1996 VW Jetta - Compression Issues - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

CAVEMAN282 · 09-26-2006, 03:55 AM

I have a 1996 VW Jetta, I towed it in to the shop (VW Dealer) because died while sitting at a stop sign. No indications of a problem, no check engine light, no rough idling, no backfiring, just died. I tried starting it again, it tried to turn over but would start. I just got off the phone with the dealer, I was told that 3 of the 4 cylinders did not have compression, and that I would need a new engine. Does this sound right? The timing belt was fine, I had good fuel pressure, the distributor was clean and providing spark. Oh, this is a 2.0, Jetta GL. Any assistance would be great. Thanks.

cj2112 · 09-26-2006, 05:02 AM

My first question would be, why did it suddenly lose compression?

CAVEMAN282 · 09-26-2006, 05:36 AM

I tried to find out why it suddenly lost compression, but I live in Germany, and speak very little german, and the dealership is German, they speak very little english. All he said was that 3 of 4 lost compression and the engine was now damaged and needed to be replaced.

kurty[B] · 09-26-2006, 06:29 AM

Did performance start sagging over time? Notice any weird noises the last few times you started it? Seems rather fishy to me, compression in an engine usually doesn't just "go out" on three cylinders, unless you have a piece of metal bouncing around in the block, and then you should have heard some rather nasty noises.

BadNick · 09-26-2006, 06:32 AM

That car is now over 10 years old. How many miles on the motor? How well was it maintained, oil changes, etc. As the motor ages significantly, even with good maintenance the compression eventually goes down due to piston ring/bore wear, valves are not seating tightly anymore, and similar related reasons. I would at least demand specific numbers for compression of each cylinder and then in any case, get at least one other reliable opinion before any major surgery.

CAVEMAN282 · 09-26-2006, 06:48 AM

Engine has 102,723 miles on it. I have not notice any degrading performance, or any odd noises. It has been a very reliable car, as I put between 1000 and 1300 mile on it a month of autobahn (highway) driving. In fact I just had the annual inspection completed just 2 hours prior to the car quitting.

Maintained with normal services, oil changed every other month. Plugs/wires replaced 3 months ago at 100000 mile service.

cj2112 · 09-26-2006, 09:41 AM

I wouldn't let anybody just tell me that I needed a new engine without knowing why. You have nobody that can translate for you?

CAVEMAN282 · 09-26-2006, 10:38 AM

Actually my neighbor is a "Master Mechanic" for the local Mercedes dealership. I had him talk to the dealership, and now the VW dealers story has changed. They say they don't know what the problem is. I have told the VW dealer that I will pick up the car tomorrow, actually my neighbor is picking it up and taking it to his shop to evaluate the problem. More updates to come!!

BadNick · 09-26-2006, 11:46 AM

That sounds like a positive development. I hope it works out well for you.

If you don't need much room for passengers, this might be your chance to have Daimler sneak one of the V10 Viper motors into your Jetta ....then just drop the "ta" off the end.

merkerguitars · 09-26-2006, 11:50 AM

2.0L 8v won't just loose compression magically. So did it crank over fine?

09-26-2006, 03:55 AM	#1 (permalink)
CAVEMAN282 Upright	1996 VW Jetta - Compression Issues I have a 1996 VW Jetta, I towed it in to the shop (VW Dealer) because died while sitting at a stop sign. No indications of a problem, no check engine light, no rough idling, no backfiring, just died. I tried starting it again, it tried to turn over but would start. I just got off the phone with the dealer, I was told that 3 of the 4 cylinders did not have compression, and that I would need a new engine. Does this sound right? The timing belt was fine, I had good fuel pressure, the distributor was clean and providing spark. Oh, this is a 2.0, Jetta GL. Any assistance would be great. Thanks.

09-26-2006, 06:48 AM	#6 (permalink)
CAVEMAN282 Upright	Engine has 102,723 miles on it. I have not notice any degrading performance, or any odd noises. It has been a very reliable car, as I put between 1000 and 1300 mile on it a month of autobahn (highway) driving. In fact I just had the annual inspection completed just 2 hours prior to the car quitting. Maintained with normal services, oil changed every other month. Plugs/wires replaced 3 months ago at 100000 mile service. Last edited by CAVEMAN282; 09-26-2006 at 06:50 AM.. Reason: Automerged Doublepost

09-26-2006, 11:50 AM	#10 (permalink)
merkerguitars Buffering......... Location: Wisconsin...	2.0L 8v won't just loose compression magically. So did it crank over fine? __________________ Donate now! Ask me How! Please use the search function it is your friend. Look at my mustang please feel free to comment! http://www.tfproject.org/tfp/showthread.php?t=26985

09-26-2006, 05:02 AM	#2 (permalink)
cj2112 Unbelievable Location: Grants Pass OR	My first question would be, why did it suddenly lose compression?

09-26-2006, 05:36 AM	#3 (permalink)
CAVEMAN282 Upright	I tried to find out why it suddenly lost compression, but I live in Germany, and speak very little german, and the dealership is German, they speak very little english. All he said was that 3 of 4 lost compression and the engine was now damaged and needed to be replaced.

09-26-2006, 06:29 AM	#4 (permalink)
kurty[B] Sauce Puppet	Did performance start sagging over time? Notice any weird noises the last few times you started it? Seems rather fishy to me, compression in an engine usually doesn't just "go out" on three cylinders, unless you have a piece of metal bouncing around in the block, and then you should have heard some rather nasty noises.

09-26-2006, 06:32 AM	#5 (permalink)
BadNick Riding the Ocean Spray Location: S.E. PA in U Sofa	That car is now over 10 years old. How many miles on the motor? How well was it maintained, oil changes, etc. As the motor ages significantly, even with good maintenance the compression eventually goes down due to piston ring/bore wear, valves are not seating tightly anymore, and similar related reasons. I would at least demand specific numbers for compression of each cylinder and then in any case, get at least one other reliable opinion before any major surgery.

09-26-2006, 09:41 AM	#7 (permalink)
cj2112 Unbelievable Location: Grants Pass OR	I wouldn't let anybody just tell me that I needed a new engine without knowing why. You have nobody that can translate for you?

09-26-2006, 10:38 AM	#8 (permalink)
CAVEMAN282 Upright	Actually my neighbor is a "Master Mechanic" for the local Mercedes dealership. I had him talk to the dealership, and now the VW dealers story has changed. They say they don't know what the problem is. I have told the VW dealer that I will pick up the car tomorrow, actually my neighbor is picking it up and taking it to his shop to evaluate the problem. More updates to come!!

09-26-2006, 11:46 AM	#9 (permalink)
BadNick Riding the Ocean Spray Location: S.E. PA in U Sofa	That sounds like a positive development. I hope it works out well for you. If you don't need much room for passengers, this might be your chance to have Daimler sneak one of the V10 Viper motors into your Jetta ....then just drop the "ta" off the end.