manoverboard987's 2000 Jetta GLS 2.0L

[Mr.Yellow]

Sweet jetta. my girlfried is planning on getting one just like yours. a 2000 jetta in green

[manoverboard987]

I keep track of my gas mileage on every fill-up. Lately, this has been the story...



I think I'm gonna hafta look into this... I'm not driving any more aggressively than when I was getting 21-25 city, but 16 city is just plain bad.

My first thoughts are fuel filter and spark plugs, and maybe a bottle of fuel injector cleaner. Thoughts?

[The Cheat]

-plugs
-air filter
-fuel filter
-bad maf
-bad O2

list goes on...start cheap with the plugs.

[manoverboard987]

So I dropped off my roommate at his Geology Lab ~ 6:45 tonite, and I'm driving home, when all of a sudden, as I'm making a right turn, a bicyclist cuts across the yellow line , hits my bumper, goes over the handlebars, and ends up on my windshield. It was raining so he skidded on his old-school 1-speed. It was deemed his fault since he clearly violated the right-of-way. The only serious damage to my car was the windshield, which, though still attached, was shattered. After I moved it into a campus parking garage, where it still waits for the windshield replacer tomorrow, I saw some scratches on the hood and a rubber smear on the bumper, but I can most likely take care of those.

It was dark and rainy so this is the only pic I grabbed with my phone...



Like I said, windshield gets replaced tomorrow, so I should only be down for one day. It figures that I would have a test tomorrow, though. Oh well.

It's a lot better to be the guy who REALLY is not at fault.

After I pulled into the spot in the garage, the cop who was first on scene who followed me into the garage said "You said that's a 2000?". I said, " Yes, sir." And he said "Well you sure have taken really good care of it - it looks great." And I said, "Yes sir. I love my car." And he says, "Yup, you can tell."

[manoverboard987]

So my windshield was replaced around 10:30 this morning. I got her home fianlly and waited the hour for the sealant to dry, then washed all the glass off her and got it out of every crevice inside.

The only other things wrong with her were a penny-sized dent in the rub strip on the front left bumper from where the bike tire hit, and a bunch of scratches on the top of the hood where the glass ground into the paint under the bicyclist. Not nearly enough to need repainted - the deepest one is only just to the color coat - but enough to annoy me, so I fixed it.

Scratches before:


Scratches after 3 rounds of Meguiar's ScratchX (highly recommended):


After a coat of Cleaner Wax and some Ultimate Quik Detailer:


What's left is a couple chuks which are where it's down to the color. The rest you can barely even tell were ever there. I'm gonna take some polish to it along with some better wax over Thanksgiving break, which is when I normally do my 6-month polish and wax job. For now, it's a conversation piece.


I needed some new windshield wipers since my old ones were full of glass shards and it was starting to rain, so I ran down to Advance and, to my surprise, thay had an "All Wipers 25% Off" sale going on. This just happened to include Bosch Icons, so I scooped up a pair of those. I've only used them for about 45 mins, but I have to say they're the best wipers I've ever come across.

Next on the agenda - cleaning carpets and upholstery and engine bay.

[manoverboard987]

So I went for a drive just beacause the weather is so beautiful outside (mid 70s and no clouds), and I finally took a shot that shows pretty spot on how dark 30% all around tint is.



Then I walked around a park a little bit.



Then I tried a rolling shot, but it doesn't show much other than how shiny my paint is.



And later today, I'll be scrubbing my engine bay.

[iScott]

Nice shots, Kris!

[Rebelde33]

I've always wondered how to calculate the mpg of cars.

[manoverboard987]

Originally Posted by Rebelde33

I've always wondered how to calculate the mpg of cars.

First, fill up your tank. Clear the trip odometer when you do.

Second, use up at least half the gas. (I find it's more accurate that way.)

Third, refill your tank. Write down 2 things - how many gallons the pump says went in, and how many miles your trip odometer says.

Divide miles over gallons and you've got it!

I fill up my tank every time so I get a new mpg number every time.

[Rebelde33]

Originally Posted by manoverboard987

First, fill up your tank. Clear the trip odometer when you do.

