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Jetta doods [car-r]

The-gafflerThe-gaffler 2,190 Posts
edited September 2008 in Strut Central
okay, so i know there's a bunch of you independent free-thinkers on here that own Apple computers and drive VW's. well i've been a part of this culture for a year now since the purchase of my '97 Jetta [bleh]. i had to replace the wheelbearings soon after i got it before i left DC and its been good to me since. now though i need to throw some new rotors and pads up on the front, and would like to replace the shocks & stuff since they're going out. so here's the deal, do i need any of these so called "special tools" i hear about to replace said parts?b,121b,121i've replaced engines, full suspensions, ect on my previous Nissan's over the years so i know what i'm doing for the most part. i just don't want to have the whip up on the lift and find out i need "something crazy i don't even know about." plaese halp. b,121b,121b,121p.s.b,121i hate lookin at car forums.b,121b,121p.p.s.b,121i think i might sell it.
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  Comments

  • Jonny_PaycheckJonny_Paycheck 17,825 Posts
    Get rid of it.b,121b,121- Frustrated VW ownerb,121b,121b,121more horror stories here: www.myvwlemon.com/a1
  • high_chigh_c 1,384 Posts
    i had a 2001 jetta. From my experience those cars suck ass.
  • behemothbehemoth 2,189 Posts
    go Mazda!!
  • therecordpeddlertherecordpeddler 229 Posts
  • RerogRerog 569 Posts
    Quote:h,121b,121go Mazda!! b,121b,121h,121
    b,121b,121I got a Mazda6 about 2 months ago, and I will second this sentiment.
  • RAJRAJ tenacious local 7,779 Posts
    I have a 2000 Audi A8 (which is like a more baller cousin of the VW) and good god was that thing was a headache last year. The way the Germans do shit is like... take it to the dealer we do not want you folks doing anything yourself. I've been able to do a few basic things like change a battery and replace wind shield wipers, but the more advanced stuff, I take it to a Garage because it involves special tools.b,121b,121People should really know what they are getting themselves into when they buy German. Fun to drive NOT fun to fix. It baffles my mind when I see all these college kids driving VWs because they are thee worst. My brother-in-law owns an Import car repair shop and the VW is like 60% of this business with BMWs a close second.b,121b,121I love my car, though. My wife wanted me to spend like $30,000 on a safe Infiniti or some boring Toyota with warranties and shit. I told her I wanted an older, cheaper luxury car with character.. something you didn't see on the road every ten feet. My Audi is just that. Except it gave me problems the first year and I sunk 3 grand into it and my wife freaked the Fusk out. This year no problems though... knock on desk. I'm rambling.
  • djdazedjdaze 3,099 Posts
    Go 'merican...I gots me a Caddy and I love it.
  • RAW_HAMBURGERRAW_HAMBURGER 1,438 Posts
    i dont get it....yall had all these probs ? aside from everything working on the metric system...what has really gone wrong ?b,121b,121 ive had 4 vws. 1990 jetta gli, 84 gti rabbit, 89 gti and now my 2002 passat.b,121b,121all of which ive had standard things needed to be done...it is a machine. wheel bearings, head gaskets, water pump , fuel pump, brakes, etc... my 84 had over 400k on it. i just had my window regulator fixed and im about to do my brakes/rotors on my passat. b,121b,121some parts are dealer only, most are not...germans are known for engineering, not so much electronics (japan). all of my vws have been nothing but reliable..great in the winter. audis are nice...but the parts are jacked up that much more in priceb,121my pops has had american cars for a while, and the way things are set up on his chevy are quite stupid and just not practical...to get to one part that needs to be replaced you have to take out 5 other parts type shit.b,121b,121b,121b,121heres the car is really like to ownb,121b,121
  • Jonny_PaycheckJonny_Paycheck 17,825 Posts
    I have leaks all over the interior piping and drainage system of my passat (common factory defect, millions of VW drivers have this problem) and every time it rains the car fills with water (usually you can see puddles on the floor) and the electrical system is beneath the carpet so.... water+electric=problems. I have had thousands of dollars of electrical work and it keeps happening every time it rains... there was about a half inch of standing water in the rear drivers side floor after the Tropical Storm came through this weekend... car smells like mildew, power locks gone, power mirrors gone... not to mention little shit like the glove box latch snapping off (means you have to replace the entire glove box to the tune of a few hundred dollars)b,121b,121Don't get me started on the transmission that failed at 60k for no reason (also has happened to friends of mine with passats) late 90s-early 00s the lemon quotient is off the charts... there are lawsuits going on I am hoping to join a class action.b,121b,121www.myvwlemon.com/a1
  • JimBeamJimBeam Seattle. 2,012 Posts
    you don't need any special tools, unless you consider large (15mm+) allen and star drivers special-- but it sounds as though you probably have those anyway. oh yeah, spring compressor. if i remember correctly, those are a macphereson strut setup, so you need a spring compressor to replace the struts.b,121b,121vw's are engineered for people who can take care of cars. they are nice to drive, handle better than anything at that price (except for the heap known as the new beetle), and maintain their value if you don't beat them to shit. they run bigger tolerances on the piston/cylinder valve/guide to make the engine last longer, (lower compression, but wide cylinders and short strokes on their four-bangers) but consume a bit more oil than other cars as a result. folks get into costly repairs when they can't check the oil when they fill up their tank. ppl complaining that they are unreliable need to go drive a honda, toyota or nissan or something that drives like crap, but just keeps going.
