- #97 of 147
-
Re: Check engine, '03 Jetta [vwdawg]
by andrea45
-
Apr 15, 2009 (9:26 am)
-
|
|
Replying to: vwdawg (Apr 14, 2009 3:17 pm)
Thank you David, I do appreciate your help & knowledge. I did ask my mechanic last night if they use a VAG system to diagnose & was surprised to hear they did.(hmmm) They also said they have some other German diagnostic system as well. (Im not so certain I believe them). Its kind of funny, because yesterday they were supposed to remove the new fan control module & when I picked up my veh, they said the "cleaning person" accidentaly tossed out my old fan control module, so they left the new one in my veh, free of charge!! (im pretty sure they just didn't want to have to remove the new fan) They also did not charge me for labor! So all I had to pay was the $89. diagnostic fee. They had previously stated that the fan was a pain in the rear to get to & install. At any rate, you have given me some ammo as far as VW mechanics & I think I will call a local VW/German mech. We have a couple in our area & I feel better about seeing them than a dealer. As you stated, this is most likely a better idea. OK, im not going to give up on my Jetta just yet:) youve made me believe I should have some faith & so I will give it one more try before raising the flag...Thanks again! 
|
- #98 of 147
-
Re: Check engine, '03 Jetta [andrea45]
by vwdawg
-
Apr 16, 2009 (6:32 am)
-
|
|
Replying to: andrea45 (Apr 15, 2009 9:26 am)
Good Morning, Andrea: Glad to hear you seem to be making some headway on this whole process and most of all, that you are open to giving your Jetta another chance. Also nice to hear that the mechanic has backed off on most of the parts and labor charges. I have to give them some credit for that, but the story about the "cleaning person" seems a bit fishy. I also wanted to relay another tidbit about VAGs. I had lunch yesterday with a friend of mine, an Audi freak (owns five Audis, and it's only he and wife!). He is also a techie, and owns his own VAG (he's going to hook it up to my Passat next week...I have my own "check engine" problem right now). He told me that even the VAGs occasionally provide more than one code, as the car's computer will sometimes "store" one or more previous codes, and those codes can show up when the VAG is hooked up. So...maybe your current tech was being straight with you after all. In the end though, I think it's still a good idea to use a VW or import specialty garage for diagnostic work. Also, don't hesitate to use the Edmunds (and Bentley Publishers) forums when you have a problem...as I said earlier, there are MANY helpful and knowledgeable folks there that put novices like me to shame! Let me know what happens, and good luck...I hope your Jetta turns out to be a gem after all! David
|
- #99 of 147
-
Re: Check engine, '03 Jetta [vwdawg]
by andrea45
-
Apr 16, 2009 (11:31 am)
-
|
|
Replying to: vwdawg (Apr 16, 2009 6:32 am)
Good morning David, Well, the birds are singing & the cherry blossom trees are blooming here in Oregon..so it must be a good day right?  Sorry to hear yout Passat is sick...I hope you get your cel problem figured out! Im tempted to just put duck tape over the light & ignore it, but now im so curious as to what the problem will be, it's actually turning out to be a fun challenge to see what they find out. OK, maybe not "fun", but my curiousity is getting the best of me now! Your friend sounds like an avid Audi nut...I love Audi's & would prefer one over a Jetta for sure....maybe someday:) One other thing I found interesting about my car is that when you turn the heat on high, the temp of the car goes down..so im wondering if it couldn't be a the thermostat that might be the problem..i'll mention that when I take it in to the mech.. Im just now waiting for the cel light to come back on & then i'll take my car in. Again, I appreciate your humble knowledge & continue to look forward to your thoughts. Thank you David! 
