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Volkswagen Cabrio

1235710

Comments

  • wetcarwetcar Member Posts: 2
    Molly I had the same problem ... and the shopped around 1200 to 1000 was the standard price ... I did find a web site that you could buy the top and the instructions for under 400... good luck ... By the way I spent about 8 hours sewing my seam back together ... I used fishing line and a heavy gauge needle it took some time and a lot of effort but the end result was this cost me 5 bucks ...
  • grimmygrimmy Member Posts: 1
    I just bought a 1995 Cabrio, and the stereo, drivers side window and windshield wipers do not work. Teasted all fuses, and have heard rumors that the electrical systems in these cars are faulty. I am putting it in the shop monday, but has anyone heard of such a thing? Also, I have a manual top, is it possible to make it into a power top?
  • kpann1kpann1 Member Posts: 1
    Hello everyone. We own a 97 Cabrio Highline 5speed and somehow or another the input shaft into the transmission got bent. We didn't realize it and over time it caused the front seal to basically disintegrate and the transmission lost all its fluid. Now we are being told that the only thing we can do is get a new(er) transmission by getting a used one or a rebuilt one. Does this sound right to you? Have any of you heard of the input shaft getting bent and how can that happen? Is it common? Any and all help is much appreciated. Thank you.
  • bob98bob98 Member Posts: 1
    My 98 Cabrio, when putting the convertible top up or down it moves about 3 inches then stops, I then have to turn off the motor and restart it to get it to move another 3 inches. Is this the motor or something else. I don't have much money, so if I can fix myself I want to try. Any ideas where to start?

    Bob
  • gymmomnjgymmomnj Member Posts: 1
    I just happen to have the manual in front of me when I read your posting. Here it is:

    Perform the steps in exactly the following order:
    - Turn on the radio. "SAFE" will appear in the display
    - After 3 seconds, the number 1000 will appear in the display.
    - Use the radio station preset buttons 1 to 4 to enter the code number. Use preset button 1 to enter the first digit in the code number. Use button 2 to enter the second digit, etc. The value range for each of the 4 digits is "0...9". The digit will increae by 1 each time you tap the preset button. the number returns to "0" after "9".
    - After you finish entering the code, press the right side (">")of the SEEK button for longer than 2 seconds until you hear an audible signal.
    - For Monsoon versions, if you've entered the code number correctly, "MONSOON" and then "LSM" will appear in the display.
    - For standard versions if you've enterd the code number correctly "FM1 88.3 MHZ" will appear in the display.

    Warning; you have only two attemps to get it right. If the code is not correct it will disable the radio for about an hour. Leave the unit ON and the key in the ignition switch for this hour. Then you have two more attempts to get it right.

    Hope this helps! Good Luck. :0)
  • clascabrioclascabrio Member Posts: 1
    Hi, I'm going crazy trying to pull the backseat down on my 97 cabrio. It has a handle but it dosen't seem to do any thing... is there a bottom that I have to press??? please help! thanks :)
  • dongondongon Member Posts: 4
    I purchased a 2000 Cabrio for my daughter for going back to and forth to school and yesterday for the first time she had engine hesitation. I read that this is sometimes common with Cabrio's has anyone know what causes this? I really don't want her driving back and forth to Maryland from NJ. Please help!
  • cab98cab98 Member Posts: 4
    I haven't heard of chip upgrades. Who sells and installs them? How much additional power did they give you? Any info would be appreciated.
  • cabriolabcabriolab Member Posts: 2
    let me know if you find out ok?
  • tifacolatifacola Member Posts: 6
    Hey, I wanted to let you know that the auto top is a hydraulic system, and eather you have a leak in a cylinder (on the sides of the car where the top is stored, that's where the cylinders are) or you have a faulty pump...or pump line. But it is also possible that you just need to fill up the pump with power steering fluid. Make sure it's the right type of fluid before you put it in. whatever is safe to put in your power steering is safe for the pump.

    To check that, look in you truck on the left side there's like a little compartment area that you can unscrew and you will find the pump there. When the top is up it should be at the min line, if the top is down, it should be at the max line.

