2002 Volkswagen Jetta from North America - Comments

In addition to the radio problem, the charger does not work so I cannot use it to recharge my phone. Also, the check engine light comes on a lot and overall it has been nothing, but a lemon. I also had a 92 Jetta which lasted FOREVER. They used to be reliable cars. I am hesitant to spend any more $$ on a VW ever again.

I have the 2002 Jetta Wagon TDI with Monsoon bought it new. I just read these very helpful comments today and throwing my experience back at ya. First week owning my car the radio went, they replaced it. A year after, the radio went again and once again they replaced it. The radio stopped working yesterday, but this time I noticed the red LED below the volume knob blinked every 2-3 minutes. I have no warranty, my fuse card was of no help, after reading this forum, I looked at jumper 42 but it wasn't blown, I put it back and as I put it back I saw small sparks upon fuse contact, then I realized that the fuse was not making a good contact with the fuse box receptacle. In hindsight, the temperature has suddenly dropped by 20-30 degrees in my area, so it is probably that the fuse metal was shrinking and loosing contact. On a side note, my driver's window motor snapped one day producing a loud thud, and was replaced by warranty, then the copilot's when as well, same story. The brake light and brake switch, the coolant reservoir as well, all covered by warranty, but I did have to call the national VW number and had a lengthy converstion with a VW representative and got it all repaired. Thank god!. But the car it's great, I LOVE IT.

You guys rule. 42 worked. For the past week my g-friend and I had to fill the air on our commutes to work with conversation. Had some heart to hearts that might have been necessary, but now we don't have to. Now we can go back to the mindless music.

Seriously, thanks again. Also, I will keep an eye out for the window suddenly dropping into the door.

I have a 2006 Jetta and I love it so far the only problem is the temp light comes on every time I start the car anyone have any ideas on what it is and how to fix it? Thanks.

I am the unproud owner of a 2002 VW Jetta 1.8T. My radio just went out and I unhooked the battery and works great, next time I will fuse #42. As for your radio code, it should be on the back of the radio, if you can get it out.

I also experience the blinker sound randomly as well, but it only seems to emerge when it is cold outside.

I have another problem, it is with the doors. They are open, but the car still thinks they are closed. I can lock it with my remote and the horn honks and everything. The door ajar light doesn't come on, the lights in the doors don't come on neither does the dome light. When the trunk is open the car recognizes it. At first it was the driver side door so I thought it was just a sensor, but now it I all 4! Does anyone have the same problem? Please help if you can.

The radio on my 2002 jetta went out today. I tried fuse 42 but it didn't work. It really, really sparks though every time I pull it out and put it back in. What does that mean?! How can you tell when a fuse is blown?

Please help, I really don't want to take it to the dealer : (

As far as the Radio Fuse goes, I've had this problem a few times, and while it is inconvenient, it is an easy quick fix... just follow the appropriate steps.

Consider the weather temp, if its cold, you may have lost contact with the receptacle and the fuse...

Removing Fuse 42 (the radio fuse, each booklet with an exclamation point is a symbol that tells you to refer to your manual) and reinserting quickly can be tried, I recommend giving it a minute... or two.

If your battery has died recently, expect your radio not to work, these go hand in hand, jump off the battery, let it run for a good bit, at least 20 minutes. I know it seems like a long time, but most car enthusiasts will run it even longer... again, I recommend giving your fuse a minute or two before reinserting, and you should leave your car off while doing this.

If you are seeing contact sparks, that's great, good fuse, good receptacle. If you aren't this is the time to buy a new fuse and try it out, you don't need a new fuse unless you see no contact, if your new fuse doesn't make contact, you may need to replace your receptacle. SAME thing goes for seeing AN EXCESS of sparks... try a new fuse and then try a new receptacle.

If this happens to you yearly, try to find a pattern in the season... it may be weather related.

If this seems to happen for no good reason, check that you have been taking good care of certain things... not running your battery down... leaving lights on.. screwing up your blinkers (I know it sounds stupid, but when the blinkers start to go... you may say goodbye to the radio for awhile).

Some of the fuses are inadvertently relayed off each other... its just a computer bug... which means that if your fuse goes, it was most likely related to something else.

Example: my radio just stopped working (very first time, and very confused) after I ran into a gas station for smokes, came back out, turned on the car and nothing... no radio, everything else was fine... just a couple of days later, my battery died for no reason at all, jumped off fine... no drain on the battery that I could detect... until I replaced my 42 fuse... my contact was bad and needed a brand new fuse... done and done.

Yes these cars are junky... but I wouldn't trade it for the whole dang world... I love it!

Fyi, radios are not the only common hassle... be prepared.

My biggest annoyance is that dang trunk latch!

OK, I just wrote a few days ago about the sparking fuse and a radio that would not turn on. Fiddling with fuse 42 seemed to not work. Then I hit a pothole and the radio came back on. Only it would turn off whenever I hit turbulence. Actually, it wouldn't turn off completely, just the sound would go out -- and this was whether it was a CD or the radio. The lights would stay on and the sound would go out for a few seconds till the car stabilized then come back on again.

