I have 1 2001 jetta vr6..the check engine engine light is on and my mechanic told me it was the tourg converter sensor.. is there such thing of a sensor in a transmission.. has anyone out ther had this experience they can foward me some advice...thanks.
Our passenger power window broke the other day on our 2001 Beetle. We've yet to have it fixed.
The EPC light came on and the car won't shift out of park. This is the second time this shift problem has occurred.
The plastic knob that controls the mirrors snapped off with ease, which has rendered it unusable.
... And yes, the crayon smell envelops you each and every time you get in.
I have an '01 Wolfsburg. The water pump went at 56k and the battery just died at 60k. Aside from the crayons, the only problems are to be expected with any car.
I have started having problems with the transmission in my 2001 Jetta (104,000 miles). When driving on the interstate, after an hour or two, it begins to have problems shifting gears and the engine will rev up to 4000-5000 rpms. The last time this happened I had to pull off and turn the car off for fear it would blow the engine up after running at such high rpms for 20 minutes or so (never shifting into the higher gear). When I got back on the surface streets it continued to have problems up-shifting and down-shifting. It doesn't occur every time I drive the car.
Additionally my check engine light has been on and off for about a year now. Does anyone have the same problems and is it a good idea to get the transmission fluid flushed and replaced? I have called around and found that only the dealer can do this because it is sealed.
Re: Commenter on 4th Sep 2007, 11:43:
You hit the nail right on the head. Except for the check engine light, I have the same automatic transmission problem on my 92K-mile 2001 2.0 Jetta. I brought it to the dealer 3 times already and they drove it around for more than a hundred miles, but they couldn't duplicate the problem. When I asked their Service Dep't about having seen these symptoms before, they said it could be any one of a half-dozen problems. They also said that if they looked at each possibility and didn't find the problem there, I would be charged labor! They basically said that the car would have to die on the road before the problem could be diagnosed. Additionally, they can't just change a transmission (I understand this), but they should at least look at it. I was told that VW's mechanics need a complete failure before they can fix a problem.
I guess the car will have to die out, but hopefully not in a perilous situation.
I have a 2001 VR6 Jetta, automatic transmission.
To all writing about the engine light coming on there was a recall in 2007 (it took them 6 years!) for them to reprogram the engine computer. Don't waste your money replacing all the oxygen sensors and catalytic converter. That is what they try to get you to do.
I had the crayon (plastic off gassing) smell too an that seem to improve when I got rid of the floor mats. The terrible moldy smell from the ac is helped by using the recirculation setting on the air vent. The temporary fix is for them to clean something in the air filter system.
The major problem with the car was the violent shifting going from 2nd to 3rd. Of course it never did it for the mechanics and it wasn't fixed until the transmission completely crapped out at 84,000 miles. They replaced it under warranty. Now at 107,000 miles (23,000 miles on replaced transmission) the transmission is shifting rough again. Now that the car is out of warranty will they replace the replacement transmission? I'll keep you posted...
Mike.
So the MIL light went on on my 2001 Jetta GLX VR6 with about 85k miles on it. Turns out all the spark plugs and wires needed to replaced, not to mention I had the 3 recall issues repaired on it. As much "fun" as this car is, it has needed a lot of work (I bought it new) such as brakes replaced, tires replaced and yes, the smell of crayons! I thought that was unique to my Jetta. Needless to say it's going in next week for a NEW TRANSMISSION. lovely.
This is crazy! I have had passengers tell me that my 2001 Jetta smells like crayons too! I am used to the smell by now. I bought the car used in January 2005 and have replaced the battery, transmission, and catalytic converter. I have spent money taking it to the shop when it runs rough and idles weird, only to be told that the mechanic didn't experience that. Now I am dealing with a leak somewhere between the windshield and the roof above the front passenger seat. There was a large puddle on the floor when I got ready to drive home from work today! I see on these websites that leaks are common among volkswagens and I am so annoyed right now! I can't afford to be repairing all of these problems!
I bought my car back in 2004 used and since then it's been nothing, but problem after problem. I too have the crayon smell. I also had to get the engine changed out for $3,000 only a year after I bought it. There's been numerous sensors replaced, tires, broken parts (interior and exterior). It runs like a tank now and I'm in need of a new CAT... I can't wait to climb into something better...
RE: Feb 13th water leak into front passenger seat-- I had this same problem--took it to VW dealer and they charged me $100 to diagnose and then said drain hoses needed to be replaced and sun roof head liner needed to be removed to check sunroof frame seal--gave me an estimated repair bill of $1000!!! I decided to hold off and check with the company who had replaced my windshield approx 6 months earlier to see if they thought it might be related somehow. They told me they had seen this problem repeated with Volkswagens--apparently there is a tray behind the heater vent in the dash that you can access easily (under the hood just below the windshield) and if leaves/debris build up in there and it rains, etc the water does not drain properly and overflows into the heater vent directly into the front passenger seat floor area. My problem was easily resolved by cleaning the leaves and debris out of this tray.. it was that easy!! How come if this is apparently a "common" problem with VW's, did the dealership not know or look at this--after this experience I'm done taking my car to the VW dealer--they're awful.
