Engine Trouble Question (VR6 5spd)

664 Views 13 Replies 10 Participants Last post by vwnuts2000, Dec 2, 2001

Corndog

Discussion Starter · Nov 30, 2001

>>Engine Trouble Question (VR6 5spd)

the morning on the way to work, i was pulling away from a stop at a traffic light in 1st and there was major hesitation with the engine. i got into second and noticed the check engine light was flashing and there was still a little herky-jerky hesitation in second. so i pulled over and as soon as i stopped the check engine light went out. i checked a few things and saw nothing wrong. i lightly revved the engine in neutral, it sputtered a little, and then it was fine. i waited and checked a few more things and drove off. the car seems fine now and the check engine light is out. any ideas on what happened? should i be concerned? is there anything specific i should check out?
my car is a 2001 jetta gls vr6 with 15k on it. i've had it a year and i have a K&N drop in filter... but thats it. i dont think this is the usual check engine light/MAF problem that people get with the aftermarket filters.
thanks in advance for any help.

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NeoJetta

· #2 · Nov 30, 2001

Re: >>Engine Trouble Question (Corndog)

Either buy VAG COM or find someone in your area that has one, so you can scan for codes. That would give you much more insight into your problem. From the sounds of it I would suspect the MAF. Mine went bad, and I had the same symptoms you did. Your CEL will probably come back on.
Or maybe you had a tank of bad gas? Good luck. http://****************.com/smile/emthup.gif

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EPilot

· #3 · Nov 30, 2001

Re: >>Engine Trouble Question (NeoJetta)

It could be a bad MAF, or O2 sensor, or coilpack, or any number of things.
If your CEL came on a DTC.

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ksanchez

· #4 · Nov 30, 2001

Re: >>Engine Trouble Question (Corndog)

Hmm... funny you should mention this.
I had a similar problem last night when I went out to run some errands. Normally the vr6 sounds crappy when its cold, but once it warmed up, my engine still sounded funny and would sputter/hesitate when I was accelerating in second _or_ in third, though I didn't get a CEL. I too have a K&N panel filter, but I also have a Remus resonator-back exhaust.
So, I pulled over and walked around my car with it running, and everything seemed ok, though I noticed my muffler didn't sound right... louder than normal. Well, it turns out I had a _lot_ of water in my exhaust. This is the first time it's rained any substantial amount here since I put the Remus on, and I hadn't used my car since monday (I walk to work). I got back in, revved it a bunch, and then the car was fine.
I have noticed on other occasions when I had my stock exhaust that when idling the car would spit a bit of liquid out of the tailpipes. Is there something funky about VW exhaust systems that make it so easy for water to condense in them?

Or is it that I just don't drive my car all that often (13.5k miles in 16 months)? My CEL has never come on in my car.
-ks

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graff48

· #5 · Nov 30, 2001

Re: >>Engine Trouble Question (Corndog)

Has there been a lot of rain lately? If so, it's probably your coilpack.

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Corndog

Discussion Starter · #6 · Nov 30, 2001

Re: >>Engine Trouble Question (graff48)

thanks for the help everyone.
to answer your question graff48.. yes, it has been raining lately... and raining this morning too. i'm not well educated in the way of the inner workings of automobiles. i know how to do all the routine stuff (oil, fluids, airflter) and i know when things go wrong... just don't know where or why. so please forgive me if this is a stupid, what and where coilpack? and is it bad to drive on if that's what's wrong?

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EPilot

· #7 · Nov 30, 2001

Re: >>Engine Trouble Question (Corndog)

If you look at the right hand (driver's side) of your engine.
Between the battery box and the engine. Your spark plug wires all end there. That is your coil pack.
It's held on by 4 allen head bolts and has a plug on top.
The coilpack will usually give you trouble on moist days.
The usual signs are a misfire or popping on acceleration.
Or actual sounds of crackling coming from under the hood.
Take a spray bottle of clean water and spray it on the area where the coilpack is.
If it's bad you'll end up hearing and even possibly seeing sparking coming from it.
Your engine might stumble also.
It's actually fixable using J&B weld. Check the 12V VR6 forum using the search for coil pack.

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jaydub

· #8 · Nov 30, 2001

Re: >>Engine Trouble Question (Corndog)

The CEL was flashing? Not to alarm you, but if it ever flashes, that means get it to the dealer or a repair shop ASAP.

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SgtFritz

· #9 · Nov 30, 2001

Re: >>Engine Trouble Question (JayDub)

Mine did this as well 3k miles ago - I took it to the dealer and there weren't any codes stored - even though the light came on. My symptoms were exactly the same - but I haven't had a problem since.
BTW I have 20k on the clock now.

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berettaboi

· #10 · Nov 30, 2001

Re: >>Engine Trouble Question (SgtFritz)

When the CEL flashes it means that a substantial engine misfire has been detected. You're never supposed to drive with a flashing CEL, except to get the car to safety, becasue it means the engine can expel raw fuel into the catalytic convertor, if the fuel burns in there, it will melt the catalyst, slag the convertor down, then youll lose power, have a bad running car, horrable feul economy, and the awful rotten egg smell. Then you'll need a new convertor.
~D.J.~

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Corndog

Discussion Starter · #11 · Nov 30, 2001

Re: >>Engine Trouble Question (berettaboi)

thanks again everyone.
yes, the CEL was flashing... it didn't just come on... it blinked on and off for 45 seconds or so. and i did get off the road immediately. then the light went out. i smelled around the car as an instinct... but smelled nothing abnormal. i just got back from lunch and the car seems fine. but i think i will take it to the dealer just to make sure i'm not hurting anything.
i'll try the water spray on the coilpack just to see if thats it as well. thanks EPilot.
thanks again everyone... this is really helpful!

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Fantomasz

· #12 · Dec 1, 2001

Re: >>Engine Trouble Question (EPilot)

quote:[HR][/HR]It could be a bad MAF, or O2 sensor, or coilpack, or any number of things.
If your CEL came on a DTC.[HR][/HR]

I have bad coil pack and my CEL light is off.I have some sparks in rainy weather and engine shake and sputtered a little but no check engine light.It's happen when engine cold and on rainy weather only.I know I have bad coil pack and I will keep driving until coil pack burn

[Modified by Fantomasz, 7:38 PM 11-30-2001]

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EPilot

· #13 · Dec 1, 2001

Re: >>Engine Trouble Question (Fantomasz)

quote:[HR][/HR]It could be a bad MAF, or O2 sensor, or coilpack, or any number of things.
If your CEL came on a DTC.
I have bad coil pack and my CEL light is off.I have some sparks in rainy weather and engine shake and sputtered a little but no check engine light.It's happen when engine cold and on rainy weather only.I know I have bad coil pack and I will keep driving until coil pack burn

[Modified by Fantomasz, 7:38 PM 11-30-2001][HR][/HR]

That's a very bad idea. Fix it before you kill your cat-converter.
The backfiring will hurt it.

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vwnuts2000

· #14 · Dec 2, 2001

Re: >>Engine Trouble Question (Corndog)

Usually if the light came on and went back off an ignition misfire has occured.If the light ever comes on a code WILL be stored

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