Did you recently rush to buy a new vehicle before tariff-related price hikes? A reporter is looking to speak with shoppers who felt pressure to act quickly due to expected cost increases; please reach out to PR@Edmunds.com for more details by 4/24.
VW Passat Troubles (B5 platform, nee Audi)
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
Are you turning the wheels to the extreme sides? The VW manual warns about doing that - leaving the wheels fully turnd when parked.
The "grinding" noise we have occurs when you first start the car (warm or cold), happens the first time you hit the gas AFTER you start the car, but never again until you turn the car off and start again.
If this is the case, it is a normal sound - something about an auxiliary pump kicking in. Some of the cars make the noise more than others.
The noise also seems to get less over time, but I can't confirm that because my wife and I might be getting use to the symptoms and tuning them out! Hehehehe!
Yes, it is a great car. Inside and out. They say that God is in the details, and man, VW did pay a lot of attention to those little useability details!
Enjoy your new car!
Break in period is 1000 miles.
No high accelerations
Keep speed under 2/3rds of max speed
Keep RPMs low
At 600 miles, start increasing the RPMs and the acceleration till 1000 miles.
Car brakes require about 400-600 miles to break in properly.
BTW, keep those rims cleaned, the brake dusts are nasty, and will pit the rims in less than three weeks if left unchecked.
The break-in persiod is the hardest IMHO - because the car really wants to be driven, and accelerates really well!
Good luck!
--radio just went out about 1800 miles into life.
--engine would have this ugly loud vibrating noise till one day the engine was vibrating violently and the check engine light started to blink, this took place at about 4000 miles into life. needless to say i was out of town on a saturday with all car rentals places closed for the day. the ignition coil was replaced and the problem fixed, but the vibrating returned at about 5500 miles into life. i will be taking the passat back for check up before it leaves me stranded.
--at 6000 miles my car hit something and cracked the motor oil pan and dented the transmission oil pan. i was told i had to replace both, estimates for the repairs are at $1050.00 for the two pans, installation, and replacement of fluids.
i have heard that the aluminum oil pan is prone to crack when it hits anything, IS IT TRUE?
i love the passat, but it is becoming a little bit of a headache. i hope i do not reach the day that i will kick myself for buying a this nice car.
Needless to say, I drove it back to the dealer and told them they had a problem. When they called back 3 days later, they told me they couldn't hear anything. Classic answer. I truly loved that car, but how am I to know if this problem isn't the start of things to come?? I can't imagine this is normal. To anyone who has experienced this same problem, have you determined what is causing it?? If I don't find an honest answer, VW may be short a future owner.
Thanks for any help!
The dealer called us earlier this week and they were checking the ABS system. They said something about getting the ok from VW to replace it. After what you said, I wonder if it needs replacing??
Just an educated guess, but would expect a new engine from VW to be Very Expensive, although you might be able to come up with one from a junk yard (then all you have to worry about is Installation - cost & quality; plus, of course, running the risk of inheriting someone else's poor maintenance....)
In any event, your mileage driven is impressive: at 125 miles/day, 5 days/wk x 52 wks/yr you would put on 32,500 - two years makes that 65,000: doing another 35,000 + miles on top of that means you must nearly LIVE in your car!
At what mileage did you have the timing belt replaced? Approx cost? Have a '99 GLS V6 with under 45K: means belt replacement will not be called for until nearly two years or so, but am still curious as to what that is going to look like in terms of cost & down time...
In any event, would expect a well-cared for modern engine to run for a long time. Are you seeing signs of impending failure?
Drive Safely,
Reid / SE MI
I have a '02 1.8t auto, and would like to add a K&N
air filter, but can't seem to even get to the old one. with all the fittings to it can't "open" the top. any suggestions?
Anyone, has replace the headlights with HID? found HID bulbs on Crutchfield.com, but can't seem to get access to the driver side bulb.
Help anyone?
thanks
The other day, I turned on the car and the "MIL" light stayed on. (Looks like an engine block--is this the engine light??). Anyway, my brother who has an Audi said the same thing happened to him and it's no big deal...."car is still driveable...take it to the shop when you get the chance..."
I called Koeppel VW and they said they don't have any appointments open for 10 days (which is usually the case here in NYC)
My question is this: Is it safe to drive at low speeds around town until I can get it looked at? What about highway driving? I need the car to take kids to school and they don't do "loaner" cars for this sort of thing...
They said as long as it isn't "flashing", then it's okay..(the receptionist said it is probably an emissions problem).....I was told this by my brother as well.
As of today, it is still "solid" and not flashing...
By the way----I checked the gas cap to see that it was in properly. I made sure it "clicked" and the light still stayed on.
Anyone else have this problem? Thanks
you can email me dirrectly if you would like @ yorgie@hotmail.com.
What else did you have done??
"Raw fuel smell" cannot be good: last time that happened here was on my '99 Passat: seems some critter had taken a liking to the fuel line & chewed Just Enough of a hole in it for it to leak under pressure - no drips beneath car while engine off, but definitely stunk up the place once under way.... (same critter, or a family member, also struck several other vehicles in our lot - didn't know fuel line rubber was that nutritious!)
Might not be the problem, but you should still check fuel passages & all connections from back to front - and maybe look for leaks in tank.
Just Fishin': Could a blocked injector be problem? Missing any spark plugs? Hopefully someone else will have had other fuel trouble & can offer advice...
