Volkswagen Jetta 2005 and earlier

mdaffron

Yes, I don't own a Jetta. I own a Protege. But Paul's been such a frequent visitor on both discussions (and is a former Protege owner) that I've been following his rattle dilemma quite closely.

Would one of you describe this rattle? Is it a buzzing noise or a metal CLANG-CLANG-CLANG? I know it's hard to describe a noise in words, but this must be one HECK of a rattle to get you guys so up in arms about it! I think more than one of us would like someone to describe what it sounds like, and how loud it is!

Thanks,

Meade

fish8

Mine sounds like 2 peices of plastic rubbing against each other. It is more noticable when the car is cool. When I went out w/ the techs yesterday my car had been in the sun for awhile and the rattle was very faint. I then turned on the defrost to cool the dash off and the rattle serviced. Very weird I know but it worked to get the rattle to come out.

sarah233

2 words:

VW vortex

they have tons of information about anything you could possibly think of, including performance numbers on the GLI.

vocus

As I have said before, I don't expect rattles in a brand new car. Especially one that's costing me North of $20,000, and from a company that prides themselves on their interior materials. Apparently, the techs know there are rattle problems with VWs, or they would not take the time to drive the cars with us.

I have different rattles though. The dash one sounds like a screw head hitting a metal surface. The one in the back sounds like plastic rubbing together. The one on the right side (when you lean against the passenger door) sounds like a LOUD squeak, almost like fingernails down a chalkboard. The other one that's gone now (for good, I hope) sounded like the passenger door moving in its mooring.

mdaffron

Wow. Four, huh? Maybe this will help a little with one of them:

When my Protege was new, I had a fingernails-on-chalkboard squeak in my driver's door. Turns out Mazda forgot to install (or at least didn't install until mid-year) a piece of foam insulation between the door panel and the metal door frame itself, and the two pieces of material rubbed together with every vibration of the car. Like you, it drove me crazy. But one trip to the dealer solved the problem; they took my door panel off and installed the foam tape.

Have your guys tried removing the door panel on your passenger's side and checking for anything loose in there? Is that window secure in its channel? Don't forget about the right-hand rearview mirror -- is it at all loose (check both the mirror itself and the housing where it mounts to the car)?

Meade

anonymous02

Yeah, but at least they admit to it, and are actively seeking a solution.

justin

the high grade interior materials have nothing to do with the fact that someone gets a lemon.

mseals

Hey, that sounds similar to the sound that people have mentioned on the Civic board. It only came from the back of the car, it turns out that the back deck is hard milded plastic. When the car is cold, i.e. winter, that deck contracts leaving space to rub against the frame of the car. After the car warms up, the creaks goes away. Does this sound familiar to any of you.

kyleknicks

what's the right psi to inflate the 16inch goodyear rsa tires?? anyone help??

justin

BOTH of my Civics were total rattle boxes, but yes, my 97 Civic Coupe rattled in the back deck. not fixable. the 2001 Coupe rattled in the sunroof area. lovely - right over my head

for tire pressure, look at the owners manual or the gas filler door or inside the door on your car.

blueguydotcom

Yeah, I've sorta come to the conclusion it's when things get chilly here (you know down around 60 or 50, lol) that the creaks and squeaks show up.

8u6hfd

26 psi

vocus

I remember reading on the Protege board about that when you got it done (I had one of the Pros then). It's not anything like that in the door, like I said. It just sounds like the door itself is loose from the car or something. Weird.

They did open up the door panel and found a loose speaker wire, but it still rattles from time to time.

fish8

I totally agree with you. I am very glad they admit to hearing the rattles. Most other dealers I have gone to for the same problem (rattles) they say they cannot duplicate and send you on your way. I actually told them I appreciate their sticktuitivness (sp). It seems as though they want to keep the car as long as it takes to fix the rattle. That's fine with me. Though, I am afraid that in their attempt to dismantle my dash that they will scratch up my interior. It happened before with my prvious car. They actually cracked my dash.

vocus

I got a call from the car dealer today. They are having a heck of a time finding the 3rd rattle in the back of the car. The shop foreman said it's annoying him just testing the car for the rattle, he doesn't know how I stood it. Now I think they are starting to learn how I feel.