Second, use up at least half the gas. (I find it's more accurate that way.)

Third, refill your tank. Write down 2 things - how many gallons the pump says went in, and how many miles your trip odometer says.

Divide miles over gallons and you've got it!

I fill up my tank every time so I get a new mpg number every time.

Thanks!

[manoverboard987]

Man - it's been almost 3 months since my last update.

Biggest news = new taillights!





They were under the tree Christmas morn. Thanks Mom and Dad!

And then the last weekend before I left home to come back up here to school, I replaced my fuel filter. Easy as pie once I figured out where the tabs I had to squeeze on the quick connects were. I'm on the same tank of gas so I don't have a new MPG number yet, but the trip odo is above 300 miles and I've got just under 1/4 tank left - looks good!

Upcoming:
- Silverstar turn signal bulbs
- Interior LED replacement bulbs
- Air Fitler and Spark Plug replacement next time I'm home.

[bugsy98nb]

OOooo Pretty ! I've been thinking of a jetta lately

[manoverboard987]

Originally Posted by bugsy98nb

OOooo Pretty ! I've been thinking of a jetta lately

There's some definite differences - mainly that it doesn't feel like as much of a go cart as a new beetle - but much of the same energy survives the jump from model to model. It takes a little figuring out, but it can be just as much fun to drive. I definitely suggest at least trying one out if you think about it.

Of course, you'll lose your ragtop too...

[bugsy98nb]

Originally Posted by manoverboard987

There's some definite differences - mainly that it doesn't feel like as much of a go cart as a new beetle - but much of the same energy survives the jump from model to model. It takes a little figuring out, but it can be just as much fun to drive. I definitely suggest at least trying one out if you think about it.

Of course, you'll lose your ragtop too...

Well..... I've had 6 Jettas in my past 2 1981s one GL one Diesel 2 1984s one GL one GLI a 1986GL and a 1990 coupe I know the chassis and what not has changed from the mk1 mk2 BUT Ive always like the body stylings of the mk4 jetta problem would be sedan or wagon . AS for the ragtop shes been forsale since October. so either she will sell , or when shes paid off I'll possible look at the jettas then

[manoverboard987]

Originally Posted by bugsy98nb

Well..... I've had 6 Jettas in my past 2 1981s one GL one Diesel 2 1984s one GL one GLI a 1986GL and a 1990 coupe I know the chassis and what not has changed from the mk1 mk2 BUT Ive always like the body stylings of the mk4 jetta problem would be sedan or wagon . AS for the ragtop shes been forsale since October. so either she will sell , or when shes paid off I'll possible look at the jettas then

Sedan vs. wagon was a problem for me too. This one was in such good condition that we jumped on it, but a wagon was next on the search list.

[manoverboard987]

This past week I installed a 42 Draft Designs Interior LED kit, as well as a pair of their 14.5V license plate LEDs. I preferred the whiter look of LEDs, plus the fact that they run cool and use less energy.

In total, 12 bulbs were replaced for LEDs:
- Front Dome Light (1)
- Front Map Lights (2)
- Sunvisor Lights (2)
- In-door Step Lights (2)
- Rear Dome Lights(2)
- Trunk Light (1)
- License Plate Lights (2)

Here's a comparison of the front map lights:



And sunvisor before:



and after:



And License Plate before:



During:



and after:




If you decide to get some LED lights for your ride, make sure you follow the instructions that 42 sends you with them. It's important to be uber gentle with all the light fixtures and housings and to unplug each light before you switch the bulb. Also, there's a more complex procedure for NB License Plate lights. If they forget the instructions, lemme know and I can scan mine for you.

[scarabY2k]

Wow I really like those LED lights. They sure look more gentle on the eyes than the conventional ones. Good job mang.

[manoverboard987]

This psuedo-winter weather is awesome, but the raining every 4th day is getting pretty old.

Luckily, today was one of the 3 good days between rains, so after a quick dip at the car wash, we headed up to the top of the parking garage again. I wasn't satisfied with the last shots from there, but I am with these.

[scarabY2k]

Hey, I'm satisfied with your new shots mang Awesome

[manoverboard987]