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Volkswagen Passat Engine Issues

84 messages,  Last post on Oct 30, 2012 at 12:45 PM

You are in the Volkswagen Passat Forum.

What is this discussion about? Volkswagen Passat, Engine, Sedan, Wagon

Messages Page 5 of 9

#37 of 84 Piece of Crap by anna3064

Dec 21, 2007 (8:15 am)

I am a third owner of a 2000 VW Passat and ever since I have owned the car, i have had nothing but issues. I recently (2 months ago) have replaced the Turbo in the car (1.8) ~$2000.00 later, my new and honest mechanic, who openly told me, get rid of the car, because its only going to give you more trouble. What I dont understand is VWOA is responsible for these issues, and they should take full responsiblity that they made a hunk of junk. The guy who sold it to me totally stuck it to me, he new i was desparate for a car, and not knowing because im a broad he took total advantage of the situation ~ To all the people who are even looking at the VW Passat turbo especially, dont buy it, you will be in for a costly ride. My car also does something funky in the morning ~ if the temperture is above 35 degrees, when starting it starts doing what i call the engine dance, the check engine light blinks and then after for about 2 minutes, it stops blinking and the engine stops making noises like its going to blow up. If the tempature is below 35 degrees, it doesnt do it at all, just the stupid "Emissions workshop" light goes on after i take off ~ anyone ever heard of this? What a PIECE OF CRAP, VW of America, go back to Germany, I hate you! Oh, and a FYI: I am the victim of the oil sludge issues that are happening with these cars, my mechanic cleaned out my car for hours ~ If you live in RI and you need a excellent mechanic, A & W Tire in Smithfield, John the owner is a GREAT GUY and very very honest!

#38 of 84 Re: Piece of Crap [anna3064] by shipo

Dec 21, 2007 (9:47 am)

Replying to: anna3064 (Dec 21, 2007 8:15 am)
I'm afraid that I need to rain on your parade a little. The VW (and Audi) turbocharged engines are no more or less reliable than any other turbocharged engine, ASSUMING that they are properly maintained. Said another way, you cannot simply dump in any old dime store brand of oil like you would for a 1975 Chevy and expect it to continue to run.
 
If you read through the posts regarding the care and feeding of VW turbocharged engine (on this and other sites), you'll notice that a high quality fully synthetic oil is REQUIRED, and if you don't, sludged engine and coked up turbocharger bearings will be the guaranteed result. In your case, blaming VW for the failure of the first two owners to properly maintain your car is a tad disingenuous don't you think?
 
Best Regards,
Shipo

#39 of 84 Re: Piece of Crap [shipo] by anna3064

Dec 21, 2007 (9:57 am)

Replying to: shipo (Dec 21, 2007 9:47 am)
Shipo
 
Im not going to disagree with you there, the previous two owners obviously didnt take care of the car. However, you simply cannot deny that there has been issues with the 2000-2003 Passats on the turbo issues and the sludge problems. I knew a person that bought the car brand new, that experienced sludge issues. the only thing I need to do is try to get an oil change every 1500.00 miles to make sure the suldge doesnt build up again. Yes I do blame Volkswagon of America for not looking into these issues, even the NSTA (hope i got that right) has statisics on these cars that they (VW) made poorly. Google VW passat, you find more problems than praises...

#40 of 84 Re: Piece of Crap [anna3064] by shipo

Dec 21, 2007 (10:16 am)

Replying to: anna3064 (Dec 21, 2007 9:57 am)
Sorry, I still disagree. For the 2000-2003 1.8T engines, once VW identified the need for synthetic oil, they published the 502.00 oil specification and announced that the oil requirements for the older cars were retroactively changed to require oil that met the new spec. In addition, they extended the warranty of the older engines so that if you could prove that you'd maintained your car to the requirements in effect at the time, they'd buy you a new engine if yours failed.
 
