These BUGS are bugging me!!!!

[wowser]

I recently purchased a 2005 NBC new and it seems to have some gremlins.

:mad: Auto window up/down on the driver's side doesn't always work. Maybe 20% of the time.

:mad: Top doesn't always go down all the way. It gets almost down and then stops. I have to wait a minute and try again and it works.

:mad: Satellite Sirius radio cuts out going under any bridge or even narrow road with tall trees. Not sure if this is a condition of satellite.

:mad: Satellite Sirius radio fails to initialize. Says CALL 1800... on the radio even under clear view of sky. If turn radio on/off several times it works.

:mad: Radio loses presets. Happened once or twice.

:mad: Engine cut out just for a second while on the freeway. This happened twice.

:mad: Left speaker rattles terribly at moderate levels.

I tried having my dealer fix these things but they say, "unless we see the problem first hand, there's nothing we can do."

They said they tested the car and everything was fine and did nothing.

Not sure what to do at this point since I have to "prove" these very intermittent things. I love the car otherwise. Please help! Thanks.

[gilligan]

I would start to learn how everything works on auto's if your gonna own a beetle, for one thing 99% of your probs could probably be fixed by tightening things or rearanging things. The engineering seems to be superior to american cars, the major flaws are the cheap labor they used to assemble them. not sure about the sattelite radio but when something blocks my dish network on my tv it goes out. car stalls while going down the road??? and the vw dealer can find nothing?? these things can tell you when you just farted I find it hard to belive no codes came up when they checked it. That could ultimately be a dangerous thing. hope you get it all worked out once you do you'll fall back in love with her. and as far as the auto window I wish I knew how to disable it, I hate!!! when it takes off with a mind of its own, like I'm to stupid to know where I want it.

[digitalputty]

The only one I can answer is the satellite radio ... a satellite cant beam through something like that. :D Just like Gilligan said even satellite dishes for TV go out during a hail storm or sometimes even a LITE rain! :O

I hope everything gets worked out!

[Deserion]

The auto up/down not working is in relation to the window motor. It needs replaced, mine had the same issue. Hasn't cropped up since I had it fixed. The motor thinks the window is binding and goes into a "limp" mode, hence no auto features.

-De

[from Margaritaville...]

Sirius Satellite Radio: when your player is docked (don't know what model you own) somewhere in the set-up menu there is a prompt to "reset channels". Initiate that reset procedure. It will process automatically. You should be receiving stations upon completion...

[bockegg]

The new beetle never got good reliability ratings from consumer reports.

[bockegg]

I have a 2003 nbc and I have the same problem with the driver window. The motor and switch have been replaced 2 times by the dealer and it is starting to do the same thing again. I don't know what to tell you?

[dnyed]

:mad: Left speaker rattles terribly at moderate levels.

We had this problem with our 2005 NBC. We thought it was a blown speaker. It turned out it wasn't the speaker at all-it was the key lock for the controls on the door. It was loose from a missing washer or something, and they couldn't tighten it, so they replaced it.

Have the service department look at this. Good luck to you!;)

[blackonblack]

I just had my driver's side window into the shop for the 3rd time and it finally drops 1/4 inch like it's supposed to (and works flawlessly). I expect the passenger side will need help in the not too distant future, but it doesn't get used as often as the driver's side.

What did they do to finally fix this. Mine does the same thing.

[Batguano]

Regarding the windows...my driver window recently had an issue of not opening completely. Dealership states they reset it via computer and it works again as it should.

I have noticed that the "pinch protection" seems to engage if I use the one-touch feature while driving over road bumps. The bumps that affect this can be minor as well. Result is when using the one-touch feature (up or down) over bumps, the window may reverse once maybe twice demonstrating wacko conditions. Usually this behavior leaves the window one-touch feature desabled. I reset using the instructions in the manual (page 34 in mine) under Notes: "To reactivate this feature, do the following
-Lock the vehicle via the driver's door. Make sure that both doors and windows are completley closed.
-Unlock the vehicle one more time
-Turn the key to the lock position a second time and hold the key in the lock position for at least one second"

This has worked for me the few times I've had the problem. I now take care to use the windows on smooth road or while stopped, no problems since.

