Comments: 1-15, 16-30, 31-45, 46-60, 61-75, 76-82
People are wasting huge sums of money on this problem!!!
First of all the catalytic converter and other parts are covered under a 8 year/80,000 mile Federal Emissions Warranty and will be replaced free of charge by the dealer when they fail (not the 02 sensors though). Volkswagen USA has extended this warranty to 10 years/100,000 miles for most of it's 1.8T cars (4 cylinders).
If you have the Check Engine/Emissions Workshop! pop up, do yourself a favor and take it first to the local corporate auto parts chain and have them scan the codes for you. The emissions codes are NOT proprietary VW codes (big stupid myth) - they are GENERIC ODB II codes that anyone can scan for including your $8/hour friend at the parts store for free.
If it's the oxygen sensors then take it to your independent mechanic and have them changed. If it's anything else, take it to the VW DEALER!! The local independent guy will probably chase faults and replace sensors, hoses, cats, control modules... charging you exorbitant prices that the dealer will charge you.. Get this.. NOTHING for. There is an emissions recall to reprogram the Emissions Computer that will get rid of MOST of the Check Engine faults. Your indy shop guy can replace everything and it will still pop up until the Computer is reprogrammed. by the Dealer free of charge. Also the dealer will do the cats for free (up to $3500 range!!) under the Fed emissions warranty.
In summary - have the parts store scan the codes - Get the small shop to change the sensors if needed - and get the dealer to do the rest of the emissions system which will probably cost you nothing. If you're over 80K or 100K miles that sucks, but go to a generic muffler shop and have weld on universal CATs installed (this will save you $2000 or more $$)
Hopefully this saves you TONS of money and lots of headache.
I am experiencing the same "Emissions Workshop" problems with my 2000 Passat. I also want to know if the check engine light reset proposed earlier causes any problems with the anti-theft features of the radio.
I agree with everything April 5th said. My 2000 Passat with 83k has become friendly and does not show the Emissions Workshop anymore. I replaced the air filter and the plugs, ran some injector cleaner and replaced the oil and filter. A standard service and a good hard trip down the freeway with high revs - it likes to rev to 6k happily - after it was properly warmed up. It gives me no problems now and is a pleasure to drive. Yes a good drive with your right heel buried through the floor actually helps burn off all those deposits which build up... I have had aged clients who's cars after just a few thousand miles are running very badly and a quick trip around the block brings them right back to tune until they really needed a service or even an oil change...
I highly recommend buying the OBDII reader for US$35.. and of course going to the local autoshop guys is even cheaper...
I just bought a 2000 GTI VR6. The "emissions workshop" light came on, had it checked, nothing wrong, and the car just passed smog. Can anyone tell me if I choose the battery disconnect option, will I have to find the code for the radio?
Thanks.
Hi All:
Don't worry about disconnecting the battery and your radio needing reprogramming. Check your manual, but mine stated that the radio was mated to the car, and as long as you didn't remove the radio from the car, disconnecting the battery would not result in the radio needing the codes.
Hope this helps and check your manual!
I am considering the purchase of a 2000 Passat GLS 4 cylinder turbo, automatic. It has 70,000 miles and appears to be in very good condition. The asking price is 8,300$. Is this a good investment?
The radio in my passat does lose the security codes if you disconnect the battery, but as long as you have the owner's manual you should not have to pay the dealer to re-enter the codes. My 11 year old son just got my radio working again after I replaced the battery. If you don't keep the owner's manual in the glove box, then maybe you should think about doing so.
Is there really an emissions recall to reprogram the emissions computer in the 2000 VW Passat? Where would I find the information on this? Thanks.
Yeah, my sister, the original owner of 2000 Passat, got the Emissions Workshop within warranty period, VW dinked around took it to two dealers, took it to German Auto, never resolved. We put up with it for 4 years. Then Texas required emmissions testing, these codes caused it to fail inspection. I think I replaced vaccum hose after complaining to VW with no avail, had no idea they were replacing it for free paid $1000 to other mechanic. Now the ABS/BRakes lights are on and its O2 sensors this time... How many people will have to endure this problem with the Passat 2000 before VW ponies up some real solutions? I always get the run around and I can't afford it... This is ridiculous!!!