The problem here is that many service centers, dealership based, chain (Jiffy Lube et al.) and independent shops chose to ignore the new directives and continued to use whatever oil was on hand. The obvious result was a bunch of 1.8Ts that were sludged to the gills. Once again, not VWs fault, they took action when they recognized a problem and then had to deal with the fall-out of folks not heeding the new standards.
 
FWIW, I've owned a couple of turbocharged engines myself, and after hearing the horror stories of oil belching turbocharger bearings, I always used synthetic oil in my engines. Not surprisingly (to me anyway), both of my cars made it past 100,000 miles with zero hint of any issue with the turbo. Back in the late 1990s when the 1.8T made its debut, I told everybody I knew who had one to make sure to use synthetic oil. Those who did never had a sludge or turbo problem. Those that didn't... Well, you can guess the rest.
 
Don't believe me? Ask around here; there are a number of folks who post from time-to-time who have your same engine in their VWs and Audis. They'll tell you that the 1.8T is a very good, very strong engine that will easily last the life of the car, IF properly maintained (i.e. VW 502.00 or 503.01 spec oil and no oil change intervals of more than 5,000 miles).
 
Best Regards,
Shipo

#42 of 84 vr6 question by vwpassat3

Dec 23, 2007 (4:24 pm)

yes i was just wondering if a vr6 motor from a 93 passat would fit in a 94 passat? I believe they have the same engine but was just wanting to make sure.

#43 of 84 Re: vr6 question [vwpassat3] by shipo

Dec 23, 2007 (8:10 pm)

Replying to: vwpassat3 (Dec 23, 2007 4:24 pm)
I'm 99% positive that the 1993 mill will fit in a 1994 Passat. You could call your local bone yard and ask them to check their interchange guide.
 
Good luck and keep us posted.
 
Best Regards,
Shipo

#44 of 84 Re: Piece of Crap [shipo][anna3064] by 600kgolfgt

Dec 24, 2007 (6:32 pm)

Replying to: shipo (Dec 21, 2007 10:16 am)
Nice response, shipo - couldn't have said it better myself..
 
Being a current owner of two 1.8Ts (2003 Wolfsburg Jetta 107,000 miles and 2003 Passat GLS 1.8T 76,000 miles), I definitely concur... These engines will last a long time with proper maintenance...
 
Welcome to the era of personal responsibility (or lack thereof) - buy things on emotion without doing the proper research or homework (especially on a big-ticket item like an automobile), don't take care of said item properly, then find someone to blame (sue) when something goes wrong - the Great American Pasttime (nowadays)

#45 of 84 99 VW by joe1013

Jan 02, 2008 (6:08 pm)

I own 99 VW Passat GLS, everytime I gas up the car does not start I have to pump the gas pedal a few times, then it eventually gets going again. I recently change the fuel thinking that was the problem, well it was not. Anyone have the same problem?

#46 of 84 Re: Piece of Crap [anna3064] by altair4

Jan 11, 2008 (12:16 pm)

Replying to: anna3064 (Dec 21, 2007 8:15 am)
The guy who sold it to me totally stuck it to me, he new i was desparate for a car, and not knowing because im a broad he took total advantage of the situation ~
 
Sorry to hear of your troubles with your Passat. Too bad you hadn't found this website before you made the purchase. I guess now you know why the guy sold the car. Being desperate is the worst condition to be in when car-shopping.
 
Personally, I would never buy a used turbocharged vehicle, period. Too many issues can come to haunt without full knowledge of the previous care and feeding of the engine.
 
Oh, and Shipo, the 2003 manual (see below) doesn't specifically say you need to use synthetic, but if you read between the lines and the specs they want, you'll realize it soon enough. When I bought my car, the recommended 5w-40 was only available in a synthetic formulation, to my knowledge. The manual, IMHO, could have been clearer.
 

 
Here is a link to Motul's outline of what the VW specs really mean:
Motul VW Spec Sheet.

Messages Page 5 of 9

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