|
- #100 of 147
-
Re: Check engine, '03 Jetta [andrea45]
by vwdawg
-
Apr 16, 2009 (12:05 pm)
-
|
|
Replying to: andrea45 (Apr 16, 2009 11:31 am)
Hi Andrea: It's an equally awesome day in the Twin Cities...brilliant sunshine and pushing 70, which is for us incredible after a dreary, cold, windy Spring. Not many cherry trees here...we look for the crocus and tulip shoots as our official sign. I haven't been to Oregon for many, many years, although I SAW Oregon about three years ago. Specifically, Mount Hood, from a glacier at the 9,000 foot level of Mount Rainier...a "peak life experience", no pun intended. Yes, Audis are beautiful automobiles, but even more temperamental than any VW I've ever owned. Unless you do your own work, I think they are best suited to a person who can buy new, then trade in for a new one after 75-85k miles. I've replaced my radiator, timing belt and most of the front suspension on my A4 in the last year (only 90k miles), and if I didn't do my own work, I couldn't afford it. Glad you are giving the Jetta another chance. Keep me posted, I'm curious, too! Later, David
|
- #101 of 147
-
Re: Check engine, '03 Jetta [vwdawg]
by andrea45
-
Apr 16, 2009 (1:53 pm)
-
|
|
Replying to: vwdawg (Apr 16, 2009 12:05 pm)
Hi David-So Minnesota?? burrrrr I hear its beautiful there. No wonder your ECL is lit up..it's freezing cold!!!!!!!! :)Supposed to be 75 here this weekend...Wow, Mt Rainier huh?-site seeing perhaps? Good to know Audis are more difficult that Jetta's...that's the last thing I need is one more thing to try to take care of. My son's pretty good w/cars, but he's in Iraq right now, taking care of more important matters I hope:) If I knew how to work on them, I would get one though, because I think their beautiful cars. Hope your enjoying your day..im playing hookie & working in the yard...talk soon.. Andrea 
|
- #102 of 147
-
Re: Check engine, '03 Jetta [vwdawg]
by andrea45
-
Apr 17, 2009 (8:01 pm)
-
|
|
Replying to: vwdawg (Apr 16, 2009 12:05 pm)
Hi David- yay! I got an apt for Tue. w/German Autowerks...which appears to be a great repair shop...Never thought I would be excited to get my car in for repairs! I'll keep you posted..thanks again... Andrea
|
- #103 of 147
-
Re: Check engine, '03 Jetta [andrea45]
by vwdawg
-
Apr 20, 2009 (6:14 am)
-
|
|
Replying to: andrea45 (Apr 17, 2009 8:01 pm)
Hi Andrea: Sounds great...I hope they can resolve the problem right away so you can move on and ENJOY driving your Jetta instead of having to worry about it. Let me know how it goes! David
|
- #104 of 147
-
Re: Check engine, '03 Jetta [vwdawg]
by andrea45
-
Apr 21, 2009 (10:44 am)
-
|
|
Replying to: vwdawg (Apr 20, 2009 6:14 am)
Hey David! Just got a call from the mechanic & it looks like its the thermostat..only downside is that he wants $250 for the labor! Plus $40. for the coolant/part & then another $40 for the diagnostic.. ugh! So I told him I would have my husband put it in. Do you know how difficult it is to put a thermostat in? They said it would be 3 hrs of labor, so it probably isn't easy to do. Or maybe its just that it's difficult to get to that area, so it takes awhile to get to it. I told him I was just so glad he found out what the problem was & that I would be back in to see him when I needed additional work on my car. Your right, it's nice to find a good mechanic that you can trust. Hey- did you ever get your CEL problem figured out? Take care! Andrea
|
- #105 of 147
-
Re: Check engine, '03 Jetta [andrea45]
by vwdawg
-
Apr 22, 2009 (7:45 am)
-
|
|
Replying to: andrea45 (Apr 21, 2009 10:44 am)
Hi Andrea: Good to hear you have made progress on this issue. I have not replaced a thermo on any of my Jettas ('99, '01, or '05), but my assumption would be that the average guy could do this, as long as they have reasonable mechanical know-how and basic metric tools. He should go to your local NAPA, Auto Zone, O'Reilly or whatever auto parts store, pick up the thermo, but ALSO get a basic Haynes or Chilton manual that covers the year of your Jetta (around $20...well worth the price). This will provide step-by-step instructions. I would assume that the Jetta would use only H12 antifreeze (ORANGE!! Do NOT use green unless the owners manual specifically calls for it). He can also get this at the store, around $15/gallon, probably won't take much more than 1 or 1.5 gallons, mix 50-50 w/ water).
I haven't gotten around to checkin the CEL with Fred's VAG, but I'll let you know how that turns out. Keep me posted on getting your thermo replaced...good luck to your hubby! David
|
- #106 of 147
-
Re: Check engine, '03 Jetta [vwdawg]
by andrea45
-
Apr 22, 2009 (6:32 pm)
-
|
|
Replying to: vwdawg (Apr 22, 2009 7:45 am)
Hi David..Thanks for all the info...Im definately going to get a Haynes manual for my car. I had one for my Honda & it really came in handy & im glad that a new thermostat isn't so expensive..so im sure I can find one at Napa or Auto Zone..now if I can just talk my husband in to replacing it! AND, I wont go "green"! I'll be sure to use ORANGE Youve been so helpful & I appreciate it! I hope you get your CEL problem figured out..keep me posted, im curious. P.S....Hope it's not FREEZING cold in MN...it's balmy here! hehehe
|
![[F]](http://a332.g.akamai.net/f/332/936/12h/www.edmunds.com/media/townhall/webxicons/site.gif){kind=small}
Forums
Sedans 