  • thiskidnamed32thiskidnamed32 99 Posts
    You should cop an Infiniti g20. These cars are cheap and easy to work on and look baller. I have the older 91-96 version but the 99-02 version is nice.b,121b,1212002b,121 b,121b,12194b,121
  • Jonny_PaycheckJonny_Paycheck 17,825 Posts
    also I have been told by VW that a VW owner should have a garage and if they park on the street they need to clean the passages twice a day or at least every day. Otherwise it is the driver's fault b,121b,121b,121lol
  • knewjakknewjak 1,231 Posts
    Quote:h,121b,121 do i need any of these so called "special tools" i hear about to replace said parts?b,121b,121 b,121b,121h,121
    b,121b,121I havent encountered the need for special VW tools.b,121Most of the tools needed are available to the public, however the average car owner wouldnt own them.b,121Get the official repair manual and see what they use. For example 'tool #337' is really just a modified spanner wrench. You can usually find the books in PDF forms for download. b,121If you have replaced engines and front suspensions, I think you can handel it. Just understand that its going to take 3 times longer than you think.b,121b,121you are in DC right? I can reccomend you to a few repair shops.
  • RAW_HAMBURGERRAW_HAMBURGER 1,438 Posts
    Quote:h,121b,121I have leaks all over the interior piping and drainage system of my passat (common factory defect, millions of VW drivers have this problem) and every time it rains the car fills with water (usually you can see puddles on the floor) and the electrical system is beneath the carpet so.... water+electric=problems. I have had thousands of dollars of electrical work and it keeps happening every time it rains... there was about a half inch of standing water in the rear drivers side floor after the Tropical Storm came through this weekend... car smells like mildew, power locks gone, power mirrors gone... not to mention little shit like the glove box latch snapping off (means you have to replace the entire glove box to the tune of a few hundred dollars)b,121b,121Don't get me started on the transmission that failed at 60k for no reason (also has happened to friends of mine with passats) late 90s-early 00s the lemon quotient is off the charts... there are lawsuits going on I am hoping to join a class action.b,121b,121www.myvwlemon.com/a1 b,121b,121h,121
    b,121b,121b,121damn jonny, seems as if you got a bad one out the bunch...ive had 4 and except for my 84 (sunroof) i had no leaks. b,121i wish i never sold my rabbit.b,121b,121good luck getting in on the class action thing. sounds like you need to hit a junk yard for the glove box...should be very ez to get.b,121b,121b,121meanwhile, ill keep on dreaming of owning some real vintage shit.b,121b,121why is it on almost every single edition of mtv cribs...its the same tacky ass cars being shown. with all that money cats are still so generic with the taste. escalades, the new benz, phantom, and the tacky ass bentley....nothing truly unique. if i were balling i think the only new whip id cop is the aston martin or a maserati.
  • rootlesscosmorootlesscosmo 12,848 Posts
    Quote:h,121b,121go b1Honda[/b] !! b,121b,121h,121
  • Jonny_PaycheckJonny_Paycheck 17,825 Posts
    Quote:h,121b,121 sounds like you need to hit a junk yard b,121b,121h,121
    b,121b,121Boy, you got that right!
  • RAW_HAMBURGERRAW_HAMBURGER 1,438 Posts
    Quote:h,121b,121
    Quote:h,121b,121 sounds like you need to hit a junk yard b,121b,121h,121
    b,121b,121Boy, you got that right! b,121b,121h,121
    b,121b,121check www.vwvortex.com/a1 tons of info, parts and random shit....lots of honda hatery as well.
  • The-gafflerThe-gaffler 2,190 Posts
    Quote:h,121b,121 not to mention little shit like the glove box latch snapping offb,121b,121h,121
    b,121b,121ha! this just happened 2 weeks ago. luckily i don't have anything important in there.b,121b,121see i've had friends who were real into currado's and siroco's, and to be honest, i never heard any of them complain, so it has always confused me to why the love-hate spectrum was so left/right. it seems for the most part that the people who really complain about things that go wrong, are the ones who don't know how to take care of their rides and want a maintenance-free vehicle which will never happen.b,121b,121the only reason i bought thee ol' Trek is because i got it from the original owner, with 83k on it, for $2300. the other plus, is i love the top end speed and acceleration, and the low compression since i'm use to that from my previous turbo'd nissan's. b,121b,121if y'all think all this little [annoying] petty maintenance is a lot, i worked at one of the biggest rx-7 tuning shops outside of japan and trust me, when something goes wrong with them... hello whole new engine!
