry, Accord, Passat, but the Passat seems to have the most space, plus
I’ve always like the way the Passat looks, and I’m under the impression
German engineering is good. My Mom owned a VW bug in the 70′s which
lasted 13 years no problem.

Can anyone else think of a car in the 20-30K price range that has as
much or more space than the Passat? Or is the Passat it?

One thing I’m not quite into are American cars though, so don’t
recommend it unless you think I’m really missing out on something.

By the way, I like the Touareg, but 40K, you’ve got to be kidding. Ouch.

Thanks!

Alex