2000 Volkswagen Beetle: check engine light

Filed Dec 2, 2018 · Driver assistance, Engine · 136,000 miles · CO

I bought a beetle (136k m) from an acquaintance for $1600 cash there were some issues I.e. The faulty trunk release didnt work, the driver side door had no power, (turns out the door motor is a common issue beetle has) sunroof was stuck part open, and the key fob to the beetle had been worn/broken. (fun fact: without the key fob, access to the trunk, and no power to the driver side door. The stock alarm is very difficult to disable.) we drove the beetle for about a week when the clutch went out. A transmission specialist quoted us $400 for the hydraulic line, after further examination the entire clutch was out (he charged me $1100) the very next day the oil light was blinking, we checked the oil level and it was full. We continued on our business the car started losing power, stalling and making a horrible tapping/knocking sound. The engine light started blinking. We werent able to pull codes because the odb was disconnected during the expensive clutch repair. At this point we have invested a great deal of money into this used vehicle, we are hesitant to to take it to the crusher. We bought a haynes repair manual and after some luck, common sense, and trouble shooting we were able to diagnose the car with a faulty camshaft timing chain tension guide. The repair seemed easy enough so we enlisted a our family mechanic to perform the repair. After another $575 we discovered that the tension guide was in fact the problem. We were able to get the vehicle all put back together with several new vital parts. It will not turn over. The manual indicates it may still be out of time or we may have a blown fuse. After I replace the fuses and reattempt installing the timing chain, I will have put 3 x as much money into this car than its worth. I feel like volkwagen is producing lemons and ripping off americans!!!

Filed Apr 18, 2016 · Brakes, Engine · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 volkswagen beetle. While driving at a low speed, the vehicle stalled. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. In addition, the brake warning light illuminated even though the emergency brake was disengaged. The check engine warning light also illuminated intermittently. The contact also stated that the low beam head lamps failed to fully illuminate. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Mar 22, 2013 · Transmission · 80,000 miles · IN

We bought the car everything was fine. Two weeks later the engine light comes on and now the transmission takes off in second gear and will not shift till gets up to 40 MPH. After checking on line it seems volkswagen is having issues with the transmissions and doing anything about it.

Filed Feb 8, 2012 · Airbags, Electrical · VA

I purchased my vw beetle in 2005 with the carfax - no accidents or major repairs. Within months, the engine light and airbag light came on. The windows stopped working. I've probably spent more than what I paid for it. I just spent over $1800 at vw springfield in virginia and the engine light is back on again after only a few months. In addition, the transmission codes were discovered by other repair shops, but they told me I had to go to the dealership for the repair. Neither vw springfield or vw woodbridge ever checked the transmission. In fact, woodbridge told me to trade it in and purchase a new one from them.some kind of light or problem occurs in my car every time I've taken my car to this dealership and vw woodbridge in virginia. They continue to claim that it is a different problem every time with the same components. What is the purpose for diagnostics? Every time I take my car to any of the vw dealership, I will have to bring the car in multiple times within months. Something is not right. Hundreds of people are complaining about the same issues, and no one is investigating this. It appears that vw is being protected from selling us poorly made vehicles with hefty repair costs, because it doesn't make since that it's the same problem for hundreds, perhaps thousands of people. Is it that these repairs are major and brake lights aren't. A recall for these vehicles from 99 on should be processed. The fact that vw was in the news recently as selling people cars they knew had engine, airbag, ABS, transmission, electrical, and window major problems is astonishing, because nothing is being done. I'm disgusted with volkswagen and they should be held accountable for all this. I understand that the economic situation, but people are in just as much a situation as manufacturing companies. We don't have the money to keep giving away to vw. It's a moral shame.

Filed Apr 1, 2010 · Electrical · 1 miles · KS

Tl* contact owns a 2000 volkswagen beetle. The contact states since day one of owning his vehicle he has had nothing but problems. The contact was driving at about 35 MPH when his dash lights blew out, his power door locks also stopped working. The contact states while his vehicle is parked outside and is not running his alarm would just go off on it's own. The vehicle was under warranty at the time so the contact didn't have to pay as much. The contact states he has spent about 353.00 on miscellaneous, and normal maintenance. There was 5,182 paid on repairs. The contact states he also had a new computer put in the vehicle about 3 years ago. There has been electrical problems back to back and the contact also states the check engine light is still coming on and off. The failure mileage was 1 mile and the current mileage is 58,000. Ar updated 06/22/11 updated 07/12/11