Fish: If they do any other damage (like they did in my car), make them fix it. Check it out when you pick up the car. Also, I had to take the car to a second dealer for them to hear the rattle as well. So don't sweat it.

fish8

What damege did they do to your car?

vocus

They only left this molding piece hanging out of the dash, and left it dirty as well. The molding that's on the left side between the roof pillar and the defroster vent in the dashtop, that one. They still had not fixed it right when I dropped the car off the other night. Hopefully they will get it right this time around.

fish8

Did they clean your interior for you?

mseals

I have had my car for 2 1/2 years now, it doesn't rattle in the summer at all. It does however rattle in the winter, and by winter, I mean 20's or so. I live in the Detroit area so it gets pretty cold here. But also because I live in this area, we have some of the worst roads in the country. That being said, then I hit all the bumps, mounds and potholes in the road, my car is rock solid. The dashboard doesn't shake up and down opposite of the car like loose change in someones pocket when they jump rope. My girlfriends car does, she has a 97 Cavalier.

vocus

They still have the car, so I do not know. But before, they did not clean the dirty fingerprints they had left behind out of the car. I hope they do this time though.

drmillhous

It's great that the techs finally have a hold on your rattles. When you get it back, can you find out exactly where they are coming from and what to do for the rest of us? I can't stand bringing it in and having them "unable to reproduce" the rattle.

fish8

Dealer called me yesterday and said my car was ready. I am picking it up soon. They said they added insulation. I'll see what the outcome is soon.

mseals

I was thinking that the solution might be more insulation, or as VW puts it, rubber treatment. That is all that insulation is, a rubber sticky matting that you put in certain places to cut out noise to to eliminate gaps that could cause things to rub together. That was the fix for the Civic's creaking, Honda normally doesn't put much instulation in their cars to begin with.

vocus

I know, they did the rubber treatment on my car, and it took them like 3 weeks to get the stuff to do it with. Still did not work for the rattles though.

DR, you said I could diagnose the rattles. That's funny, I feel like Pat Goss or something sometimes.

mdaffron

Can I have a free VocusWeek T-shirt then?

;-)

Meade

vocus

Ha ha, very funny. I wrote a letter to Pat Goss once, and he never did respond. And they film the show at MPT, which is about a 30 min. drive from my house. I thoguht he would respond to my letter, because I was a local. Boy, was I fooled.

vocus

..but I have a loaner 2002 (base model) Subaru Legacy Outback wagon with automatic and the 4. The car handles almost as good as my Jetta does, but without the harsh ride on rough surfaces. The interior is not as good, but it fits the car's utilitarian image perfectly. There is a LOT more room in the Outback too, but the car is not much larger (if any) than the Jetta. Also, fuel economy seems to be pretty good. And, most importantly, NO RATTLES on this loaner. It's only got 3800 miles though. Of course, my Jetta was rattling about a week after I took it off the lot (about 1000 miles).

8u6hfd

He does respond to your emails, at least mine.

They also do filming and road tests over by Loch Raven reservoir...the park over there. That's why it's closed during the day on weekends.

vocus

I didn't know they filmed over there. I always wanted to know where they drive the cars around and all that stuff. I used to live about 1/2 mile from Loch Raven park.

The thing I wrote him about was on a car that I had about 2 years ago, so it's no longer applicable.

8u6hfd

My friend's Legacy has an annoying problem with the ATF temperature light going on constantly....dealership still hasn't fixed the problem..

vocus

I saw that light on the dashboard. I even turned off the car and turned it back on to see what it was. And at this point, I would rather have a warning light annoying me, than something I can hear that's annoying me.

8u6hfd

is also partial to TDI owners, since he drives a New Beetle TDI.

vocus

I didn't know he had a Beetle TDI. The last time I watched the show (awhile ago), he had an Explorer or something like that.

fish8

I got my car back. Eventhough I did hear a slight rattle coming from the dash, the rattle seems to be gone. The real test will be in the morning when my car is cold.

