my Beetle hates me..

[Cutie101]

hello all! since i was a little girl, i've always wanted a volkswagen beetle. i got my beetle 4 months ago right before i got my drivers license. i was so excited and happy. 2 days after i got my ca, the water pump died and my parents had to pay a whole bunch to get it replaced and replace a few other things.shortly after that, whenever i had my air vents blowing on high or at whatever setting, noises were coming out of the vents like there was a ghost talking to me. before i got the car, the dealer said he fixed the problem but i guess not. i realized my mirrors dont work, my driver side speaker doesnt work, and my transmission went bad. when i put it in reverse it revs the engine and i have to keep putting it in park and into reverse untill it jerks into reverse to where i can back up. the dealership says i have to get a new one or have one built. not only that but ive gotten into two minor accidents messing up my fog lights and the grille that holds the fog lights. ihave to find a new grille and a set of fog lights with new wiring. ive had so much bad luck with my beetle. i wish i waited and went somewhere else to buy another one. i dont know if its even worth it to fix the darn thing but even with all of its flaws i still love it. its the best car that fits my personality and its easy to drive, its the best car ive driven. even though ive had alot of problems with my beetle its not going to stop me from buying another one in the future. i am planning to buy a convertable one after coming back from being in the Air Force for two years.

[scarabY2k]

Hi Cutie
Sorry about your beetle's issues. You're an orger and a bugophile for sure. You have that never say die spirit us beetle nuts have!

I'm sure i'm not telling you anything new, but when buying a 10 year old car, issues (wear and tear) will rise. Please check here before you do anymore repairs. The dealership can be a stealership, in overcharging on parts and excessive labor. Hopefully we can save you some money for any future repairs. Hopefully, they'll be few.

When you got the water pump replaced, did they do the timing belt, tensioner, roller as well?

Sorry about your fender benders- be careful there little lady. As memory serves me, there's a salvage yard in your state that has a good amount of wrecked nB's. Ask fellow orger Supercharged98 about it- shoot him a PM.

Big congrats to you on enlisting in the Air Force. I did ROTC back in the day- wish I enlisted. Thanks in advance for your service to our country

[IndyTom]

Sorry you are having so many problems with your New Beetle
As ScarabY2k already mentioned a 10 Year+ car will have it's share of issues and the New Beetle is no different. Actually, the New Beetle is a bit more Maintenance prone than perhaps a Honda or a Toyota but it is a heck more fun to drive and well worth the extra effort in my opinion. Here on the ORG we are a Big Happy Family and we stick together. If we can assist or help you in any way we will. ScarabY2K is right in saying to ask here first before taking it to the stealership. They charge you an arm and one of your pretty legs for the work they do and in most cases you can do it yourself for a fraction of the cost the dealer charges. It may be a bit of a learning curve and willingness to do some things on your own rather than taking it to a shop but in the end it will be a rewarding experience. Your profile doesn't mention if you have the 2.0l engine or the 1.8T. In either case when the water pump broke the timing belt service should have been performed. Double check if that has been done. Because if you think you have problems now think again. If that timing belt goes your valves and pistons will litterally make some fireworks and not in a good way. It will disable your engine and to get that rebuilt will cost you several thousand dollars. So make double certain that this timing belt service has been done!!! The other bad news is the transmission. The early Automatic transmission in the Beetle are know for failure due to a faulty valve body. To replace the valve body will cost about $1700 for the whole transmission probably a whole lot more. A manual transmission for beetle's up to 2006 is probably a better choice since they don't fail. Well, at least I have yet to see one that has. The clutch is the worst thing that sooner or later would wear out and you can get a clutch kit for about 350 bucks which is a lot cheaper than a new Transmission. That said, check with your dealer since Volkswagon did extend the warranty of their Automatic transmissions up to about 80000+ Miles. Maybe even higher. I just don't remember. I don't want to bring your hopes up but it is worth checking out to see if perhaps your car would qualify for the VW extended warranty program.
Not sure what the Ghost noises are coming from the vents. Is your heat working okay? When you direct air towards the defrost/windows does it blow there? Is there any foam or other material flying through the vents? It could be a "Blend Door" issue which is fixable.

