bug bogs down no power help soon please

[chad1723]

hi i just purchased a used 99 beetle 2.0 with 50,000 miles on it,,i got the check engine light with codes p0172- system to rich (bank 1)
p0300- randon /multiple cylinder misfire detected

p0301 cylinder 1 misfire detected

p0303 cylinder 3 misfire detected

doesn't seem like any performance problems

EXCEPT - regardless of speed whether it be 30 - 40- or 70 mph it seems like the bug just bogs down and wont go,i depress the gas pedal and nothing no rpm change no acceleration it just kinda hangs at the same speed its in,,with a slow decrease in speed for about a minute or two then runs like normal,,,any help is so appreciated, its going to the garage today and i don't wanna get hosed ,,thanks,,chad

[SilverSportNOLA]

Don't have a 2.0 but the misfires make it sound like a coilpack problem, I would replace the coil first, the misfires can cause the front O2 sensor to beleive it is rich since the unburned fuel is being expelled into the exhaust.

[mandy]

Im starting to have the same problem with my car, how much is a coilpack? and how hard is it to replace it?

[SilverSportNOLA]

1stvwparts has the one for the 99 at $92 ... dealer price is $125. For the 02 it is about double on each price. I don't know where they are on the 2.0, but we had a new member do it for her daughters car over the christmas break with no problems.

[iScott]

Originally Posted by mandy

Im starting to have the same problem with my car, how much is a coilpack? and how hard is it to replace it?

Replacing one is easy. Just gotta move the secondary air pump out of the way (if you have one), take the plug wires out of the old coil, remove the plug on the rear of the coil, unscrew it (two screws, if I recall) and install the new one. Simple as that.

I think I paid about $100 for mine.

[chad1723]

well today i took it to a trusted vw mechanic and he went through and checked everything for me,,he came up with it being caused by the spark plug wires,,while he was changing them i had him just do the plugs,,drove it about 150 miles since with no problems hopefully it will stay that way!!!!
thanks for the help guys!!! also my airbag light was on and he reset that it has not come back on yet,,said sometimes when the steering wheel is moved around or something to that notion it will come on and most times theirs not a problem just most garages don't have the means to reset vw airbag codes for anyone interested from PA the name of the garage is stayleys the two young men who work their only service vw's at fair prices and no BS analysis very trustworthy guys,,,they are located along 422 in annville, pa 17003 if your in the area check them out!!!!

[iScott]

Sweet. Glad to hear good news. Not near enough of that around here.

[mandy]

Where did you get your coilpacks at. i have no idea what im doing im a girl haha. so if one of you guys could point me in the right direction that would help me out alot. my check engine light is on and i had it on the computer and it said something about a misfire and i got the code cleard about two days ago and now its back on again. please help

[iScott]

I bought mine at a local Euro shop. But just look online for the cheapest.

- 1stvwparts.com
- ecstuning.com
- parts4vws.com

[mandy]

Thank you very much that will help me out a lot!! THANKS!!

[SilverSportNOLA]

Mandy ... you also may just need plugs and wires ... how many miles your car have?

[chad1723]

Mandy like silversportnola said,,it may just be plugs and wires,,,that was my problem,,it was basically just the wires but i had them do the plugs while they were at it,,,i think the bug recommends changing them at 40,000 so that would be a cheap start plus depending on when they were last done it never hurts to have new plugs!!! good luck,,also like i said before anyone in the central Pennsylvania area looking for a good honest trustworthy VW mechanic let me know my guy is great!! won't replace things by guessing and doesn't charge your first born!!!

[mandy]

Chad, thanks alot i just had my car to a mechanic cause my car is really really bad it has like zero power i had to shift in to second gear just to come up over a little hill. He said it may be the coil he also said wires too Im hopeing thats all the it is it will be cheaper on my part. Would it be really cutting out if it was just wires? And my car has like 54000 miles on it and im not really sure when the last time they were changed. what exactly is it called if it is a coil i want me car back up and running good asap! Thanks for all your help!!

[speedie]

Mandy I would investigate if the plugs and wires were changed at 40k. If not you can change them or have them changed. www.germanautoparts.com is a good source for pre-gapped NGK plugs (OEM) and wires, I think they have a wire extraction tool for cheap as well. You can find the coil pack by following the plug wires from the boot covers on the engine...all four wires will connect into a device near the firewall.

If the previous owner yanked the wires during plug change without using a tool and didn't replace the wires, then the wires are damaged and this will impact cylinder firing.

[chad1723]

mandy,, my car was pretty bad, well i just purchased it it had 49,000 miles and it would loose all power and just kind of "bog" down, and it was caused by bad wires so i could see that being your problem,,i paid 50 for the wires and 24 for new plugs so it was a cheap fix compared to what it could have been, and my bug is running excellent now,,i would recommend starting their, and i guess the coil pack is pretty in-expensive also so either way you should be able to get your bug up and at em with minimum damage to the poketbook,,,good luck, let us know,,thanks
also mandy i see your in PA also,,not sure where brookville is,,,but i'm in harrisburg and no a great vw mechanic who is fair and honest ,,and doesn't break the bank when he does work on my vw,,it is called stayleys automotive,,located in the lebanon area,,its a mom and pop garage who only work on V-Dubs like i said if your close to that not a bad idea to check them out,,i can get you the number if you would like,,take care good luck

[mandy]

Thanks for everything. i will get some new plugs and wires and see how it goes i hope thats all the it needs cause i did call a volkswagon dealer and they said its 267 for the coil which isnt too bad but still i really dont want to spend that much! Thanks so much youve helped me out a lot!! And Brookville is near Dubois have you ever heard of that?? Thanks again!

[SilverSportNOLA]

Even if the plugs were changed on the 2.0L ... if they were changed without the wire removal tool ... the chances are great the person doing the work damaged the wires, have heard it happens almost every time someone removes four without the tool they damage at least one.

[chad1723]

well i have bad news and the mystery still lingers,,,although i have seen marked improvement in my performance since the plug change it has taken care of all the cel lights but,,on the way home from work tonight my beetle kinda "bogged" down again i was going 60mph and put the pedal to the metal and nothing happend it just stayed the same, no rpm change no speed change, what is going on? it last for about a minute and then takes off again,,it happens sporadically so whats this about anyone with help please let me know,,thanks mandy sorry never heard of dubois either,,where are you in conjunction to harrisburg north south east?

[SilverSportNOLA]

Chad .... check your grounding ... I don't have a 2.0 ... or know what year your car is, but if it is drive by wire a bad ground could give you that. I have a 5 point ground system on my car and one of the grounds I added goes to the throttle body, and gave me much beter throttle response when I added it.

[speedie]

I wonder if your throttle body is sticking or is not responding as silver suggested above. If you have VAGCOM or know someone who does you can check that and adjust it if needed.

When was your fuel filter changed? You should do it every 40k miles. Perhaps your fuel flow is being hampered?