  • Options
    Unknown
    Quote:h,121b,121You should cop an Infiniti g20. These cars are cheap and easy to work on and look baller. I have the older 91-96 version but the 99-02 version is nice.b,121b,1212002b,121 b,121b,12194b,121 b,121b,121h,121
    img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cos3ve.gif" alt="" 21b,121b,121I miss my '91 G20. The newer ones are dope! Too bad they stopped making them.b,1213 years ago, I bought a brand new Toyota Matrix. Not so fun to drive, but it carries a ton of shit, and I haven't had a single problem with it. b,121b,121I'm thinking of getting either a BMW 1 series, or a BMW X3 as a second vehicle.b,121Thoughts?
  • CosmoCosmo 9,768 Posts
    I had a huge problem with my 87 Jetta's electrical system. I'm glad I got rid of it.
  • DJFerrariDJFerrari 2,411 Posts
    Quote:h,121b,121something you didn't see on the road every ten feet. My Audi is just that.b,121b,121h,121
    b,121b,121You had to know this was coming img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" 21b,121b,121b,121b,121
  • rootlesscosmorootlesscosmo 12,848 Posts
    Quote:h,121b,121b,121 something you didn't see on the road every ten feet. b,121b,121h,121
    b,121b,121I am surriously contemplating an NSX purchase these last couple months.
  • The-gafflerThe-gaffler 2,190 Posts
    dood, i am not getting a sentra. never been the g-20 fan. i ride for the big body 45 my friend.b,121b,121
    Quote:h,121b,121why is it on almost every single edition of mtv cribs...its the same tacky ass cars being shown. with all that money cats are still so generic with the taste.b,121b,121h,121
    b,121b,121YA KNOW?b,121b,121there's this kitted out '89 300ce coupe that i've seen at this dealer that's really calling my name, but i want it in black. i love all that old schitt, especially on some deep dishes. "let's call up Marley on the car phone..."b,121b,121
  • Options
    Unknown
    Quote:h,121b,121I had a huge problem with my 87 Jetta's electrical system. I'm glad I got rid of it. b,121b,121h,121
    b,121b,121Electrical problems on VWs are legendary. b,121b,121The best car would have European styling, Japanese engineering, and American luxury. The G20 was pretty close in that regard.
  • thiskidnamed32thiskidnamed32 99 Posts
    Quote:h,121b,121dood, i am not getting a sentra. never been the g-20 fan. i ride for the big body 45 my friend.b,121b,121
    Quote:h,121b,121why is it on almost every single edition of mtv cribs...its the same tacky ass cars being shown. with all that money cats are still so generic with the taste.b,121b,121h,121
    b,121b,121YA KNOW?b,121b,121there's this kitted out '89 300ce coupe that i've seen at this dealer that's really calling my name, but i want it in black. i love all that old schitt, especially on some deep dishes. "let's call up Marley on the car phone..."b,121b,121 b,121b,121h,121
    b,121b,121Oh ok, like one of these.b,121b,121
  • The-gafflerThe-gaffler 2,190 Posts
    naaaamean?b,121b,121b,121b,121b,121 b,121b,121
  • thiskidnamed32thiskidnamed32 99 Posts
    My brothers friend had one with a similar kit but couldnt go anywhere without scrapin that shit. He had some VIP style wheels with like a 5 inch lip on em. Shit was dope.
  • batmonbatmon 27,574 Posts
  • breadwinnerbreadwinner 535 Posts
    --- 2002 Jettab,121b,121Problems so far:b,121b,121Passenger heated seat core burned through and put a nice size hole in the fabric -- wires are slightly exposed and if you turn it on (heated seat) in the dark, you can watch it spark and smoke!!! COOL! I took the car in during 2004 and complained about the problem. Dealership told me that they couldn't help and to call VW and complain. Kiss my ass -- I never called. Sometime last year I get a notice in the mail that there is a recall on that particular thing and to bring it in to get fixed. They're only willing to replace the seat that burned through -- so I'll have one 6 year old driver seat and one brand new one -- shit'll look ridiculous. I'd rather fly with a slightly burnt out seat.b,121b,121Glovebox handle snapped offb,121b,1211/2 of the Cupholder snapped offb,121b,121Center console top snapped offb,121b,121CD player no longer worksb,121b,121Multiple problems with tail lights burning through plastic holders + shortsb,121b,121The driver side floor has a huge wear spot.b,121b,121Malfunctioning Indicator Light has been on since 2004. I've had several diagnostics + 'fixes' and nothing b,121takes care of it.b,121b,121Transmission has been shaky for the past couple of years -- If you let off the gas and then press the gas too quickly it 'slams' a bit into gear. I initially took it in while under warranty and was told, "Thats just how VW's drive"b,121b,121Oil burns off (no leaks) b,121b,121It's impossible for me to afford to get all these things fixed -- mechanics in the Bay area are ridiculously expensive. Talkinbout $100 oil changes and shit. Kiss my fusking ass.
  • luckluck 4,077 Posts
    VWs had been historically well-made cars - see the Beetle, heater aside - until the last 10-12 years, when the re-branding took hold. It's been downhill ever since. Ask my friend, Mr Consumer Reports. The worst thing about the VWs used to be their seat reclining cranks. Still got those shits.b,121b,121There are no Jiffy-Lubes in the Bay?
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