Intermittent 2003 TDI Jetta turbo failure?
Model Citizen
On the way to work this morning in my 2003 TDI Jetta
I discovered that it had no ooomph whatsoever, though
the engine appeared to be operating normally in all
other respects. I immediately suspected a turbo
problem and indeed I couldn't hear its normal whine.
So I pulled over and shut the engine off and then
restarted - everything worked perfectly after that.
So, what's going on here? Did VW allow those geniuses
at Microsoft to write the code that my ECU runs?
can I expect the system to BlueScreen and require
Ctrl-Alt-Delete periodically?
I must say, I'm a bit disappointed in this vehicle
overall - too many examples of VW having simply not
bothered about the details - I expected rather better
from that vaunted German engineering...
.
kab...@7of.9
wrote:
**Just look at the lame-o cupholders to see some of that
'engineering.' I have a 2003 Jetta GLS 2.0 and I've run into a few
niggly problems. The worst of which seems to be a sticky
caliper/warped rotor/???? that the dealership can't seem to replicate
while I'm there. When using the brakes and afterward after easing up,
there's a slight ticking/pulse in the brake pedal and the steering
wheel.The car doesn't even have 700 miles on it yet and I find it
pretty annoying. It's taking away from my joy of throwing the car
around...which is a lot of fun in the Jetta :)
Sometimes the measure of the company can be how well they take care of
the problem. Have you called the dealership to ask about it? I plan on
making a list of the things I want looked at and having them fixed.
Make me happy and I can overlook the fact that it rolled off the lot
new with a brake problem/unbalanced back wheel/etc.
kaboomie
Tundra Wookie
"Model Citizen" <arch...@attbi.com> wrote in message
news:Y289a.316401$iG3.38844@sccrnsc02...
>
> On the way to work this morning in my 2003 TDI Jetta
> I discovered that it had no ooomph whatsoever, though
> the engine appeared to be operating normally in all
> other respects. I immediately suspected a turbo
> problem and indeed I couldn't hear its normal whine.
> So I pulled over and shut the engine off and then
> restarted - everything worked perfectly after that.
>
> So, what's going on here? Did VW allow those geniuses
> at Microsoft to write the code that my ECU runs?
> can I expect the system to BlueScreen and require
> Ctrl-Alt-Delete periodically?
Do a search on tdiclub.com, there is some information about it there. I was
under the impression that they had fixed the problem, so yours may be a one
in a lot chance defect. I believe the problem has to do with an O-ring seal
in the fuel cut-off valve. I have had that problem maybe a dozen times over
the past 100K mi, I just cycle the key and be done with it, maybe I will get
bold and fix it someday, when it becomes more of an irritant.
Musing to myself outloud: every time it has exhibited that problem, it has
been near the fuel filter change interval mileage. Time to change the
filter.
>
> I must say, I'm a bit disappointed in this vehicle
> overall - too many examples of VW having simply not
> bothered about the details - I expected rather better
> from that vaunted German engineering...
>
>
That is why I chose as simple a car as I could find with the exception of
the sunroof, which I just accepted as a failure point and it has yet to
fail.
Buy less, expect less, be happy. I've got 133K miles on it and expect it to
do the same amount again and then some. I have never owned and relied on one
vehicle for as long as I have this one.
--Steve 1998 Jetta TDI
"Build a man a fire, and he'll be warm for a day.
Set a man on fire, and he'll be warm for the rest of his life. "
-Terry Pratchett
Joe R
If you repeadly run out of steam in 3rd and 4th gears at around 2900 then
that's most likely it. When they fail this way they don't produce a error
code amd it's hard to get vw to replace it. Find more at www.tdiclub.com
Joe
"Model Citizen" <arch...@attbi.com> wrote in message
news:Y289a.316401$iG3.38844@sccrnsc02...
>
Ennui Society
kaboom@7of.9 wrote:
[snip]
> **Just look at the lame-o cupholders to see some of that
> 'engineering.' I have a 2003 Jetta GLS 2.0 and I've run into a few
[snip]
My friend bought the 2003 Jetta GLS 1,8T and found out that the
cupholders block the CD slot. She doesn't have three or four hands to
steer, to hold the drink, and to change the CD...
Oliver
kab...@7of.9
**Hi Oliver. Before buying the Jetta, I did a lot of surfing/reading
up on the car. That was a big complaint but I figured that I could
live with it even though I'm a huge fan of cupholders. I take several
long car trips a year. After test driving several models, I went and
picked out the one I wanted from their lot. They cleaned it up, I got
in and discovered that the one that I picked had a multifunction
steering wheel with radio function buttons on one side. The stereo can
hold 6 CDs. Even though, I'm wary of putting more than one in :)
I have a question for you (or your friend): How do you like the
stereo? The radio is the worst I've EVER heard in any car I've ever
owned. It's very disappointing. The CD sound is pretty good, but,
surprisingly, my ex-vehicle a Hyundai Santa Fe had a far, far better
sound. Clear, deep and full whether radio or CD.
kaboomie
Mark
<kaboom@7of.9> wrote in message news:3e666cd...@news2.wwnet.net...
kab...@7of.9
>The radio sucks biug time. What a piece of crap it is. How long is the =
>warranty and is it easy to replace it?
**Hi Mark. I have a 2003 Jetta so I'm guessing that the warranty is 4
years. I went to vwforum and ran into a thread that discussed
replacing the stereo. Apparently, from 2002 on, they changed the setup
and now it's very difficult and there's no adapter yet. The consensus
was: Don't bother. Go take a look at http://www.vwforum.com. I know
the thread was from the past 45 days.
kaboomie
Ed
> I discovered that it had no ooomph whatsoever, though
> the engine appeared to be operating normally in all
> other respects. I immediately suspected a turbo
> problem and indeed I couldn't hear its normal whine.
> So I pulled over and shut the engine off and then
> restarted - everything worked perfectly after that.
I dont have a Jetta,, but I do have a '98 NB TDI..I've had a few problems
with the turbo too (happens I guess. especially when you buy it used ;)
Anyways,
http://www.tdiclub.com would be a good place to start, or direct your turbo
problem questions too.
> The radio sucks biug time. What a piece of crap it is.
Mark, at least you can easily change your radio.. Ever change a
radio-cassette on a NB? me neither, I'm not goin' near that thing. Easier
just to put a 5disc changer in the trunk and be done with it.