Need help ASAP

[GINA]

The car just died on the highway, luckily I was within a couple miles of my office so I was able to walk back. I accelerated onto the highway at pretty normal speeds and as I was about to shift into 5th, it made a clunk kinda noise and almost sounded like it was reving high, except it was only at 3000 rpm. I tried downshifting, nothing happened. Shifting up, nothing happened. The whole engine just sounded like it was totally struggling. When I eventually stopped, the battery light came on. I turned it off, and turned it back on. It turned over and started, but immediately died. WTF is going on? And what the hell am I supposed to do with the car? I'm afraid to tow it since it's lowered and has the splitters in the front, but I can't leave it on the highway

[Lnzbug]

Damn!! Did you look inside the engine compartment? Was anything out of place? Have it towed (if the highway guys didn't already). Tell the guy it's lowered and they need to send a flatbed truck. Good luck Gina.

[Lnzbug]

When did you do your timing belt?

[noR]

Tow it to a shop; I dunno how you'd do it, but my low-brow solution would include using the tow-hook in your spare tire-well. And having a very contientous friend driving a truck infront of me, while towing me by rope in the non-powered vw.

It's not safe, and not recommended really; just how I would do it if I had to do it (and I have before). It's dangerous (no power brakes, no power steering), and discourteous to other traffic on the roads (REAL slow starts, REAL early braking, and low speeds), but it gets the job done.

I can't tell from your description if the problem is engine or transmission related, sorry.

[jazzcat]

Originally Posted by noR

Tow it to a shop; I dunno how you'd do it, but my low-brow solution would include using the tow-hook in your spare tire-well. And having a very contientous friend driving a truck infront of me, while towing me by rope in the non-powered vw.

It's not safe, and not recommended really; just how I would do it if I had to do it (and I have before). It's dangerous (no power brakes, no power steering), and discourteous to other traffic on the roads (REAL slow starts, REAL early braking, and low speeds), but it gets the job done.

I can't tell from your description if the problem is engine or transmission related, sorry.

make sure the key is in the on position when doing this though or steering wheel will lock and you are just along for the ride..its common sense but slipped my mind when i was getting dragged home last time mine blew up

[noR]

... accelerated onto the highway at pretty normal speeds and as I was about to shift into 5th, it made a clunk kinda noise and almost sounded like it was reving high, except it was only at 3000 rpm.

Tough to tell, sounds like 'something' isn't on-board w/the rotating mass anymore. But I dunno. I'd check hoses & belts maybe.

I tried downshifting, nothing happened. Shifting up, nothing happened.

Did the transmission part seem to work properly? Clutch pedal and shift knob felt 'right'? not weird/disjointed/soft/etc?

The whole engine just sounded like it was totally struggling. When I eventually stopped, the battery light came on.

Nothing helped you re-gain acceleration... maybe catastrophic plug failure, but usually 1 will just start adding vibration and take some power, not kill the whole thing....

I turned it off, and turned it back on. It turned over and started, but immediately died.

It started that's a good sign that your timing belt might be okay.

Check for both of your belts.

[Smileybug]

What you describe with your tranny sounds like when Bill had his shift linkage come apart. He was stuck in 2nd gear, no changing gears at all. Right before it happened, there was a clunk and then the shifter went limp pretty much. But his car still ran so I dunno.

[Beetlemania]

Daaaaaaaaamn, Gina!!! Like Ron said, at least it sounds like the timing belt is okay. Could it be the serpentine busted and wrapped around something?

All the best!!!

[GINA]

I just got the timing belt/water pump duo replaced about 6 months ago. When I put the key in the ignition, the lights that stayed on were Brake (for the e-brake obv), CEL, , battery, and EPC. It was shifting fine, it wouldn't really accelerate, it just slowly died.

I'm gonna see if I can get it towed somewhere now.

[LadybugEwa]

OMG, Gina! That's awful. It totally sucks being stranded, especially on a busy highway. Hugs!
Glad you're okay, as that is a dangerous situation to be in.
According to Tom's (Fovway's) theory, you should never let your bug know you have some money to spend on it I'm starting to agree with him
Hoping it will be something cheap *crossing fingers for you*

[GINA]

Greg called and did all the towing arrangements for me since I was overly emotional about the whole thing (and he was 50 miles away ) He told the company that the car is important and needed a flat bed, to be very careful with it, etc. The guy was pretty straight, so that eased my mind a bit.

About 5 minutes ago I get a call from the shop (RAI Motorsports, great guys!) at 10:30 at night. They said they got the car and already found the problem - they wanted to let me know since they know it's my daily. Apparently the throttle hose popped off down near the intercooler. That's it. Super easy woohoo! I'll be getting it back tomorrow Thank you everyone, so much, for your help and support. I was pretty stressed after work over the whole thing

[VW Lady Bug]

glad it's something relatively simple and pepper's going to be okay and back with you!

[1topbug]

Gina my beetle is also lowered, request that the bug be placed on a flatbed, rather than pulled. They can lower the flatbed and then you can just roll the bug on it. They use these for corvettes and other types of low sports cars. Worked perfect for me. Hope this helps.

Good Luck.
1TOPBUG-

[Lnzbug]

Gina, I'd buy a lottery ticket if I were you I'm glad they found the culprit so fast & that it's an easy fix.

[GINA]

Yeah, I had told Greg while in mild hysterics that the car needed to be on the flatbed, not be pulled from behind. Even when the guy stopped by my apt to get the key (so nice!) i reminded him, he was on it

[kate_the_valkyrie]

I work for a roadside assistance company so i wish I found this thread earlier and I'm glad to head you already found the problem.
One thing you really really want to do ASAP though:
CHECK YOUR CAR.
The underside, the bumpers specifically.
If there is ANY damage, be sure to call the tow company AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. Most tow companies have insurance that will cover ANY damage just incase they hurt your beetle TOWING IT.

Its very important for ANYONE to do this after having a vehicle towed. I've had people crying when their classic vehicle was damaged after they got it back from the shop from towing. Sometimes you won't notice it for weeks, and the longer you go without reporting it, the harder it is to deal with the tow company...

[Lmhansen]

Wow, you are lucky to have such competent and nice mechanics around. They called you outside business hours? Wait, they called you?

I'm glad there wasn't anything serious wrong with your car. Hopefully, they clamped the hose back on good.

[bugasm99]

so was that the clamp that you put on or the clamp that Q put on?

[Lnzbug]

Lol!!

[noR]

WHEW! Sorry to hear it got towed for that. But I'm glad you've got it taken care of.

wow, they were at the shop at 10:30? That's one hella dedicated crew.