A few days of that and now the radio won't turn on again. Any ideas? And where should I take it if not the dealer?

I have a 2002 Jetta 1.8t and I can't believe the problems I am having and have had over the past 2 years. First thing that went was some transmission sensor. While driving down to Williamsburg, VA it suddenly went and I was forced to drive 45mph for almost 2 hours. That was over $800 to fix, then the coolant pump started leaking. The drivers side window fell down into the door. The engine light came on, changed out the entire coil pack $160 and then the light came back on telling me that either the catalytic coverter went south or the O2 sensor for bank 2 went. I don't even want to know how much that's going to cost. Now I have a problem with the battery. If I don't drive the car for more than 10-12 hours, it goes dead. Now the original radio I thought got fried (could find an external fuse) so I thought it was dead. Bought an aftermarket radio and it wasnt until I pulled the old radio out that I realized the fuse is in the back of the radio. Never the less the aftermarket radio works. I really do love the car, but not that much. Of course I would have to get one that was made in Mexico. I wonder if putting the old radio back in will fix the battery problem. Any suggestions?

2002 337 owner with radio problem just last night as I left work. found fuse 42 even if I could not find the list in my owners manual. took it out, waited 30 seconds or so, put it back it in with no spark and radio came back fine, sort of. the on-off button does not turn it on, I use any other button and it comes on, but not with the normal on-off button. however, that same button does work to turn it back off.

Both my windows have fallen in in the past week. was able to get them back up and locked in closed position until I get chance to bring to dealer (still under extended warranty).

Had my brake light switch replaced as per recall. was not aware of any coil pack recall, but am curious and will look into it.

Aside from that, can not complain about my car, it kicks ass. just waiting for warranty to end to put aftermarket mods into my baby.

Wanted to make this comment though, unless you buy your car brand new or really know and trust the person you bought your car from, some of the problems may be less car related and more driver related. take care of your car better than you would yourself or your girlfriend and your car will take care of you. Unforeseen problems will happen, even Bentley's, Ferrari's and Rolls Royce have issues, but heavy footed, i-think-i-am-a-race-car-driver-without-a-pit-crew attitude often contribute to more problems than actual design or production flaws.

If your gonna beat your car, make sure to adorn it with diamonds.

In any case, I'll take my 337 over any type-r, si-r, wrx, ser, gtr, and so on...

I have a 2002 vw jetta tdi and my stereo has stopped working again, no power at all, I have read most of the reviews and the one thing that seems to be coming to mind is the fuse 42. in my car the fuse 42 is located on the left side third from the bottom which is empty, is there a different one I should try?

My 2003 Jetta has the radio plague also. The answer for the 2002 problem seems to be the fuse #42 fix, but I don't see any answers for the 2003 mystery. It didn't work for me. The radio looks like it's working, but no sound, and only 'eject' on CD/tape does anything.

Basically, I hope someone can help with the cheapest Do-It-Yourself fix, or advice on exactly what aftermarket replacement is involved. (Head unit, amp, rewire, speakers, etc...) I do not trust the dealers.

What sucks most is that I'm paying monthly for satellite radio, and am being slowly drained financially for nothing.

Thanks for reading this post.

No radio for several days. Finally got an appointment with the VW service center. In the several days I waited for the appointment time the car's battery went dead. Found out from the service rep that when this happens the amplifier in the trunk continues to draw power, even when the radio does not work. The radio must be turned off, prior to it going dead, in order for the amplifier not to draw power. It has a separate power source from the radio. The fix, as suggested by the rep, was a new radio or the fuse 42 method. He suggested if it happens again pull the fuse and then put it back in. His explanation stated that static electricity builds up in the fuse and causes this radio problem to occur. This is a Golf GTI, 1.8.

I have a 2002 Jetta that I bought from a used car place. The first day I brought it home, the temperature light came on. I checked the fluids and nothing was low or appeared to be wrong. After a couple of days the check engine light came on and I took it back to the dealer I bought it from. They replaced a sensor, but the next morning the light still came back on as usual. They also charged me for the part too. I don't want to spend a bunch of money replacing parts that are not going to fix this problem. Any advice on this?

Hello All! Another proud 2002 VW Jetta 1.8T owner here. I to have had multiple brake, tail, turn, and head lights replaced in the last 3 years that I have owned this glorious piece of crap. My windows fell out replaced by dealership, of course. Just recently, the BIG one happened. It was my transmission. The part alone was $4500 (I called 30 repair shops; nobody rebuilds VW transmissions). My mechanic (an honest family friend) proceeded to tell me that all of the hoses were rotted out. Since I had paid for my 60k mile tune up and inspection only 6 months ago, (at VW Dealership) this should be impossible, right? So, needless to say, I paid for parts, hoses, fluids and filters that were never installed, and now I get to pay even more. My ABS, and Emissions lamp come on constantly, as well as the temp sensor and check engine light. I am so glad that I have wasted so much money on this car that is SUPPOSEDLY so great. I think we all got screwed. Happy hunting to all of you looking for a new car. I know I am.