Jetta Check Engine light?
 

This is my Girlfriends VW 2001 1.8T Jetta. The light came on and nothing seemed out of place that wasn't already there. We took it to the regular mechanic and he could find nothing wrong with it. Do you guys know anything about this subject? Have you heard of anything like this where the light comes on but nothing is wrong with it?


also on a related note, since we got the car (used 2 months ago), the car, when it first starts up, shutters in low gear (automatic) after it gets going its fine but when we start the car, it shutters when you start on the gas. i have very limited knowledge on automatic transmissions, so if you can offer some help i would be greatly appreciative.

Take it to the Jetta dealership and have them read the codes. Then you'll know what your dealing with.

That would get me worried about my regular mechanic. When the check engine light is on and a customer brings in a car, the FIRST thing you should do is read the codes. Take your car to the dealer, another mechanic, or even try you local napa, Kragen, Pep Boys and ask them to read the codes.

The code could be something as simple as your gas cap not being on all the way, or it could be serious or related to your tranny problem.

As for the transmission problem, first get your codes read, and then just check the level and color of your transmission fluid to start.

Yeah VW dealerships should be able to hook a scan tool on it...and see what is the problem with your check engine light...thats the first thing they should do.

If it's a 1.8T, odds are decent that it's gonna need ignition coils...if that's not been taken care of already. These are good for shitting Mass AirFlow Meters as well. Most likely, you'll end up with one or both of these codes. But, yeah, take it to the VW dealer nearest you, and they'll take care of it.

if you take it up to an autozone or pep boys they'll let you run the codes for free. usually dealerships want to charge you a good chunck of change to do it.

The check engine light generally means that there is something wrong with the emissions system. In most cases, NOT ALL, this is not a major problem. As long as the car is driving fine, and causing no major issues, then just stop by Pep Boys whenever convienent.

Nonetheless, take it in for service in the near future.

this is probably completely unrelated to your issue, but make sure the sound system is working properly.

i recently put a new system in my audi a4 (audi-volkswagon...i figured id toss this out just in case). the stock ground wires werent strong enough to handle the new speakers and power and whatnot so i had to replace a few. the only reason i knew this was because of a slight popping noise when turning on the headunit or switching radiostations or from radio to cd. this was barely audible unless actually trying to hear it, yet it caused my check engine light to come on. there wasnt a code for it that the installer could find, but when the new grounds were installed the light turned off and has stayed off.

Yeah, but VW should replace Mass Airflow Sensors for free if the car has less than 70K miles. I'm pretty sure there was a recall on those.

I don't know if I can mention other forums here, but there are forums for the 1.8t based cars, as well as the vw vortex. One of those might have some pretty good advice for you.

You're right. Mass air meters would be covered under an extended warranty via VW, as would the coil issue. As far as advice from this or any other forum, first thing we need the original poster to do is have the codes read, most preferably from a VW dealer. If it turns out to be something other than the MAF or coils, there COULD be big dollars involved. VW/Audi vehicles also like shitting oxygen sensors, so who knows. Gotta have them codes read.

Get the codes read....i'll tell my friend who is a vw mechanic the codes and the problems it's having....he'll be able to figure out a solution.

Umm, the car isn't driving fine, it acts like it's going to shit its transmission out all over the road when starting up.

I've heard this happen with someone I know....different car, but it was as simple as not having the gas cap, tight enough. I guess a loss of pressure in the fuel tank, and something to do with emissions. Just my 2 cents worth ........

Could be vaccuum hoses as well. It was a recall on Passats, not sure on the Jettas/Golfs though. When my CE light came on because of bad vaccuum hoses, it was accompanied with an "Emissions Workshop" error message as well. But it's a pretty inconsistent error and might be worth a look by a mechanic.

ok this is what happened and got fixxed, it got three recalls, air damm, ignition coils and something else, serpentine belts replaced, and thats it with the engine, fixed anything that was wrong with it and it runs faster now, so shes happy, thanks for the help