    Good luck!
  • tifacolatifacola Member Posts: 6
    Engine hesitation?!?! What do you mean?
  • tifacolatifacola Member Posts: 6
    Sounds like a heater core problem. It's never happened to me in a cabrio, but I had to replace the heater core in an escort and a mitsubishi cause it would soak the passenger floor. ICKY!
  • cobradoctorcobradoctor Member Posts: 4
    You can find a lot of info @ www.vwvortex.com the folks there will be able to assist you very much. As for ABS light, I have a cabrio and some times the ignition (key) does not return all the way after starting, it sticks a little, this causes my ABS light to stay on but if I wiggle the key a bit the light will go off.
  • dongondongon Member Posts: 4
    She stated that her RPMs' were dropping and it felt like the car was ready to stall then she pulled over and the engine picked up and off she went.
  • cab98cab98 Member Posts: 4
    My 98 cab has a pull knob/cable set-up inside the trunk that you have to use to have the rear seat back go down. I imagine it's a safety feature so someone would not be able to get into the truck when the top is down and you're not around.
  • jnfjnf Member Posts: 1
    I just bought a 2001 Cabrio and found water is coming in the driver's side door, dealer says I need a whole new front window seal, more than $700 job. Can you tell me more about your seal problem and how it was covered to be repaired? Thanks
  • redbulletredbullet Member Posts: 1
    :cry:i bought my 2000 cabrio this last feb. like always everything was fine until a month after the warrenty exp. well the problems that i have w/ my car is that it makes this clicking noise when i turn the wheel, my engine light came on this weekend, my stereo wont play 'cause it has "safe" sign on, when i release my emergency break the light remains on on the dashboard and if i put my car in park when that happens the car turns off, the car kicks when going 30mph (i just know its gonna backfire one of these days). i just realized that my car didnt come w/ an owners manual and the dealers want to charge 65bucks to order one and then another 95bucks to turn off my engine light.... can anyone help?!!?!?!?!!?!?
  • tifacolatifacola Member Posts: 6
    Sounds like she might have gotten the RPM's up too high. (like around 7K) If that happens, the car goes into safe mode so you don't blow up the engine. Also, if you are doing a manual shift on an automatic and get into reverse accidentally, the same thing will happen. If it only happened once, I wouldn’t worry about it.

    those would be the only obvious answers. Is the check engine light on?
  • cabriolabcabriolab Member Posts: 2
    where is the cruise switch is located in the engine ?
  • dongondongon Member Posts: 4
    Check engine light is not on; actually the next day the car was dead, wouldn't turn over and they had to install a new starter. Since you know quite a bit about Cabrio's I have a question, her tailight is out and as we didn't have time to change it before she left for school, only noticed it the night before, is it that difficult to change can she handle it on her own?
  • sklocskloc Member Posts: 1
    I just read your message and have the same problem with my 2001 Cabrio. It happens very sporadically so it can't be diagnosed by my mechanic. Did you every find out what the issue was?
  • dongondongon Member Posts: 4
    NO and it hasn't happened since so now we shall wait and see
  • cabriohusbandcabriohusband Member Posts: 3
    hey i can help with the manual my wifes first cabrio (1999 new) was totaled and i kept the manuals and we bought a 2001 and it already had the manuals email me with your address and ill gladly send the whole manual package your way (comeonguy@gmail.com)
    daryl
  • cabriohusbandcabriohusband Member Posts: 3
    i seen a few on ebay in black and tan for 100 to 150 dollars.