I had experience the check engine light / emissions workshop problem with our VW 2000 Passat (6 cylinder). After reading the comments in this forum, I called my dealer and asked them about any re-calls that apply to my car. They stated that there is a computer re-program recall. I reset the “Check Engine Light” by disconnecting the battery then I took it to the dealer. They re-programmed the computer. So far I drove the car for 550 miles and the light did not come back. This may have fixed the problem!! I hope. Samir.
I was experiencing the "Emissions Workshop" message with my 2000 Passat. Had my mechanic check the message codes first. The catalytic converter code showed up. Took it to VW service dept. They said the message was an issue with the computer program and an upgrade to the program was necessary. It was covered under a recall--$0. Haven't had a problem since.
I'm all for saving a few bucks (especially since my passat seems to be eating all my money lately), but simply resetting your computer by disconnecting the battery, or clearing the code yourself, isn't fixing the problem, it's putting a band-aid over it. These signals are meant to warn us about problems, not annoy us (even though they do). Yes it will probably cost you money to fix, but would you rather be stranded somewhere when a sensor finally dies it's slow death? Plus you could be burning extra gas because of a bad sensor, which is bad for your budget and the environment.
Out of all these posts, the best suggestion I saw was to take your car to the local 'cheaper' car shop and have them scan your computer to diagnose the problem and then take it to the appropriate mechanic. Simply 'resetting' a code without fixing the problem that caused it will save you some cash, but may cause you regrets on some 'stranded highway'.
Also, I've disconnected by battery several times and my radio worked without punching in the code, but there were a couple of times that I had the car worked on that required me to punch in the code. I'd recommend being prepared with the code just in case. Mine was on a small paper in the pouch that contains the owner's manual.
I have a 2000 Passat with 79,000 miles on it and I have several issues. The check engine and emissions workshop lights are now illuminated. I also have a transmission "shudder" that happens when the car has been on for a few minutes. It seems to throw the car into some mystery gear - very abruptly! It feels as if you've struck something - very unnerving. It keeps running, but will not shift gears and remains in what seems like 4th gear until the engine is turned off. It then "reboots" itself and the process starts all over again. ALSO, three of the four window mechanisms have now broken. I had the first one repaired to the tune of $300 and now the 2nd and 3rd windows have fallen down inside the door and can't be retrieved without taking the door apart. It makes for a very drafty ride! Last Saturday, the car died completely and now cannot be driven at all. I will probably tow it to the dealership for assessment, but at this point, I am about ready to call it quits and move on to something more reliable. PS - I bought it used for $13,000 just two years ago and of course the warranty is expired - OUCH!!
The last comment is virtually identical to what is happening to my 2000 GLX 2.8. I just got a brief emmisions workshop/check engine warning, but the shuddering started and has been becoming progressively more pronounced over the last 2 or 3 weeks. After reviewing a lot of comments online although I don't know for sure I'm guessing a tune-up and (perhaps) some recall replacements should fix this problem, but it is rather infuriating. I also bought my car used recently for 11K with 65K miles on it and it came with a limited extended warranty, however, this warranty won't cover any incidental repairs (only major power train problems, i.e. engine, transmission, drivetrain) so hopefully it will be one of these simple diy repairs or (hopefully not) a catastrophic transmission or cat converter problem so it will be covered under warranty.
I am thinking of purchasing a 2000 vw Passat 1.8 4 cylinder with 50000 miles on it. I am getting it for a great price, and I was wondering what I should look for before I buy. I have had great luck with my other 3 vws, but my last and newest was a 96 Jetta. I put 100k on it and never did a thing besides oil, brakes, and tires. I am starting to worry a bit after reading all these post. However, I have had great luck with other vws, and I think the other options in that range of vehicle are boring.
Also, can I switch from regular oil to using synthetic if I buy this car?
Rangerdan70@hotmail.com.