Anyway, I wish you luck with your Beetle and all your future endevors. Let us know if you have any questions and if we can help in any way we will!
Good Luck to you and Ringo

[scarabY2k]

Good points by Tom. And Uh, Tom... you can call me Al I think we know each other well enough by now

A good point Tom brought up is the valve body. The repair is so costly, that if you decided to do the repair... don't. If you're dead set on the auto tranny- get a replacement. Check out this site, recommended by Smileybug, who's well knowledged with our beetles. CLICK HERE FOR THE LINK.

Be not dismayed. As Tom said, many of the DIY's are listed here and can be executed with a little time and thought. Annnnnnd, there's orgers, that might be in your area, or not too far away, that might give you a hand on repairs. Fix up a good meal and something cold to drink, and most of us orgers will come over for a repair party

Again, keep us posted.

[IndyTom]

Originally Posted by scarabY2k

Good points by Tom. And Uh, Tom... you can call me Al I think we know each other well enough by now

Annnnnnd, there's orgers, that might be in your area, or not too far away, that might give you a hand on repairs. Fix up a good meal and something cold to drink, and most of us orgers will come over for a repair party

Again, keep us posted.

Okay buddy, Al it is. Just don't call me Betty

A good meal is always GREAT. I work for Pizza and Normally a Cold drink would be smashing but in this rather cool weather how about some Hot Chocolate Party at Cutie's house!

[scarabY2k]

Originally Posted by IndyTom

Okay buddy, Al it is. Just don't call me Betty

A good meal is always GREAT. I work for Pizza and Normally a Cold drink would be smashing but in this rather cool weather how about some Hot Chocolate Party at Cutie's house!

nice Paul Simon reference

I'm good for pizza too, BBQ works too. Sadly, i'm way down here in FL and can't help Cutie out. Hopefully someone in your area can help make your beetle's life better Cutie

[Cutie101]

Originally Posted by scarabY2k

Hi Cutie
Sorry about your beetle's issues. You're an orger and a bugophile for sure. You have that never say die spirit us beetle nuts have!

I'm sure i'm not telling you anything new, but when buying a 10 year old car, issues (wear and tear) will rise. Please check here before you do anymore repairs. The dealership can be a stealership, in overcharging on parts and excessive labor. Hopefully we can save you some money for any future repairs. Hopefully, they'll be few.

When you got the water pump replaced, did they do the timing belt, tensioner, roller as well?

Sorry about your fender benders- be careful there little lady. As memory serves me, there's a salvage yard in your state that has a good amount of wrecked nB's. Ask fellow orger Supercharged98 about it- shoot him a PM.

Big congrats to you on enlisting in the Air Force. I did ROTC back in the day- wish I enlisted. Thanks in advance for your service to our country

yes! when i got my waterpump replaced they also changed the timing belt and everything else. the total cost was around 1500$ at the dealership. and i just went to a junk yard today and got parts to fix up somethings from the minor wrecks. ill be on my way hopefully soon. im not giving up. but it sure is a pain in the butt though. my headlight just died earlier today, so theres something else to deal with. im only 18 but im trying to learn as much as i can about beetles and fixing the problems , i hate going to the dealership. this place helps me out a whole bunch you have noooo idea lol

oh and my biggest problem is the wiring to my fog lights. some of the wiring is missing to one of them and the other i had to cut the wire because the light was so busted up and i didnt want it to drag on the road. idk if i can go to a store and get wires and just put them together and reattach them to the fog lights or if i have to let the dealership do it. i mean it shouldnt be that pricey after all its just wiring?? i will post pics to show you what im talking about when i get the chance

[Cutie101]