Drive Safely,
Reid / SE MI
Plus K&N air filters really don't do anything for performance. It's only advantage is that it can be cleaned instead of replaced every 15k miles or so.
I say don't bother. Just get a good performance air filter that doesn't use any oils.
-Craig
Thanks again
Jon
When the car made grinding noises while backing out of the driveway, I just turned the radio up so I couldn't hear it. I'd heard of this happening before to other owners. Then when the butt warmers on the seats stopped working I just shrugged it off, telling myself I didn't need it anyways. With those problems I could still drive "Blue", but now this happens!!! I'm so mad I could cry! Now I'm wishing I got a BMW instead....someone tell me I'm wrong to think that!
04 FEB 2003
VOLKSWAGEN AND AUDI TO REPLACE ALL IGNITION COIL PARTS ON 2001, 2002 AND SOME 2003 MODELS
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. – Volkswagen of America, Inc. and Audi of America, Inc. today announced a customer service action in which the companies will ultimately replace the ignition coils in all 2001 and 2002 model year cars equipped with certain engines that have been experiencing a higher-than-normal failure rate. Also affected are very early production 2003 models.
The companies are currently notifying all customers potentially affected and are initially replacing those ignition coils that fail at no cost. The updated customer service action, replacing all ignition coils whether they fail or not, will be implemented in the coming months.
“We know that some ignition coils installed in our cars are not up to our high quality standards, and we are determined to do the right thing for our customers. The right thing to do is to fix every single car with these coils by replacing them whether they are broken yet or not. That is exactly what we will do as soon as we have the parts,” said Gerd Klauss, president and CEO, Volkswagen of America, Inc.
The vehicles affected in this action include cars equipped with 1.8 liter engines, which includes the Audi TT and A4; and the VW Golf/GTI, Jetta, New Beetle and Passat. The companies also included the Passat W8 engine, all VW’s equipped with the 2.8 liter VR6; as well as the Audi 3.0 liter V6 engine. In total, approximately 530,000 cars are affected by this action.
The ignition coils provide electricity to the engine’s spark plugs during operation. Volkswagen and Audi have recognized through service reports that the ignition coils used in the products listed above have a higher-than-normal failure rate. If an ignition coil fails, the check engine light/malfunction indicator lamp will blink. The car’s performance may, in some cases, become rough and/or the engine will lose some power and the car should be taken to an authorized dealer for repair. The engine and its electronic controls are designed to keep the vehicle running. Some deterioration in performance, however, can be expected.
Volkswagen and Audi are announcing the following customer service action:
The supplier is working triple shifts and seven days a week to make as many new parts as possible. Additionally, a second supplier has been activated.
Soon customers will be notified by mail that Volkswagen and Audi will proactively begin replacing all ignition coils in cars potentially affected, whether a failure has occurred or not. This action will begin in the coming months as soon as replacement ignition coil supply volumes will allow.
In order to minimize inconvenience to customers during repair, Volkswagen and Audi dealers will offer alternative transportation at no cost.
Customers with questions should call VW Customer Relations toll-free at (800) 822-8987 or Audi Customer Relations toll-free at (800) 822-2834.
# # #
(It's in the owner's manual)
Last week coming down I17 from Flagstaff, I had a small altercation with a large piece of tire tread which magically flew out from under the car in front of me. It flew like a bolo, and I had no place to go to dodge it completely. It did manage to take out a hunk of grill but nothing else. After looking everything over, the grill comes out of the car with the removal of two threaded fasteners and..... the dang "T" hood release handle. I can work with the fasteners but I am stumped with how to disconnect the "T" handle. Does anyone have any idea how it is done? Other than dismantling a bunch of the front of the car, I am at a loss. The dealer quoted me $117 for the grill replacement and $120 to replace it. Any assistance would be appreciated.
Thanks
Bob in Glendale
I test drove one. Nice overall. Found gas & brake pedals a little close. Also, I felt the ceiling close to my head in the backseat. I am of medium height, didn't understand that.
I would appreciate any feedback from owners of cars for over 2 years.
Many thanks in advance.
On the other hand, I too have had a problem with odors in the car when it is very cold outside. In my case it is not the smell of fuel, but of exhaust. I've had it checked twice. The dealer can find no leaks, and is unable to duplicate the problem, either at idle in the parking lot or during a test drive.
We don't take the car off-road or hit every pothole we can find, and when I called VW to report the problem, they pleaded ignorance and said they'd never had a report of this sort of problem. They also suggested I take it to the dealer. (It's out of warranty now--74000+ miles on it.)
Anyone else had a similar problem? I love this care, but it's annoying to have lie on my stomach every time I get ready to drive it to make sure that thing isn't hanging down. Twice, it's almost come off while driving and I thought I had a flat tire it was so bad.
jjs
I took it to the dealer this morning, and the reservoir was full (over full, actually). They found nothing in the computer. The coolant reservoir was below minimum, so we filled that. He said "maybe" that had something to do with it but he was clearly reaching. Said if it did it again I should leave it for a day (I didn't have time this morning).
Anyone else ever get this warning? Any ideas what's going on?
Reading from various forums, I came to the conclusion that 2000 is the most reliable model year. Front suspension and timing belt tensioner has been improved and coilpack issues haven't shown up yet.
What other common problems exist for MY2000?
What should I beware of during test drive?
Thanks.