hesitating and stalling, irratic idle

[vwsucks]

I've got a 2000 with a 2.0l with about 60,000k miles. It idles irratically, hesitates and stalls. Problem comes up again and again and each time the dealership tries to make it sound like a completely different problem each time, even though the symtoms are exactly the same. after they "fix" something the problem goes away for a couple days, then starts slowly again with a little wobble in the rpms at idle progressing to hessitating, then hesitating with widly irrating idling finally to just out right stalling. This is what they've supposedly "replaced" and "fixed"... new MAF sensor, new ECU, fuel pump relay, and repaired corroded ground wire connections. What the potato is wrong with this piece of potato!! anyone have some ideas? I bought it a year and a half ago and have to take it for a problem every 1 -2 months. I have to tell everyone never to by a VW because mine sucks so bad and the dealership is crap!

thanks sincerely,
VW hater

[digitalputty]

0_o

Catalytic Converter perhaps?

EDIT: You could also try a different dealership or a PRIVATE VW mechanic.

[kcfoxie]

Have you checked your vacuum lines?

Have you even opened the hood?

I hate to sound like i'm dissing you, and believe me I totally understand the fustration -- I delt with a three month game of tag about replacing a brake light with my local dealer -- but these cars are far, far from craptastic. It's the dealers that make them that way, but we're not alone. Ford dealers (in the Tennessee area at least) do this as well, it keeps you coming back for expensive serive repairs because you're "too stupid" in their eyes to know they are screwing you over.

Vaccuum lines leaking can cause exactly what your talking about, hesitation and studdering. I'd check/replace the lines, I'd also replace the spark plugs and the plug wires while you are at it for good measure.

Are you losing/consuming oil? There is also the possibility that you've got one of the improperly built 2.0s with a bad o-ring, sadly your now out of powertrain warranty (if it follows the 6 year 60k warranty my 2002 does) and you have to live with it -- however, my 1998 has horrible oil consumption (1qt/2 weeks) and it made it to 210,000 before it finally droped cyl#3 entirely.

While I hope this is somewhat helpful and you don't take it the wrong way, if you expected a car you'd never have to worry about... I have to ask if you ever drove an old one? VWs are high maintence girlfriends -- if you double check yourself and ensure that the oil is always filled and the tire pressure is good and you listen for the pings, they do last forever ... unlike the original beetle, however, the modern ones were designed with a repair scheme in mind that requires special tools and a computer to even begin to diagnose the problem. If you are truly unhappy, I suggest you trade this vehicle for a japanese made vehicle such as a Civic or a Corolla, however be prepared to lose the nice handling and trunk space, along with the comfort and driver-focused interior designs.

[Jian]

ditto vac lines.

open the hood listen for the hiss, also check the large vac hose going to the brake booster, mine broke at the point where it slips over the fitting.

good luck,

[baddassbug]

could always be a bad ground also! or plug wires

[yellow99]

I had the exact same problem, after having ruffly 8 mass air flow sensors replaced I insisted they actually fix the problem...they knew i was pissed, they replaced the mass air flow sensore wiring, and that has worked for quite some time now...knock on wood (pretty sure this will work for you though, I got the dealer to do it free of charge too!)

hope this helps, VW has awful wiring!

[ilpotosino]

sorry to hear that dawg

[danielle.gayman]

I had a similar problem with my Beetle, and after cleaning the throttle body and replacing the spark plugs, they finally figured out the timing belt was off -- solved my problems! Maybe get that checked out?