By accessing this website, you acknowledge that Edmunds and its third party business partners may use cookies, pixels, and similar technologies to collect information about you and your interactions with the website as described in our
Privacy Statement, and you agree that your use of the website is subject to our
Visitor Agreement.
Comments
Anyway, no - the coolant temperature sensor is not on the coolant reservoir. That sensor tells you when the coolant is low. The one I mean is screwed into the engine. On the 1.8T, I think it's on the rear of the engine - you'll need to search for more info on that. They are color coded - make sure you get the correct one.
If the coolant temperature is being mis-read, then the engine management is either sending too much or too little fuel into the engine. You might want to search more on this topic - I'm not a tech, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night....
Also, that VW specialist...they diagnosed a blown head gasket as the cause of the overheating, or were they saying that the overheating caused a blown head gasket? What kind of test did they do? Are you seeing any oil in your coolant or coolant in your oil? I think I'd be shying away from them...
If you can find the list of codes they pulled, you'll be able to google them for more info.
Any ideas would be welcome.
I was so frustrated with the Passat's terrible transmission shifting:
- Lag in going from 1st to 2nd,
- The "clunk" shifting down into 1st at stop lights,
- The feel that the car did not know what gear it should be in when driven in stop and go traffic,
- etc...
While on a vacation in White Rock, BC, Canada (to be precise), I stopped into a VW dealer and asked the service manager what I could do. He searched and found a recent TSB on re-programming the transmission. It came out in May/05. Previously they tried adjusting throttle linkage/angle on my car, but without much success.
Here is the TSB number: 37-99-02 "Transmission Shifting Concerns". I was not able to get a copy of the TSB, but he said it might fix some of the problems.
Has anyone else tried getting the dealer to reprogram their transmission, and was it this TSB? And was it successful?
IzzyinChicago
The brakes do work, but the ABS does not. I finally found a reputable private mechanic who works on German cars and plan to bring it to him this weekend.
Also, in light of the apparent demand, there is a shop in Florida that will rebuild your ABS Electronic Control Module, which apparently is the culprit in this recurring problem, for about $250, with a couple of days turn around. I asked for references and he pointed me to his E-bay ranking where he does a number of his sales. Doing business on E-bay was actually a negative for me (den of thieves, IMHO), and while he had a high E-bay ranking, it was not unblemished, with the few negatives apparently including ABS rebuild customers.
Don't forget to write the DOT. A critical mass of complaints may force VW to issue a recall and reimburse those who had the work done already at their own expense.
Maintenance: Tires, battery, timing belt and water pump, and brakes. All cars (with timing belts) will need these things if kept long enough and with enough miles. I have an Accord in our family that has been bullet-proof in my estimation and I've done all of these maintenance items (we're on the third battery and the third set of tires and the front brakes have been done twice) in the 100,000 miles that we've put on the car.
Problems: Turbo leaking oil, plastic strip detail, and (maybe) clutch. I'm sorry I can't help you on the clutch issue - I have a Tiptronic in our wagon. How many miles on your vehicle and where is it predominantly driven (urban or highway)?
65k seems awful soon for this problem.
Anyone had this problem? Anyone pursued emissions warranty coverage for it? If it will not be covered, what would be most cost-effective response be?
I was just wondering if the air flow sensor could be causing this problem since it controls fuel delivery....Anyone else having this problem
when i had it put on a dianostic machine the only thing it shows is the engine coolant temp sensor (value High) is bad.Would this cause the problem i'am having?
Thanks!
Michelle :confuse:
Michelle
What are the consequences if any for using regular vs premium gas in this engine over exended periods of time or various driving conditions. Any informed comment welcome. thanks
Most importantly - have them check the voltage regulator mounted on the back of the alternator (the brushes on the regulator in particular). Most alternator "failures" are usually the result of the voltage regulator going south (I've changed enough of them to the point where I can do it in my sleep)...
Thanks!
Thanks in advance for your help
Read this:
"Gas Up, Don't Penny Pinch"
Is it possible that I've installed the air filter incorrectly (ie. backwards?). I've had some heater problems in the past, but they've been sporadic, and problems have always disappeared before taking to dealer.
Does anyone have any advice? Thanks, Akron_Passet
Good Luck!!
1) The drain under the battery in the cowling at the base of the windshield is a notorious issue for causing interior flooding. And I believe there is another drain under the brake fluid reservoir (which is on the driver's side in North American models). If you are in the UK, look in front of the passenger side. Water collected here can find it's way into the car through the ventilation system.
2) The A/C condensate drain. Even if it's been looked at once, I'd suggest running a stiff piece of wire through it again to just make sure it's clear.
3) Sunroof drains. The drain outlets for the sunroof can be found when opening the front doors. You will find a short black rubber hose that is tapered at the end. Squeeze these to make sure they are unobstructed and draining properly.