Jeff

[Batguano]

Gilligan, I agree that these vehicles are engineered nicely however I disagree that flaws are related to cheap labor...rather cheap materials. The global economy continues the push to outsourcing; not only labor but design and material construction/content. OE manufactures of major assemblies such as vehicles are not always cognizant of where the little piece of plastic is manufactured. Yeah, engineers oversee this but the manufacturing mandate is cost reduction and this turns into a measurable which can drive quality down. VW has had quality issues for years made here, there or wherever. I've owned many of them alongside vehicles like mercedes, saab, acura, porsche and others. They are all different and all share quirks of manufacture.

What does this mean? I have some opinions but won't spew on the forum.

Jeff

[bockegg]

My driver side speaker rattled at moderate volumes also. The dealer fixed it on the 2nd trip. It is something inside the door. I think that they told me that it was the stopper for the window that was loose.

[CoriBug]

The new beetle never got good reliability ratings from consumer reports.


That's true and I value the reviews of Consumer Reports but I also take their opinions with a grain of salt. They said several things about the Mitsubishi Lancer that I disagree with (my mom has one). It's been a great car with NO problems and it's a 2002 with 60k - first year for that model. Also, my dad used to have a Geo Metro, not exactly the greatest looking car, but he didn't care(not a car guy anyway!). He drove it back and forth to Denver about every day for his job(round trip is about 110 miles). Consumer Reports gave it horrible reviews, said it had lousy reliablity, etc, etc. That little car lasted for over 300,000 miles!!:p The only problems it ever had were normal wear and tear.

So, about the NB, yeah you're going to have issues and some people will get a lemon. But that happens with cars and besides, the Beetle is more than just a car, it's a part of who I am.

Good luck with yours!

Cori

[dieseldriver]

Minor issue are annoying but the benefits outweighs small problems. I have owned BMW's but they are not as good as VW in my opinion in terms of practicality, performance and longevity. VW last easy 200K miles and I've seen many 300+K miles and going strong. It is one of the most safe cars on the road, no if and or buts about it. I think Consumer Reports should publish fatality data comparing VW's to other so called "reliable" Japanese cars. I think that should tell all. I have both Honda and VW, I take VW any day in safety and performance. Oh yeah, and I get over 45 MPG average to boot. Hey, it's lonely being the best car all around, but, shh, don't tell the Toyota owner. Oh yeah, one thing good about Japanese car is that it is easy to maintain, VW is a bit tough. I think because of all those "safety" thought were built into the car prior to thinking about marketing.
I recently purchased a 2005 NBC new and it seems to have some gremlins.

:mad: Auto window up/down on the driver's side doesn't always work. Maybe 20% of the time.

:mad: Top doesn't always go down all the way. It gets almost down and then stops. I have to wait a minute and try again and it works.

:mad: Satellite Sirius radio cuts out going under any bridge or even narrow road with tall trees. Not sure if this is a condition of satellite.

:mad: Satellite Sirius radio fails to initialize. Says CALL 1800... on the radio even under clear view of sky. If turn radio on/off several times it works.

:mad: Radio loses presets. Happened once or twice.

:mad: Engine cut out just for a second while on the freeway. This happened twice.

:mad: Left speaker rattles terribly at moderate levels.

I tried having my dealer fix these things but they say, "unless we see the problem first hand, there's nothing we can do."

They said they tested the car and everything was fine and did nothing.

Not sure what to do at this point since I have to "prove" these very intermittent things. I love the car otherwise. Please help! Thanks.

[sb_beetle]

The loss of radio presets means it is losing constant current. Make sure you check all ground connections on your battery. Check fuses, etc.

I bet if you locate this issue you may solve all of your others :D