what to do?

[chucky]

ok I have a 2000 NB 2.0 .The thing runs great but when I stop at a light for a few min. when I take off the car sputers for a few feet then clears up and runs fine. New plugs OEM ,wires OEM ,about 10k ago. what to do?

[Smileybug]

Fuel filter?

[HudsonValleyVDub]

The fuel filter on the 2.0 is supposed to be a lifetime part so not a likely culprit. I'm assuming you have no check engine light? These engines can do that for soooo many stupid reasons so I'd start with the cheapest and the most obvious first. Check vacuum lines, throw a bottle of fuel injector cleaner in the tank, make sure those new plugs and wires are properly and fully seated...making good connections. A bad fuel pump could do it as well but I doubt it. Try cleaning the MAF sensor and cleaning the throttle body. These are all things you can do cheaply and will probably clear the issue. good luck and let us know what happens.

[D2Beetle]

X2... but if you buy the cheapest gas all the time, you might want to check the fuel filter.

[Fl_bug]

What about the coilpack? Don't the 2.0s have 1 coilpack?

[D2Beetle]

Originally Posted by Fl_bug

What about the coilpack? Don't the 2.0s have 1 coilpack?

They have a single coil, like older vehicles do.

[chucky]

yes there is 1 coil pack .Ihope that is not the problem. Does anyone know if the coil pack can be tested? I hate to spend all of that money and it is ok you know..

[D2Beetle]

There is a control module on top of the coil; it could be bad. The coil casing usually cracks allowing condensation; so check it for cracks.

[Nicefeet]

Originally Posted by HudsonValleyVDub

The fuel filter on the 2.0 is supposed to be a lifetime part so not a likely culprit.

You don’t actually believe that do you?

Sort of like lifetime transmission fluid.


It could be your MAF, scan and report back

[HudsonValleyVDub]

Originally Posted by Nicefeet

You don’t actually believe that do you?

Sort of like lifetime transmission fluid.


It could be your MAF, scan and report back

Look it up. I didn't just pull that outta my azz..lol. It's right there in black and white in my owners manual. Tell me you've known anyone..ANYONE who's claimed just changing the fuel filter did a thing. Not likely...impossible?...no, but not likely. It's not a bad thing to change (just a PITA). Usually many other parts are thrown at the problem. And, in fact, some vehicles today do have lifetime tranny fluid. A bad MAF would give a CEL usually.

[Smileybug]

I changed out my filter and it certainly did help. I didn't really notice it until after I changed it, but I had some lagging from when I stepped on the gas and when the car would go. Cleared right up after I got it replaced. With 11 years and over 90k on the filter, it was certainly overdue. Filters shouldn't be lifetime. My shop recommends every 40k, which I've also seen on here. Apparently its lifetime on Hondas too...there isn't an out of tank filter at all! Hubby's not too thrilled, since the car has almost 160k on it.

[Fl_bug]

Originally Posted by Smileybug

I changed out my filter and it certainly did help. I didn't really notice it until after I changed it, but I had some lagging from when I stepped on the gas and when the car would go. Cleared right up after I got it replaced. With 11 years and over 90k on the filter, it was certainly overdue. Filters shouldn't be lifetime. My shop recommends every 40k, which I've also seen on here. Apparently its lifetime on Hondas too...there isn't an out of tank filter at all! Hubby's not too thrilled, since the car has almost 160k on it.

I need to change my fuel filter and transmission fluid too. Those are the only two things maintenance related that I haven't changed yet. I'm taking advantage of their "lifetime" rating to get other things done, such as suspension, super yellowing headlights, switchblade key, etc.

[Fl_bug]

Originally Posted by chucky

yes there is 1 coil pack .Ihope that is not the problem. Does anyone know if the coil pack can be tested? I hate to spend all of that money and it is ok you know..

I'm not sure about this topic and i'm very much willing to learn but:

When you change your sparkplugs, shouldn't you also change your coilpack(s)? On my 1.8T, i have 4 coilpacks which replaces the use of sparkplug wires. When I changed my sparkplugs, I also changed my coilpacks.... for free with Vw's Recall of them on 1.8T models.

Is that how it's supposed to be done normally? Plugs, wires, & coilpacks?