Originally Posted by IndyTom

Sorry you are having so many problems with your New Beetle
As ScarabY2k already mentioned a 10 Year+ car will have it's share of issues and the New Beetle is no different. Actually, the New Beetle is a bit more Maintenance prone than perhaps a Honda or a Toyota but it is a heck more fun to drive and well worth the extra effort in my opinion. Here on the ORG we are a Big Happy Family and we stick together. If we can assist or help you in any way we will. ScarabY2K is right in saying to ask here first before taking it to the stealership. They charge you an arm and one of your pretty legs for the work they do and in most cases you can do it yourself for a fraction of the cost the dealer charges. It may be a bit of a learning curve and willingness to do some things on your own rather than taking it to a shop but in the end it will be a rewarding experience. Your profile doesn't mention if you have the 2.0l engine or the 1.8T. In either case when the water pump broke the timing belt service should have been performed. Double check if that has been done. Because if you think you have problems now think again. If that timing belt goes your valves and pistons will litterally make some fireworks and not in a good way. It will disable your engine and to get that rebuilt will cost you several thousand dollars. So make double certain that this timing belt service has been done!!! The other bad news is the transmission. The early Automatic transmission in the Beetle are know for failure due to a faulty valve body. To replace the valve body will cost about $1700 for the whole transmission probably a whole lot more. A manual transmission for beetle's up to 2006 is probably a better choice since they don't fail. Well, at least I have yet to see one that has. The clutch is the worst thing that sooner or later would wear out and you can get a clutch kit for about 350 bucks which is a lot cheaper than a new Transmission. That said, check with your dealer since Volkswagon did extend the warranty of their Automatic transmissions up to about 80000+ Miles. Maybe even higher. I just don't remember. I don't want to bring your hopes up but it is worth checking out to see if perhaps your car would qualify for the VW extended warranty program.
Not sure what the Ghost noises are coming from the vents. Is your heat working okay? When you direct air towards the defrost/windows does it blow there? Is there any foam or other material flying through the vents? It could be a "Blend Door" issue which is fixable.

Anyway, I wish you luck with your Beetle and all your future endevors. Let us know if you have any questions and if we can help in any way we will!
Good Luck to you and Ringo

my beetle is a 2.0 and im getting a new transmission eventually or sometime soon, my parents are paying for it out of savings. i have no idea whats making the noise when i have my ac on. it hasnt done it in awhile but it comes and goes. the good thing is my heat and air work just fine. i failed to mention from my recent wreck i cracked my radiator fan so it vibrates everytime the fans come on. and when someone at the junk yard place looked under my car, they said one of my plugs was disconnected from the engine? my beetle has three that goes in the engine from what someone told me. i got a radiator fan assembly today to be put in sometime asap.

[Cutie101]

thanks for sharing your insights with me, its most helpful..and eases some of the stress im having with my beetle haha

[IndyTom]

Originally Posted by Cutie101

and when someone at the junk yard place looked under my car, they said one of my plugs was disconnected from the engine? my beetle has three that goes in the engine from what someone told me. i got a radiator fan assembly today to be put in sometime asap.

What kind of "PLUG" are they referring to? Very strange???

The spark plugs are on top and there are 4 of them. Not sure what they are referring to when they say that there are 3 plugs going into the engine?? Also how did your plastic skid plate hold up? Is it still in tact?

BTW, I saw your pics in your "ME" section. OMG you are gorgeous! I think any Orger in your area would bring the Pizza and fight over whoever is going to help you with your Beetle

Anyway, I hope everything will work out for you in the long run. Have a good Night.

[janitz]

Have you only had the dealership look at the transmission?

Based on the cost of the timing belt change, I would be suspect on any recommendations they give. $1500 USD is very expensive for this job. And they can't make the excuse of it being that expensive due to the water pump needing to be replaced as replacing the water pump is part of the normal process of the timing belt change. The parts for the timing belt should be under $400 USD if I'm not mistaken, perhaps a bit more. So either they marked those up a lot, or they put in 8+ hours on the job!?

Your transmission problem could be something as simple as ancient fluid preventing clean shifting.

Noise from your cabin heating/cooling system, is it only when on AC, or does it happen on any setting as long as it is on the highest blower setting? Does it matter which vents are being used, if you change from cabin to only going out to the feet does it change? Simple thing to check would be the cabin air filter, it could be clogged and at high volume the debris starts to move around making noise.