4) Your comment about the heater core would be easy to determine. You'd smell coolant in the car and your windows would fog up and won't clear by using the defroster. Also your coolant level would drop noticeably if this were the case. Check the level and keep an eye on it to be sure.
5) I know you said this was checked, but the interior air filter housing has been known to leak due to either cracking or improper installation of the filter. I'd check that again.
Just to get this straight - you get water in the car every time you drive it, even if the weather is dry and clear and you are not running the A/C? Do you actually see water dripping anywhere? And is the water collecting in both footwells?
1) My mechanic has cleaned under the battery, pollen filter and drain plugs to no avail.
2) I will suggest the wire technique, as the car is still in the garage
3) No sun roof!
4) Windows do not fog up, car smells musty, but I think this is related to the carpets having been thoroughly soaked.
5) Will get him to re-check the air filter
6) Rear passenger footwell behind passenger seat fills up with water, not any other fluid EVERY time car is run, but not on idle. Water is coming out of the heater pipes that run under front passenger seat, but only on passenger side, not driver.
Thanks again for your reply. Will feed back to my mechanic and see what happens.
Just to get this straight - you get water in the car every time you drive it, even if the weather is dry and clear and you are not running the A/C?
I don't know whether you have the Climatronic A/C or the more conventional "three-knobs-in-a-row" system that the lower trim levels get in North America. If you have the Climatronic system, then press the "Econ" button to shut the A/C compressor off and see if water continues to enter the car.
Given your past answers, I'm betting that this is A/C condensate. I wanted to send you some additional info, but the website I wanted to view seems to be temporarily down. I seem to recall another place to check the A/C drain, but I need to refresh my memory. Check back tomorrow! We'll get this sorted out.
Anyone out there with the answer to the rattle noise. Please HELP!!
I had the same problem.
I have 2 passats (1,8 T) and I was spending my day getting the parts out from one car and get them in place in the other one.So I found out THE PROBLEM: Spark pulgs !!!!!
http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/problems/tsb/results.cfm
you will see that catalytic converters were the first Service Bulletin. I'm not sure what that means with regard to warranties, but it definitely means it has been identified by the NHTSA as a systemic problem.
Yes water in the rear footwell EVERY time I drive it, whether the A/C is on or off. It also happens whether the A/C is on hot or cold and it does not do it at idle, just when driven.
I have run it with the "Econ" button on and off and it does not make any difference, the water is still pooling in the rear passenger footwell. You can actually see water coming out from the heater pipes under the seat, and it is pure H20, not mixed with any other fluid
( my mechanic tasted it!).
Thanks ever so much for your help. My mechanic is at a loss.
I now realise that when my dashboard computer packed up last month it may be related to this water problem. VW did not mention it when they put a new dash in though. With hindsight, this problem has been since May, but due to a burst appendix, I did not drive the car for a long while and then thought the water was due to one of the kids spilling something! Doh!
Your help is much appreciated.
Anyway, have your mechanic try this:
Pull the carpet back on the passenger side footwell (on a UK car). You'll notice a pipe going from the dashboard tapering down in size that connects to the floorpan. I removed the pipe, stuck my finger in the drain hole and pulled a load of crap out of there. Sure enough, the Air Con drain pipe now flows freely, and my carpet doesn't stink of rotten socks any more!!
The above was posted on a dedicated Passat website by a chap in Wales, and it sounds like he had the same problem. Post the results and let's see what to do next...
Your suggestion that as it is pure H20 it has to come from the A/C makes sense and even though I have had the A/C checked by an A/C "specialist" I have asked the mechanic to investigate further.
Will keep you posted when the mechanic has tried these.......
BTW, do you hear any water sloshing around under the dashboard, especially if you make a couple of small quick "left-right-left" jerks of the wheel?
As for water sound, the only sound I hear is of the duck quacking in the rear footwell (joke!)
Seriously though, there is no water sloshing sound from the dash area or front end at all. The car runs normal bar the pooling of water, which at the most is 1 1/2 inches (6cms approx) deep at worst.
I e-mailed a tech who is part of a motor corp I belong to from work who said...
" This is a well documented problem on the Passat. There are 3 main areas that can cause this problem, and as you say, the water ends up in the rear footwell.
The plenum chambers can block with leaves causing a build up of water in the w/screen wiper motor area. This causes - or is associated with it - the failure of seals that allows water over the electrical & electronic components.
Some leaks are structural, and another is caused by blockage of the air-con condenser drain. There have also been leaks from the screen area reported.
If you have had the vehicle from new, you are entitled to ask the SMMT (The Society of Motor Manufacturers & Traders), who are the controlling body of the British motor Industry, if there is any obligation on VW's part to sort it out."