I am real glad to have my car back. It actually seems much tighter than the 1.8t loaner. I think the loaner has been driven real HARD and lots-o-rattles and noises have surfaced. I may get some negative responses to this but......I prefer the ride of my car to the ride of the stiffer suspended 1.8. Just my opinion.

kyleknicks

how do you guys feel about the 1.8t engine? from what i understand, turbo's doesn't last that long... no more than 10 yrs. is this true? can you expect to keep your jetta 1.8t for more than 10 ys? just curious

vocus

You call 10 years "not long"? Come on now, seriously. The engine has not been on the market for 10 years yet (it debuted in 1995 in the Audi A4 I think), so there isn't really any way to know.

vocus

The 1.8T's suspension is about the same as the base car's, unless it had the Sport/Luxury Pkg. or the sport suspension. I think the ride in my car (sport suspension) is pretty harsh on rough roads, but the handling could be better.

You said you still have a little rattle in the dash? If there is still one there, you might have to learn to live with it.

Also, what did they fix in your car? I am curious.

fish8

The rattle is very faint and I really have to strain to hear it. I will let you know more tomorrow after I drive it when its cold.

The added insulation somewhere. The ticket is in my car. I will look later and get more specific.

The suspension in the 1.8 and my car were different. I could feel more road noise in the 1.8 that mine. My Jetta seems to absorb more bumps. Much smoother.

justin

kyle -

that is an old car myth. today's turbos are just as durable (or not) as a regular engine. now, if you go add on a supercharger or something aftermarket, temps rise and the engine will be prone to longevity issues. turbos from the factory are fine. look at how many old volvo and saab turbo from the mid 80's are still purring.

fish -

the base jetta 2.0 and base 1.8t have the same suspension. your turbo loaner must have been wolfsburg or sport suspended. or different tires maybe.

fish8

It did have different tires. Mine came with michelins and the loaner had Goodyear. That could be the difference.

mseals

Just curious, what type of Jetta do you have, and what type of suspension does it have? Just varifying, from the sound of it you have a standard suspension. If so, I am really interested to hear how it compairs to the sports suspension. I am debating right now weather it is worth getting the Sport Lux. Pkg or just getting the Lux. Pkg on its own. I have a Civic Si 2000 which has a really tight suspentions (read: I feel every pebble, groove and bump in the road and there is plenty of road noise even with softer tires.)

jamie_5

OK, after reading a lot of comments and reviews over the past few weeks, I am seeing that the Jetta and their owners have a real love/hate relationship. Looks are great, relatively sporty, good fuel economy and performance is common. Durability, part accessability, dealer service and reliabilty of the car is pretty poor compared to similar Honda/Toyota cars.
WOULD YOU recommend to go buy one one to your mom/dad/grandma or best personal friend?
Thanks.

fish8

I drive a 2002 Jetta GL with, I guess, the base suspension. I have been very impressed with the way my car rides. My Dad, who drives a Lexus, commented on how well the car rides. I do think the Michelis play a part in the smooth ride. It seems I lucked out with the Michelins and Monsoon on my base GL.

fish8

Yes, I would recommend one. For the money, it is a great car. Tell me what car cost $18k and comes with 6 airbags and 4 wheel disc ABS.

mseals

Fish: I hate to admit it, but there are still millions of people out there who will sacrifice safety for price. I think I am one of them, but I just happen to really like a car that is really safe. I think it is almost moot these days unless you get a Pick up or an SUV anyway, because there are so many of them out there today that cars have not chance in an accident. That is what a new study showed that I read the other day. Cars windows come up to SUV bumpers!! Who doyou think will win the battle of an accident and walk away. Regardless how many side and curtain air bags you have, it won't stop a bumper!

vocus

Even though I have had problems with my car, I would recommend one. But if you want a car that's really durable, go for the Honda/Toyota.

vocus

My Jetta has the Sport Luxury Pkg., nd I feel every little bump in the road, and the ride is a little noisy as well. The base suspension rides nicely, but handling is somewhat sacrificed. You can, however, get the sport suspension without the 17-inch tires. That might be a happy medium.

Also, the 17" tires are really expensive to replace, $200 each of you go with the Michelin Pilot Sports that the car came with. But the cheapest is still $100 per tire or so. Keep that in mind as well.

sarah233

recommend a jetta. i feel really safe in my car--it's crawling with airbags, and (despite the occasional rattle) feels solidly built. it was a good value for my money, as i was able to get "luxury features" at a not so luxury price. it's also fun to drive.

anonymous02

My Wrangler doesn't even have SIDES!!!

anonymous02

You could do that fix yourself.

Just go down to Home Depot and buy some of the foam insulation stuff. I think it is called "Real Good Stuff" or "Real Great Stuff" or something.