Misfires 301 and 304, does this mean new sensor

[mywifescar]

Hello all,
I hope someone can help me since this car is beginning to cause me chest pains.
Car is a 98 vw new beetle with a 2.0 L AEG 63,000 miles Automatic.
Alright first let me tell you what i have done to the car.

1. New plugs and wires oem
2. new coil
3. new fuel filter
4. new air filter
5. new maf
6. all fluids have been filled properly with vw fluids
7. replaced all vacum hoses

It also had a new water pump and timing belt installed 5,000 miles before my wife bought it.

Car ran great for 1 week then check engine light came on and car started to run like garbage, so I bought a vagcom after sending it to the shop here and paying 150 to get codes read.

Here are the codes
16684 - Random/Multiple Cylinder Misfire Detected
P0300 - 35-00 - -
16685 - Cylinder 1: Misfire Detected
P0301 - 35-00 - -
16688 - Cylinder 4: Misfire Detected
P0304 - 35-00 - -
Now I had more codes before, but got rid of the maf code by installing new maf.
I have checked to see if the wires may be arcing, but they are not.
After doing all that to the car, it still dies at lights and the cel flashes (due to misfires).Now the car won't even stay running, it idles at about 650 and seems like the engine is going to hop out of the car, put it in gear or turn on the a/c and the car dies.
I have been reading that it could be a crank shaft sensor or cam shaft sensor.
Does anybody have any idea if thats really what it could be?
I'd really like to get it right the first time, since all parts have to be shipped from mainland.

[mywifescar]

Sorry for the bump here guys, but I really need some advice.
Any help would be appreciated

[wawalker]

Cylinders 1 and 4 are paired in that they rise and fall together, so I'd actually suspect that that 1/2 of the coil is bad since you've doubled down on wires and plugs, or it could be the sensors you mentioned--so that's a tough one. Anyway, you live in paradise as far as I'm concerned so don't let it get you down! I'd look for a way to check the coil out with a multimeter. Good luck.

[mywifescar]

Thanks for the reply,
I'll have to check out the coil again, just couldn't believe it would go bad so fast.
As far as the sensor, would you happen to know if it would be the cam or crank sensor, and where are they located?

Yes, it truly is paradise here, its been a bit hard enjoying it lately with all the headaches with this car.
Thanks again for the help
Eric

[mywifescar]

Well, I took the new coil out and put the old one with the cracked posts back in and wouldn't you know it, not a single misfire and the car is purring like a kitten. I guess I'll be ordering new coil today.
Thanks again for the help wawalker

[Canadianbugin]

Originally Posted by mywifescar

Well, I took the new coil out and put the old one with the cracked posts back in and wouldn't you know it, not a single misfire and the car is purring like a kitten. I guess I'll be ordering new coil today.
Thanks again for the help wawalker

Sorry to pipe in here so late but... I have a couple suggestions. When you install the new coil you might want to have a close look at the mount as this could be the reason for the premature failure to the coil. Also be gentle with the spark plug wires as these tend to be a little fragile.... Keep us posted as were a little jealous up here...(That you're in paradise....lol)

[wawalker]

Originally Posted by mywifescar

Well, I took the new coil out and put the old one with the cracked posts back in and wouldn't you know it, not a single misfire and the car is purring like a kitten. I guess I'll be ordering new coil today.
Thanks again for the help wawalker

Awesome. Well, had a similar experience with the wife's car before we were married and before she had a VW. Dreaded thing started running on 2 cylinders in the Taco Bell drive thru!seriously thought I was gonna be the guy pushing a rusty Buick in a drive thru

I have been in your neighborhood twice in my life and look forward to coming back, although in this ONE thing I agree with the President, Kailua-Kona and the Big Island is my choice destination.