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1999 vw new beetle frequently stalling
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andreamickelsen
Novice
Nov 30, 2011, 5:30 PM
Post #1 of 9
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1999 vw new beetle frequently stalling
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Hey there!
first off let me say i am not a car person so sorry for my non-technical description of my problem! bear with me! also since i dont know what kind of problem this is i posted in general car troubleshooting... sorry if it is in the wrong place!
1999 vw new beetle
i think its a 2.0l engine? its non turbo, manual transmission
about 115k miles on it
also no check engine lights
I have a 1999 new beetle with a manual transmission. i bought the car used in great condition in 2007 and since then it has ran like a champ, very few issues besides routine maintenance. In september, i moved up from southern california to seattle (i drove it up), and at first the car was fine. In october the alternator died, and we had that replaced. since having the alternator replaced, it has been intermittently stalling. At first it was very rare, it happened one then didnt for a few days then again, then nothing for a week. Now, it is stalling all the time while driving. we cant take it anywhere without at least one stall. it often stalls back to back - youll get it started and within a minute or two itll stall again, sometimes immediately after starting up, you will roll forward a foot or two then it dies again.
when it stalls, it doesnt make any noise or doesnt jerk around or shudder. it just quietly dies. then it wont start again for a good 5-10 minutes. when you try and start it, it will try to start - the engine makes noise like its starting but just cant turn over, if that makes sense. after a few minutes it starts again. the most recent time it stalled, it stalled on the freeway, then after starting again it immediately died again and made a strange crunching noise as it died - sounded like it came from the engine. this is the first time its made any noise when dying. after a few minutes it started again and we got where we needed to go. it usually stalls when slowing down or stopped at a red light - it has never stalled when accelerating. we tried shifting into neutral at red lights and taking my foot off the clutch when idling,and downshifting when decelerating, in case it had something to do with having the clutch pushed in, but that made no difference.
also, i dont know if this is relevant at all -but the alternator mechanic said that i will need to replace the starter soon. occassionally on starting it makes a grinding noise. they said it will go out in a few months (though its been making that grinding noise for years).
also, i had an oil change right before i moved, a friend checked the spark plugs in case that was causing a problem, checked all the belts and they are all fine. battery was bought a year ago and is working fine, and as i mentioned a new alternator.
i have no idea what it could be, an if it is going to be a big fix. i tried taking it to a mechanic when it first starting happening on rare occasions, but they couldnt get it to stall to diagnose the problem. any ideas would be great, i really dont know what to do with it anymore!
thanks so much!
andrea
(This post was edited by andreamickelsen on Nov 30, 2011, 5:33 PM)
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
/ Moderator
Nov 30, 2011, 5:38 PM
Post #2 of 9
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Re: 1999 vw new beetle frequently stalling
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Check engine light on?
VW beetles are notorious for idle control problems when the computer loses its memory when the battery is disconnected.
The first thing that you should have done is to have the engine checked for vacuum leaks. Vacuum leaks or what we call un-metered air can cause idle control problems. If there aren't any vacuum leaks, the throttle body should be cleaned out. Carbon gets in the throttle body and causes problems with the idle control system.
Once the throttle is clean there is a function that has to be performed to allow the computer to relearn idle volume. The function can only be performed by using a high tech scan tool.
Once all that is done, then see if you idling problem is still there. If it is still there, it will need to be diagnosed further.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Nov 30, 2011, 5:41 PM)
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andreamickelsen
Novice
Nov 30, 2011, 5:43 PM
Post #3 of 9
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Re: 1999 vw new beetle frequently stalling
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there are no check engine lights.
thanks so much for a quick reply. is the leaks something a mechanic would need to test for? could it be due to the mechanic disconnecting the battery to replace the alternator?
(This post was edited by andreamickelsen on Nov 30, 2011, 5:44 PM)
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
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Nov 30, 2011, 5:49 PM
Post #4 of 9
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Re: 1999 vw new beetle frequently stalling
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It would be wise to have a repair shop that has what is called a smoke machine check for vacuum leaks. The smoke machine does a better job of showing someone where leaks are than using a can of brake or carb cleaner.
When the battery is disconnected the computer doesn't have any back up power, so it loses it's memory for the idle control system. The computer actually learns or builds a strategy for controlling the engine's idle speed. You don't want the computer learning the idle speed on an engine that has vacuum leaks or has a gummed up throttle body.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Nov 30, 2011, 5:51 PM)
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andreamickelsen
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Nov 30, 2011, 5:51 PM
Post #5 of 9
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Re: 1999 vw new beetle frequently stalling
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okay that makes sense. and that would cause an intermittent stall problem? since it isnt every time it idles.
thank you so much you have no idea how much i appreciate your help!
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
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Nov 30, 2011, 5:56 PM
Post #6 of 9
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Re: 1999 vw new beetle frequently stalling
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It's possible it could cause intermittent stalling. Usually when diagnosing those kinds of problems you start with the basics because a problem in that area can affect the performance of the idle control system.
That is why starting with checking for vacuum leaks, cleaning the throttle body out, and relearning the idle air volume should be done first because it is possible that may solve your problem. If the problem is still there after performing the basics, then you start diagnosing other components.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Nov 30, 2011, 5:57 PM)
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andreamickelsen
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Nov 30, 2011, 6:01 PM
Post #7 of 9
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Re: 1999 vw new beetle frequently stalling
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alright ill call mechanics tomorrow morning and see if i can find a place that can run those tests for me and how much its gunna cost me.
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Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky
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Nov 30, 2011, 6:06 PM
Post #8 of 9
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Re: 1999 vw new beetle frequently stalling
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Let us know how things turn out.
Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.
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andreamickelsen
Novice
Dec 14, 2011, 3:28 PM
Post #9 of 9
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Re: 1999 vw new beetle frequently stalling
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Just got off the phone with the mechanic I ended up taking the car to - He said it was the cam shaft sensor, something about the car computer not communicating properly to start the car... dont know what it means but at least thats the resolution!! thanks for everyones help
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