Anyways, hopefully this will help anyone else with the same problem fix it without dropping a ridiculous amount of $$ on needless repairs.
My transmission failed at 95K. An independent transmission shop suggested I try getting it repaired under the 10 year, 100 K warranty. The dealer & VW of America refused since I bought the car from my son-in-law & daughter (change of ownership = 60 K mileage limit). Naturally I filed a complaint with BBB (see your owner's manual), you too can complain. At this time that complaint is unresolved. In parallel I reported the problem to California division of motor vehicles (complaint department). They have requested a copy of the warranty, denying the claim was improper. So, now I'm searching for a copy of the VW Jetta, 2001 warranty, have a copy??
I have a 2001 Jetta 2.0. I have had numerous problems. I have changed the water pump which cost me a good $900. I have changed many sensors and STILL have the check engine light on with codes telling me to replace sensors I have already replaced. Now yesterday I went out to start it (after it driving completely fine the day before) and it started to shake and misfire. We haven't diagnosed the problem yet, but I am sure it will be costly cause what isn't on the VW's. If I didn't owe $2500 more than this car is worth, I would have gotten rid of it a LONG time ago. It's not worth my time, effort, or money.
I ALSO HAVE THE SMELL OF CRAYONS!!!
We bought our 2001 VR6 Jetta new, and most of our problems have actually been caused by the dealership. (We've been to four, across different states.)
First, the plastics in the car are garbage. The floor vent on the left side of the passenger seat was broken from the beginning. I noticed it as we were driving off the lot.
Since then, our glove box door has had to be replaced once and is currently broken so bad that when you open it, it falls off in your hand. We open that glove box on average of three times a year. I have no idea how it breaks this easily.
The center console lid has been replaced twice and is currently broken off and sitting in our back seat. This we use frequently, but I can't understand why using it means it should break like this. We are never abusive with our stuff. And when we neglect our girl, we always take responsibility. There's just no excuse for poor plastics in a nice car that cost us 27 grand 7 years ago.
Moving on, someone hit us when they were pulling out of a street parking spot (talking on their cell phone). It wasn't a bad hit, but the dealership took a long time fixing it. After they "fixed" it, the car had minor leaking problems and much higher cabin noise from then on. A week after the fix, the car stopped working, check engine light came on. The dealership had misplaced an engine hose when fixing the car, and rubbing had caused it to sever completely.
A second car accident from hydroplaning on the turnpike did a lot more damage to our girl. The dealership kept the car for over a month, apologizing profusely. The mechanic was a really sweet guy, and I feel bad complaining, but the car came back really jacked up. The trunk lid doesn't fit squarely. The doors are slightly off. The cabin noise is bad. Just general ambient noise from driving keeps us from talking to each other sometimes.
From the beginning, the check engine light has blinked off and on for no reason. The dealership guys told us to ignore it. We couldn't three weeks ago when an ignition coil went bad. They told us we needed to replace our spark plugs at an additional $200+ dollars. I pointed out that we had just had them replaced 12,000 miles ago and certainly shouldn't need to replace them again. (Thank God for having a mechanic for a brother, eh?)
Coming home from Christmas vacation, our girl was slow to start and chuggy. The check engine light blinked on and off several times. She shuddered a bit going up a hill. Looking for instructions on how to change my spark plugs for myself, I found this page. Glad to know I'm not alone. But also glad to not have the problems of the people here. Relatively, it seems we could have faced larger problems.
I'd like to also note that we use premium gas in our car and take her for tune-ups on time. At 7 and a half years old, we have only 52,000 miles on it.
She's never left us out in the cold, and she's seen us through some rough terrain on occasion. In spite of the problems over the years, I'm obviously quite attached to her. I just wish VW would go back to making the tough, smart, reliable German machines we've come to respect. They're ruining themselves with bean counting. (That's for stupid American companies, guys. And look where it gets us. :) )
I'm an owner of a Volkswagen, Jetta 2001, for almost 9 years now. I bought it new out of the lot with only 11 miles. I've enjoyed my Jetta for several years, it has been the best car I've ever owned. But, I've had the same problems that everyone else has had of repairs about 3 years ago.. to timing belts replacement, cat replacements. Check engine light on and EPC light, coolant leaks.
OMG! I wish I would have read this before purchasing my 2001 VW Jetta. I am reading these comments with my mouth wide open. The crayon situation has been a mystery for 5 years now, and I am somewhat relieved to know my car isn't retarded. At least as far as the smell is concerned.
And to know that all these problems I have experienced are common, is shocking to me! From the transmission, to the abnormal idling, to the numerous replacement of sensors! I will definitely try a site such as this before buying another car (which won't be a VW). The love hate relationship has to end!
Oh, did I mention I dropped my car off today at the shop because it sputters when at a light or in park. The ABS light is on, and even though the transmission was worked on about a year ago, it jumps when shifting gears if I have been at a steady rate of speed for a while, and then get in stop and go traffic. What is that about! UUGGHHHH!
And to think I wanted to try a GTI. Think I will pass... Thanks to all the comments that let me know I'm not the only one!