Filed Jan 14, 2009 · Engine · 73,452 miles · CA

Vw catalytic converter warranty extension. Was 8 years/80k miles. Extended to 10 years/120k miles. I have a 2000 vw new beetle gls, which I purchased new in 1999. My model is currently covered under this extended warranty. My car is not passing smog - gross polluter status. Only has 73,000 miles on it. The issue: because the cat converter is not formally listed as a "recall" by vw america, the dealership wants to run a diagnostic (even though I'm providing the detailed paperwork from my smog station), and when the check engine light comes on, they want me to repair any and all issues that arise at a cost to me, before they will replace my catalytic converter under warranty. The problem with this is, the check engine light covers numerous issues the car may be having, including some that may not be related to the car not passing smog. And the check engine light is always on. Dealership turns it off - comes right back on within days. I want the catalytic converter replaced first, then see if it passes smog, then I will repair any other problems. I don't want to put money into problems possibly unrelated to smog, if the catalytic converter won't fix the issue. But per the vw dealership, I cannot proceed without spending money on supposed other problems, because the cat converter was not technically labeled a recall. I wrote the epa - the email I received back from them said they consider it a recall, but because vw america did not send out a formal recall notice on the cat converter, and instead just provided an extended warranty, there's not much that can be done. Dealerships can require a diagnostics run and ask you to pay to fix other problems prior to fixing the cat converter. Vw extended the warranty, so clearly they are aware there is a consistent problem. They should just call it a formal recall (since the epa does), fix the problem they know exists. Currently, I've brought to another dealership. Same issue. Don't have any other choice.

Filed Apr 20, 2008 · Engine · 72,500 miles · AR · fire

On april 4, 2008, our 2000vw gls beetle caught fire as it was being driven on the interstate. Car had been hesitating and the check engine light would come on, so we had it serviced at our local vw dealership on march 28. Diagnostics did not find anything wrong. We went ahead as asked for fuel filter and the coolant sensor to be replaced. For the next week, the car continued to hesitate, especially after being driven for more that 20 minutes. We made another appointment with the service department to have it repaired and as my daughter was driving to this appointment she noticed the hesitation again, and about 10 miles later, noticed smoke in the rear view mirror. She pulled off the highway and smoke started pouring inside the car. All of the dashboard lights clicked on, then off. Within 2 minutes, the car was completely engulfed in flames. My daughter was able to get out of the car and was not physically harmed. The car was a total loss.

Filed Feb 15, 2007 · Transmission · 68,000 miles · IN

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 volkswagen bug. While driving at any rate of speed including when the ignitionwas started the check engine light came on. Also, fumes entered the vehicle beneath the dashboard. The vehicle has been taken to two mechanics, and they diagnosed the failure as an airflow transmission problem. The vehicle has not been repaired. The failure and current mileage was 68,000.

Filed Feb 4, 2004 · Electrical · GA

Check engine light has been on more often than not since 22,000 miles. On 8/28/01 o2 sensor replaced by dealer (#1). On 1/20/03 dealer (#3) told me that engine wiring harness needed to be replaced for an estimated cost to owner of $1306.25. Car brought to nondealer and repaired for $36.00, albeit temporarily. Incidentally dealer had completely run down battery, requiring replacement. On 5/8/03 car brought to dealer (#4) for overheating due to a puncture in oil pan, though owner was not aware of hitting anything. Of course engine light had been on and temperature sensor was replaced at that time. Again incidentally temperature light came on within 5 miles of dealership after oil pan had been "fixed". On 1/15/04 owner is not able to pass emissions testing and therefore not able to renew registration of vehicle because check engine light is on. On that day, vacuum leak was repaired but light returned within 24 hours. On 1/21/04 a hose in air injection system was replaced but light returned within 24 hours. Mechanic has now refused to continue working on the car. Do yourself a favor - never even consider for a moment buying a vw!! This is the worst car that I or anyone I've ever known has owned. Vw service is atrocious as well. They are incompetent, irresponsible and rude to boot. The fact that vw will not provide a rental car, especially when car is still under warrenty and problems occur that have known technical service bulletins, is absolutely unacceptable, particularly in light of all the problems that these cars pose. See additional problems that owner has experienced under "other".

Filed Nov 12, 2003 · Engine, Visibility · 25,000 miles · IL

2000 volkswagen beetle leaking coolant, defective airflow sensor, check engine light illuminated and problems with window switch. *mr the window had to be operated a certain way in order to operate properly,the check engine light had come on due to a bad airflow sensor in which the problem occurred on two occasions, the coolant light had come on due to the tube that had run from the coolant container to the engine had cut in it and leaked coolant. *scc

Filed Sep 30, 2003 · Airbags, Engine · IN

Consistent problem with air bag light and engine light comimg on/off while driving vehicle at any speed. Dealer inspected vehicle, and stated that air sensor failed.

Filed Aug 21, 2003 · Steering · 12,000 miles · NJ

2000 vw beetleought the car new. At 12,000 miles had a bent tie rod which vw insisted that I damaged which I didn't. If I did I would have blown the tire out. Troddle box needs replacing because of a bad censor. Total cost over $500 not including what I spent replacing the tie rod. Lost power in the car, twice and service cannot find the problem. Check engine light keeps on coming on along with the epc light. Air bag indicator light had to be reset due to the power failure. Vw customer service is worthless. Don't even want to acknowledge the problems.