Fog light wiring, as long as you have the plastic harness that attaches to the fog light it should be pretty easy to strip the wire, splice and then enclose in heat shrink tube to get things back together. If you don't have the plastic harness, I expect it can be purchased online for less than the dealer would charge you (arm+leg).

Your headlight going, not to difficult to replace. The bulb is only $5 or so. Just remember when doing the change to wear latex gloves to prevent getting any oil from your fingers on the bulb or it will go again in days. Also, to go an extra step get some dielectric grease and coat the terminal connections to prevent corrosion. If your connectors are already corroding, a bit of fine sand paper will take care of it. I borrowed my wife's old nail file for this, well it was her new nail file, then I borrowed it and it became her old nail file.

[IndyTom]

Originally Posted by janitz

Have you only had the dealership look at the transmission?

Based on the cost of the timing belt change, I would be suspect on any recommendations they give. $1500 USD is very expensive for this job. And they can't make the excuse of it being that expensive due to the water pump needing to be replaced as replacing the water pump is part of the normal process of the timing belt change. The parts for the timing belt should be under $400 USD if I'm not mistaken, perhaps a bit more. So either they marked those up a lot, or they put in 8+ hours on the job!?

Cutie has a 2.0 which the parts for the timing belt kit are a lot cheaper than for the 1.8.
Blauparts sells the entire timing belt kit including the timing belt, water pump, accessory belt, tensioner, pulley, thermostat and coolant for $134.xx
Vw Beetle Timing Belt - Vw Beetle Timing Belt Kit
Labor should be around 4 hours if they know what they are doing but the dealership goes by their labor rates and probably double that time. $1500 is definitely outrageous. My dealership here charges 1100 for the timing belt service on a 1.8 engine. Still too high but more resonable than 1500.
EP Werks here in Indy charges $450.00 including parts for the timing belt service on my 1.8. Now that is reasonable since most every other shop I called charges $750 for parts and labor which is still half price from what Cutie was charged.
But dealers in different states or even different location charge whatever they like and can get away with.
I would definitely not take it there to get the transmission serviced or you may end up paying $4000 or more dollars for something that elsewhere you could get fixed for less than half.

Here is a link for other VW repair shops near Chapel Hill. It might be worth while checking around rather than blindly trusting the dealer.
http://www.vcarshops.com/north-carolina/corey-d-customs

Here is another good resource for Independent VW Repair Shops:

http://www.roadhaus.com/shops_advanc...ch_results.php Just click on Advance Search and put in your City and Zip code or your State and it will bring up shops in your area.

[janitz]

Wow.

Just Wow. That's all I can say, $1500 for a job that is 4 hours in time and under $200 in parts?

Yah, I would not take their recommendation for the transmission at all. These guys are crooks.

I usually go by the list at TDI Club for trusted mechanics, but those are specific to the TDI engine. I'm sure however most of them are good with any VW as they are often Euro-centric shops.

It's in a google doc here, check it out as it lists a lot of shops in the NC state. I haven't a clue if they're close. The only thing I know about North Carolina is that the Hurricanes have their rink in Raleigh and are sucking big time this year.
https://docs.google.com/a/lebarge.co.../edit?hl=en_US

[Cutie101]

[kcfoxie]

Hi from Raleigh, NC

Take this car to Apex Tuning, LLC in Raleigh. (1015 Corporation Parkway, 919-231-0094)

They're on the TDI Trusted Mechanics list. Tell them kcfoxie sent you.

The automatic transmission (133k) out of my 03 TDI is sitting on their shop floor, I believe all of them are the same (I could be wrong), and they know a shop that can do rebuilds.

They should be able to help with the transmission situation, and possibly the AC concern too. They have a 99 parts bug in the yard.

Good guys, ask for Kevin or Gerich (gare-ick).

[Cutie101]

Originally Posted by janitz

Have you only had the dealership look at the transmission?

Based on the cost of the timing belt change, I would be suspect on any recommendations they give. $1500 USD is very expensive for this job. And they can't make the excuse of it being that expensive due to the water pump needing to be replaced as replacing the water pump is part of the normal process of the timing belt change. The parts for the timing belt should be under $400 USD if I'm not mistaken, perhaps a bit more. So either they marked those up a lot, or they put in 8+ hours on the job!?