[Kartman]

Originally Posted by HudsonValleyVDub

Look it up. I didn't just pull that outta my azz..lol. It's right there in black and white in my owners manual. Tell me you've known anyone..ANYONE who's claimed just changing the fuel filter did a thing. Not likely...impossible?...no, but not likely. It's not a bad thing to change (just a PITA). Usually many other parts are thrown at the problem. And, in fact, some vehicles today do have lifetime tranny fluid. A bad MAF would give a CEL usually.

I've never known a fuel filter for any vehicle to be a lifetime item. They trap impurities, and when enough gets trapped , they clog. Where in your manual does it say that (page)? I've never seen that in my manual. My bug lagged when I stepped on the gas. Once I changed the fuel filter it went away. It was easy to change too. I didn't even have to jack up the vehicle.

[Smileybug]

Originally Posted by Fl_bug

I'm not sure about this topic and i'm very much willing to learn but:

When you change your sparkplugs, shouldn't you also change your coilpack(s)? On my 1.8T, i have 4 coilpacks which replaces the use of sparkplug wires. When I changed my sparkplugs, I also changed my coilpacks.... for free with Vw's Recall of them on 1.8T models.

Is that how it's supposed to be done normally? Plugs, wires, & coilpacks?

I replaced only my plugs last fall. I've never heard of doing the plugs/wires and a coilpack, just because. The 2.0 has a different setup than the 1.8T (and its not free from VW for the 2.0). Spark plugs I'll replace on mileage, but wires and coil will be done if I have a reason.

[Nicefeet]

Originally Posted by HudsonValleyVDub

Look it up. I didn't just pull that outta my azz..lol. It's right there in black and white in my owners manual. Tell me you've known anyone..ANYONE who's claimed just changing the fuel filter did a thing. Not likely...impossible?...no, but not likely. It's not a bad thing to change (just a PITA). Usually many other parts are thrown at the problem. And, in fact, some vehicles today do have lifetime tranny fluid. A bad MAF would give a CEL usually.

Considering that an OEM Mann or Mahle fuel filter is a whopping $8.46 I’d take that chance of throwing a part at it.

I changed the original fuel filter on my 2000 a few months ago and the stuff that came out looked like Mexico ditch water. Fuel filters are cheap, fuel injectors are not.

[HudsonValleyVDub]

Originally Posted by Smileybug

I changed out my filter and it certainly did help. I didn't really notice it until after I changed it, but I had some lagging from when I stepped on the gas and when the car would go. Cleared right up after I got it replaced. With 11 years and over 90k on the filter, it was certainly overdue. Filters shouldn't be lifetime. My shop recommends every 40k, which I've also seen on here. Apparently its lifetime on Hondas too...there isn't an out of tank filter at all! Hubby's not too thrilled, since the car has almost 160k on it.

That's a first for me but..geez, good to know. But 90k?...wow...that is a lifetime for some vehicles..lol. I'll then have to assume (i know i know) they mean it's not something you'd change every 30 or 60k like most everything else. Thanks for the info.

[HudsonValleyVDub]

Originally Posted by Kartman

I've never known a fuel filter for any vehicle to be a lifetime item. They trap impurities, and when enough gets trapped , they clog. Where in your manual does it say that (page)? I've never seen that in my manual. My bug lagged when I stepped on the gas. Once I changed the fuel filter it went away. It was easy to change too. I didn't even have to jack up the vehicle.

Nissan fuel filters are lifetime filters and are all in-tank filters. I have an 08 Nissan Titan PRO-4X as well as an 05 Nissan Quest. Both require no filter changes for the life of the vehicle. And I do agree that for the cheap $10 or so, it's not a bad idea, but they are not a required replacement item on the Beetle. But in all my years Ive never heard of one causing major issues. Maybe VWs filters just suck?..lol...I don't know. Here's where the info I got came from. It's the Bentley service manual. It's also in the owners manual.

[simonsi]

Originally Posted by D2Beetle

They have a single coil, like older vehicles do.

It is a single part but has two electrical sides to it so problems often show up as affecting cyls 1 and 4 or 2 and 3 as the cyls are paired together that way.

[simonsi]

Originally Posted by Fl_bug

Is that how it's supposed to be done normally? Plugs, wires, & coilpacks?

Personally I would change plugs and wires but only change the coilpack if indicated by a fault.