Unfortunately I have not had the car from new, and having checked the usual suspects of leafs etc am left with the A/C condenser. Will report back following further investigations...
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated, Im at my wits end with this car!
1st time on this site and am pleased to see that not only me has had crap luck with a passat and its air-con sytem leaking into the footwell.
i was just wondering if you got to the bottom of this problem and if so what was the best way of doing this my passat is a 2001 model and has leaked into front and rear footwell which inturn has rotted my remote central locking ecu to a mere quiverring micro chip and some wires have broke as well i can replace the ecu and mend the wiring problem but dont know how to stop the leak into the footwells.
Any help would be verry much apreciated on this matter as i am completely baffled and the last time i got in the car i had to go shopping in a wet suite and snorkell.
Thanks for your earlier tip!!!
I had the dealer check the pcv system for an oil leak in my 1999 VW Passat GLX V6 and they found a cramped hose in the crankshaft to be the cause of the problem. The hose was creating too much oil pressure that was causing gaskets to blow. Thanks for the tip in response to my earlier post, hopefully this really fixes the problem for good!
NEW PROBLEM: I've had the VW in multiple times at different dealers for the same oil leak problem and the previous solution has always been to replace gaskets. Now, the dealer is saying the car is out of warranty and this final repair will be at my cost to the tune of $390.00 for the hose replacement and $575 for new valve cover gaskets. Rattling the dealer's cage is ineffective at this point. I have two years worth of documentation and feel like I've done everything I can to get this problem fixed under warranty. QUESTION: Has anyone ever been successful with having VW corporate reimburse them for a repair expense? If so, what would you recommend my course of action be?
GOAL: I would like VW corporate to cut me a check (390+575) and be done with this, for good.
Please help if you can, and thanks for the tip to check the PCV system, I think that solved my oil leak!!
Sincerely,
Jon
I owned 5 VWs so far, still have one, 2003 Passat. I used to tell people that VWs are good cars they might squeak or make other noises, but they will never leave you in the middle of the road.
Oh how wrong I was , new VWs are not build the same way. Sure their engine will last, is just all that other “stuff” that will fail.
In my case, I was already questioning VW quality, but I bought another one, because I needed a station wagon and I was not big fun of SUVs.
Anyway, my, or rather my wife’s Passat, left her stranded last November; fuel pump and computer failed. We had to tow, less that 2-year-old car with 20K on it, and it took VW 3 days to fix it. During those 3 days local dealership in Devon, PA acted like they were doing us a favor by even looking at the car. I was never offered a loaner, nor anybody ever said sorry for the inconvenience.
In the spring of this year I bought a new car for myself, and no it was not VW. I think I am done with them, reliability is one thing, and another is customer service, which “sucks”.
Last comment, is it just me or the new Jetta looks like Toyota Corolla?
The short story is that each subsequent "repair" begat at least one new problem.
Never again will I step foot in Devon Motors. They are the "dealership who must not be named".
I had the same problem, to date my mechanic has unblocked the drain holes under the battery, replaced the pollen filter, checked for leaks under that and poked a wire coat hanger up the heater pipes, from whence the H20 is emerging...to no avail.
I have had the A/C checked by a "national A/C" company who purport that the A/C is fine and my mechanic has admitted defeat.
From all accounts it would appear that it is the A/C condenser drain or the condenser itself, but I have decided not to take it to VW and pay their extortionate rates but to sell the car. I have bought a new Mazda 6 and they will take away my VW lemon when they deliver the new car.
My ECU packed up before I reailsed the car was flooding the footwells and had to replace that at the tune of £500 sterling. Enough is enough and from what I gather from various VW forums these cars are plagued with this problem, although I am sorry to say I have not found a resolution.
I contacted a motoring organisation in the UK who stated that this problem is well known and if it is a UK car and owned from new there is some recourse though a national motor body.
I wish you all the luck in the world with this.
So, here is my problem. About a week ago, while making a turn, my ABS - break lights along with a beep came on on the dashboard. Then it went away. Couple of days later, same thing happened. Then, one day, as I started the engine, no only the ABS - break lights came on, on the center, a message of "STOP", "break fault" and 'service manual" came on sequentially. We took the car to the shop. After checking, the shop told my hubby that maybe some water got into the pc chip and 'malfunction' eventhough the breaks worked well; and suggested us to wait it out before dishing out lots of $ to change the pc chip.
Have anyone out there had similar problems? For now, I will wait it out but once the weather gets bad, I think I should get it fixed because the pc chip controls the settings of ABS. Thanks in advance for any thoughts anyone might have.
So... here's my question.... anyone know VW's policy on the warranty if you "go over" a little - is there an official window ("plus or minus X miles") that's tolerated, or will even slightly going over invalidate the warranty? And if there is a window, how can I get it set in stone?
Thanks!