Your transmission problem could be something as simple as ancient fluid preventing clean shifting.

Noise from your cabin heating/cooling system, is it only when on AC, or does it happen on any setting as long as it is on the highest blower setting? Does it matter which vents are being used, if you change from cabin to only going out to the feet does it change? Simple thing to check would be the cabin air filter, it could be clogged and at high volume the debris starts to move around making noise.

Fog light wiring, as long as you have the plastic harness that attaches to the fog light it should be pretty easy to strip the wire, splice and then enclose in heat shrink tube to get things back together. If you don't have the plastic harness, I expect it can be purchased online for less than the dealer would charge you (arm+leg).

Your headlight going, not to difficult to replace. The bulb is only $5 or so. Just remember when doing the change to wear latex gloves to prevent getting any oil from your fingers on the bulb or it will go again in days. Also, to go an extra step get some dielectric grease and coat the terminal connections to prevent corrosion. If your connectors are already corroding, a bit of fine sand paper will take care of it. I borrowed my wife's old nail file for this, well it was her new nail file, then I borrowed it and it became her old nail file.

yeah i got my transmission checked at the dealer, they changed the fluid to see if that would me switch into gears. and before i left they said that my fluid was black. and they said that i might need a transmission and the cost would be around 5000 dollars. my parents have spent more on repairs than what we actually paid for it, which was 6,500. we spent alot just getting the transmission looked at.

and the a/c noises happen on any setting, before i bought the car when i took it for a test drive it was making the noises and the dealer said they got it fixed. i cant remember what he said it was though, but here it is back again. it hasnt done it in awhile but like i said it comes and goes.

[Cutie101]

Originally Posted by kcfoxie

Hi from Raleigh, NC

Take this car to Apex Tuning, LLC in Raleigh. (1015 Corporation Parkway, 919-231-0094)

They're on the TDI Trusted Mechanics list. Tell them kcfoxie sent you.

The automatic transmission (133k) out of my 03 TDI is sitting on their shop floor, I believe all of them are the same (I could be wrong), and they know a shop that can do rebuilds.

They should be able to help with the transmission situation, and possibly the AC concern too. They have a 99 parts bug in the yard.

Good guys, ask for Kevin or Gerich (gare-ick).

thank you! ill look into it asap.
my mom is looking at a shop in durham where they work on NB's and rebuild transmissions

[Cutie101]

Originally Posted by IndyTom

What kind of "PLUG" are they referring to? Very strange???

The spark plugs are on top and there are 4 of them. Not sure what they are referring to when they say that there are 3 plugs going into the engine?? Also how did your plastic skid plate hold up? Is it still in tact?

BTW, I saw your pics in your "ME" section. OMG you are gorgeous! I think any Orger in your area would bring the Pizza and fight over whoever is going to help you with your Beetle

Anyway, I hope everything will work out for you in the long run. Have a good Night.

plastic skid plate? :0 whats that lol. and IDK! they asked me if i had 4 or 3.. and they even looked under my car to see and they said i had three. they also asked me that when i was ordering the radiator fan assembly :0

[Cutie101]

but other than all those problems, my car runs great. i drive ALOTTT. i had no problem driving it up to Washington DC. ive driven alot of cars and the Beetle is deft my fav. if someone came to my house with a brand new beetle, and a brand new pink mustang or some fancy car like that, id pick the beetle lol. i was obsessed with beetles since i was little. i have toy beetles and a beetle barbie car haha

[janitz]

Originally Posted by Cutie101

plastic skid plate? :0 whats that lol. and IDK! they asked me if i had 4 or 3.. and they even looked under my car to see and they said i had three. they also asked me that when i was ordering the radiator fan assembly :0

I noticed in the picture you posted taken from the wheel looking forward that you were missing quite a bit of your under carriage.

You should have plastic skirting within that wheel well, and on the bottom of the car should be three plastic plates to protect the engine, a large center and then left and right plates.