1999 Volkswagen Jetta TDI from North America - Comments

This is an old body style for the record.

I Bought it from a Volkswagen dealer here in southern Ontario, Canada. I have had it for a full year now, put on approximately 80,000km's.

I did all the belts, oil and filter, air filter and fuel filter since I didn't know where it had been. I didn't do the water pump, which I was told by the dealer is recommended when doing the timing belt, since I figured it was a money grab.

Almost 5,000km's later, the water pump developed a leak. Took apart the old one and discovered it has a mechanical shaft seal, not a rubber lip seal. I figure it is recommended to change when doing the timing belt since mechanical shaft seals, once worn in, are more susceptible to leaks after a change in angular pressure, such as is found when installing a new belt and applying more tension than the previous one had. Needlessly to say, I put in a new water pump ($150CDN) and it has been fine since.

At approximatley 170,000km's, the check engine light came on and stayed on. The dealer was the only one that could pull the codes, so I was told, since the Volkswagen software wasn't purchased by many independent garages. They said it was a glow plug fault which needed new glow plugs to correct. All the plugs were done at the dealer and it has been fine since. Just to note, the thing still started fine, even in cold weather, before the repair was done.

The last thing that went wrong was a noisy driver's front wheel bearing. I did both bearings, both sides while I was at it.

Sorry, I lied. The only other thing I had to fix was the light bulb for the climate control knobs. It seemed to come and go for a couple of weeks until it wouldn't come on at all. I simply replaced the $1 bulb.

The only odd thing I find is the driver side headlight seems to go at about 15,000km's. I have also noticed that most other Jetta's with a bad headlight go on the same side.

I find this to be a very good, reliable, economical car to operate for high mileage drivers.

I believe I will always own a TDI for commuting, mind you I think next time it will be a Golf, since I think this Jetta is a crappy winter car. (even after putting on four new snows.)

I may have a distorted view of Jetta's by owning an old body style though, since it seems there are a lot of complaints out there with the current style.

Bottom line... I love this car and expect it to go 500,000km's, mostly highway driving though. If it doesn't, based on my experience with it and talk with others, I will be a little disappointed.

I have to agree. We have a '98 Jetta with a gas engine (not the TDI for all those who might not know the difference.) We've had NONE of the problems that most folks are carping about with the newer body style ('99.5 and later).

And for everyone else, it has nothing to do with the car being made in Mexico. Most all VW's except the Passat are made there. The reliability issues are probably more related to design than workmanship, as all VW's look fantastic when they are new.

1999 Jetta TDI

On my Jetta, I have 105.000 km.

All recommended service was done.

Engine diagnostic test shows Turbocharger high pressure.

Intake manifold was cleaned, airflow valve was replaced.

Car runs OK until I get to 100 km, then just stays like that, I wounder if I replace Turbo will that be it?

Can I repair this problem without going into $2000,00 repair bill, your comment please.

Regards,

Geo.

I have a 1999 TDI that I bought pretty much brand new. I want to first say that I am a Volkwagen driver through and through. However I have found a lot of littles things wrong with this car. If anyone has the same problems I would love to hear back. I have noticed since the second winter that my engine light always comes on. This is due to the fact that I lose power in my engine. I can be moving at a high rate of speed and all of a sudden I feel a loss of power and can barely make it up a hill. It feels like my TURBO has been tripped.The funnny thing is that if I turn the car off then back on it resets itself. This has happened since the second year I have had it and the dealers say it is not a defect?? I have been told I need to replace my Mass airflow sensor, but you cannot buy it after market as it is a 500.00 part. Yet this may not fix my problem? Can anyone relate to this??

ROB G

Toronto.

Rob G... I have had my 1999 TDI in the shop recently for a lack of power also. They tried the air flow sensor and it wasn't the problem. The mechanic cleaned out the intake manifold of a build up of carbon, and the car feels like it has the power it did when new. Sounds strange that it could be the intake manifold, but it was. The intake hole was almost completely covered in carbon and I was getting maybe 1/3 the airflow it needed.

Hopefully helps you out.

Brad.

I went through the same stroy re power loss, MAF was replaced, it ran fine for a few hours and boom, mo power at high speeds. The car statred to spatter and shudder and have been told that the diesel pump, the injectors all have to be replaced at a cost of approximately 2300.

There appers to be a technical problem related the fuel system failure in these cars. Someone out there ought to know something. Please help us before we trash our money!!!

If I were you I would sell that baby before the diesel pump repair.

I also have a 1999 VW Jetta TDI. My check engine light is constantly on. I have had it re-set twice in the last month. My mechanic told me that he cleaned the intake manifold out. He also told me that the computer code is saying that the problem is with my turbo. He has checked it and feels that it is working properly. However, the light still comes on and I experience erratic boost. Sometimes the turbo works and sometimes it doesn't. I am trying to sell this car and this problem is driving me crazy. Any suggestions??

I have a '99 TDI Jetta, and I have problems with it since day one. From the dealer I was told that its the glow plugs, but I've changed them so many times that I've learned that there has to be a bigger problem. No matter if its cold or not the car takes a long time to start. Sometimes it starts up right away and sometimes it takes a while. It seems like something is not clicking right. If anyone knows what the problem might please let me know. I love the car, but this is just making me go crazy.