    2001 VW Cabrio
    Batik Blue w/Blue Top
    Black Cloth Interior
    Automatic
  • armyflyerarmyflyer Member Posts: 1
    My 99 Cabrio was running great, until I washed the engine compartment this morning. I have spark but no hitting at all. Where is the first place to start checking for the problem?
  • cabriohusbandcabriohusband Member Posts: 3
    u need to dry off the distribtor cap inside and outside that is the easist thing to do first.i had the same problem went through a deep puddle.
  • leahsmomleahsmom Member Posts: 3
    My daughter has a 95 cabrio she just purchased. Now she has her friend's school books in the trunk and she cannot open it. It looks like the lock is out of place (broken). Isn't there any way to get into the trunk? There are no vw dealers nearby. We've removed the bottom back seat but cannot find a way into the trunk. Any suggestions? (We'll be going to a locksmith tomorrow, but he may not be able to help)
  • girlwhogolfsgirlwhogolfs Member Posts: 18
    OHH I am so sorry to tell you this but I had the same thing happen to my 95 Cabrio. Let me guess, her lock is surrounded by a plastic frame like mine and it now has a crack in it. You will have to go to parts and I mean the dealer only unfortunately. Make sure you have the vin number because VW changed the style half way through the year. The lower the last 4 digits of the vin the earlier in the year her car is. Mine was # 310 built for the year :) . Once you buy the piece, they then can put the lock back in it. I was lucky that I already had bought this part because I wanted to fix that due to the crack in it. I hope she can live with the quirks of this car because there is more in store :surprise: .
  • gary0471gary0471 Member Posts: 1
    What is the best way to clean pine needles and sap off of my cabrio's top? I've tried everything and it continues to be sticky. Thanks.
  • leahsmomleahsmom Member Posts: 3
    Thanks for your reply-we ended up finding a very persistant locksmith who wouldn't give up! :)
    After fooling around with the lock, took it to a friend's autoshop. There they had to bend down the back seat and cut the bolt that hooked the backseat up. This gave us access to the trunk and the backpack. Then he repaired all the damage, rebuilt the cut part, repaired and remounted the trunk lock and, on a Saturday, charged us $140. I think we made off very well! We will probably look into re-doing the mechanism that locks the back seat up so that, if this were to ever happen again, we will be able to access the trunk via the back seat (of course, we would only do this in a way we would know so that there would still be a bit a security there) ;)
  • gjardingjardin Member Posts: 1
    Hi there!
    My check engine light is on (again) the first time, I was told it was the mass airflow meter- which I had changed. The following week the light cam eon again- this time the code was "evaporative emissions"- The light has come & gone & is currently out, though it will come back on. Will it pass inspection if the light is on? Or if it's not on, is the code still active? Thanks so much- running out of time in the month!
  • 67leafs67leafs Member Posts: 1
    My daughter has an 88 Volkswagen Cabriolet (summer beater) and is presently having problems with the odometer. We had the instrument cluster replaced with a used one (much less expensive), but since it was installed she has found that this odometer only works when it wants to. The mechanic advised me that this is a cable driven odometer and can not find the reason why it does not work all the time. Was wondering if anyone else has had any similar problems.
  • 2000cab2000cab Member Posts: 1
    I have a 2000 cabrio 5 speed and the handling isn't quite as nimble as I had hoped it might be. Turns out there is some control arm damage and the bushings on the stabilizer bar need to be replaced. I trust the mechanic. He also suggested that a chnge in tires and maybe wheels would also provide a marked improvement. Thoughts?
  • kansascabrio05kansascabrio05 Member Posts: 2
    I just bought a 98 cabrio, the people I purchased it from lost the owner manual. I've finally ordered one, but maybe someone can tell me whats the top speed u can push a cabrio to, cuz I dont want to ruin my car tryin to make it do somethin it can't Anybody know like a general top MPH speed??? :confuse:
  • ramprodramprod Member Posts: 1
    I recently bought a 95 vw cabrio. I love how it drives and I got a great deal on it. It always starts right up but occassionaly it seems to have trouble starting if it's been raining for a while. I'm not talking about going through puddles either. The car is just parked in my driveway. Usually I open the hood and let the sun in and it starts up after a short time. Any ideas??
  • zuko251zuko251 Member Posts: 1
    i have a 95 cabrio sometimes the fuel pump relay clicks and the car starts fine b ut when the relay doesnt click with the key in the on position only the car wont start. the relay has been replaced any ideas. where does the relay get its signal from
    ?
  • cab98cab98 Member Posts: 4
    I have had my ' 98 up to 100 mph. Don't know if it will go faster than that.
  • s_oxfords_oxford Member Posts: 1
    I got my 2000 up to 115 going downhill
  • kansascabrio05kansascabrio05 Member Posts: 2
    I got some responses about how fast Cab's can go, thank ya'll appreciate it bunches!!! :) But my friends and I have been aruguing about what gear I should be in to go like Hwy speed ie. 75 they say 5th I say I'm waiting on my manual unless another Cabrio owner tells me :blush: suggestions here guys, I'm just really parinoid about ruining my car cuz its super special to me and ultra cute!!!
  • totesentotesen Member Posts: 1
    i'm having exactly the same problem...mine did not pass inspection...first because the check engine light was ON so it automatically fails...then had code (memory?) erased (my mechanic got the codes, but wasn't finding a problem..so we erased the memory just to do the smog, and although it passed emissions, i was failed because the test came up as "incomplete"..no memory!! they told me to come back in a week or so when the memory resets...doh! but then the ck engine light goes back on and i'm back at square one!! time is running out, i'm on my second and last! extension...i have 4 days...what to do???help me please!!!
  • floridavwgirlfloridavwgirl Member Posts: 1
    I have owned and driven a cabrio since 1999, I started experiencing ABS light problems about 3 years ago, when it first started coming on, I would go to the mechanic and tell him to check my brakes, and everything that would make the light come on. $200.00 or $300.00 later, with new breaks and pads and drums, the light still comes on intermittantly, seems to be worse on very hot days. Now days I just ignor it. I still get my brakes checked every year just to be safe. :(
  • breezecabbreezecab Member Posts: 1
    I have a 98 cabrio. It stalls below 15 MPH, let off of gas, or when I shift (manual). Pretty much any time I'm not flooring it. Help me please I don't want to get taken.
  • gfish2gfish2 Member Posts: 3
    I have had my 2002 cabrio since 6/26/05 ..Many cruises to the shore with the top down on the highway . At first I thought the car was gonna "slow me down" cause with the top down it feels like you are going faster ....well that lasted about a day ! I have comfortably cruised at 85-90 ! a much smoother ride then the malibu !
  • hadleysmomhadleysmom Member Posts: 1
    I want a convertible for my 17 yr old daughter to go to/from highschool. I've always wanted a VW. For Cabrio owners, would you buy this car again? Why/why not? Thanks! :confuse:
  • pmartinagepmartinage Member Posts: 2
    Did you ever get this problem fixed? I am experiencing exactly the same problem with my 98 Cabrio. I do not believe that the cruise control and the light problems are related. I think that the light problem is a bad ground somewhere in the brake light/turn signal circuit but I don't yet have a wiring diagram to check it out. As far as the cruise control, mine has worked intermittently since I got the car (I bought it used May 05)
  • cstonecstone Member Posts: 3
    In the past week my wife's car radio ('99 Cabrio GLX) has suddenly been experiencing very poor reception, both FM and AM. The antenna looks to be intact. I plan to check the wires/connections once the rain stops, hopefully this weekend but was wondering....

    Has anyone else experienced this? If so, is it a known problem with Cabrios/VWs in general?

    thanks!
  • durability05durability05 Member Posts: 142
    Hope my message isn't too late, I hope that you are successful in your case, I know somebody in San Francisco who works for the Law Firm that defends Volkswagen, he says if you persist enough, they would buy back your car.
    Anyway I am a VW fan, and I don't like the way they are ruining the funky aspect of these nice cars with bad build quality in Mexico
  • girlwhogolfsgirlwhogolfs Member Posts: 18
    Well, you have to be ready for the quirks of VW's. I have a 95 Carbrio. If you get one get a 95 or 96. Those years are made in Germany. After that, made in Mexico and those have quality problems. Even though my car is 10 years old, I can't depart with it despite the AC is broken and I need a clutch, the windows roll up when they feel like it and so on. Mind you the car only has 72,000 miles on it and gets garaged parked and is not driven during the winter. There are certian parts that you HAVE to get from the dealer :mad: . Bottom line is this car is just plain fun to drive with the top down :blush: . People always comment on how nice the Cabrios to me when I am out. The main thing is to have a back up car available and AAA auto club! If you find one have it checked out thourghly!
  • pmartinagepmartinage Member Posts: 2
    I'm sure you solved your problem, but if any one else wants to know what the problem is I can assure you that it is most likely a bad ground in the tail light assy. I tracked my problem to the left rear light assy. It is the ground wire in the connector plug(8 terminal plug). Clean the ground contact (heavy gage orange wire) in the tail light connector and the blade contact on the light assy. This will salve the light problem. The cruise control problem is a seperate problem.
  • dawsinidawsini Member Posts: 3
    How do you remove a radio from a 98 Cabrio?
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