1999 V6 Passat - stutters on accelleration

I've had the car for two years without trouble. All of a sudden it's costing me a mint (at almost 125K miles). By the end of this month I will have put in $3,000 or more since the beginning of the year. Mad

The current problem happens very intermittently. When we are going at low RPMs and accellerate quickly (like to pass another vehicle or go up a hill), the engine stutters/hesitates like it isn't getting enough gas. I have a VW shop (not dealer - independent) up the hill here. They first diagnosed it as a bad spark plug (caused by running low on gas, sediment getting in & fouling a cylinder). So replaced the plug ($120 repair). I drove it away and a few miles later the problem is there again. So back to the shop. This time they say fuel injectors - and I may as well replace all 6 since with the high mileage if one is failing the others may be following soon. So replaced all six (total $725). Picked it up last night & was running fine for me today but after about 10-12 miles, when my boyfriend got behind the wheel - he is a more spirited driver than I am - the problem showed up again. Every time the check engine light has come on (and stayed on). I don't want to keep pouring money into this car for mechanics to take stabs at fixing it. I found this VW shop recently but they seem reasonable (and are certainly saving me money over the dealer). If anyone out there has had similar problems and/or has ideas I'd really appreciate it, thanks.

If anyone in Seattle knows of a really good VW shop I'd love to know about that as well.

Well your a bit far for my shop. Laughing

Can you get me the codes that the Check engine light is setting that would help.

All of them from the first repair to Now this will get me info to help you.

good luck.

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sorry I don't know what the codes are - they have them at the shop ... I guess I could call & ask them, if I find out I'll post them, thanks

that would be great.

they should have all of them I need the P codes they should be PXXXX the X's being Numbers
and the way they came 1st to last.

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I've asked my boyfriend to ask them when he calls them today. They haven't run the diagnostics since the problem started again yesterday (we're just calling them to tell them today) but we can get them for up until now anyway.

sounds good. have your boyfreind ask if they remember the codes before or is it in the repair order.

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these are the codes he got:
P0300

P0303

the mechanic said they're for a "random misfire on cylinder 3".

those are the only ones hey pulled today?

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car wasn't in the shop today. Those are the codes he pulled when it went in for this problem initially. It's going back in tomorrow - but I don't know if he'll run the diagnostics again or not; each time they run it it costs me $90 and I (and they) doubt it's different codes than when the problem started ...

my mistake - it doesn't only happen in low RPMs, that's just when it's most noticeable. If we drive it in tiptronic, it is less noticeable (& when it happens you can downshift & overcome it). Also it seems to happen when the car is warmed up.

	kooms wrote:
	car wasn't in the shop today. Those are the codes he pulled when it went in for this problem initially. It's going back in tomorrow - but I don't know if he'll run the diagnostics again or not; each time they run it it costs me $90 and I (and they) doubt it's different codes than when the problem started ...

This is crazy charging you for diag and finding it is the same code thattheyfound before they repaired it. Thats on them.

they have miss diag.

I have a small Q what spark plugs did they use?

If they used a plug other than the Bosch 2 lectrode plug then you need to have them change those out.
and put in the right plugs.

Part #
101 000 035HJ, Spark Plug

part #
078 998 031, Ignition Wire Set

Platuims and other brands just don't work.
all so if the plasic covers for the plug wires is falling of and brittle you need to change the plug wires.

As they have high resitance problem witch with wrong plugs will give you the same concern.

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I feel you here...

I had this same issue. If you replaced your plugs and fuel injectors and getting those codes then I would put my money on it being a faulty Ignition coil... They part itself runs around $130.

A slim chance new ignition wires (spark plug wires) could fix this but looking at the mileage and assuming that they've been replaced at 75000 miles I would say the Ignition coil. Smile

Oh by the way... next time go to an Advance Auto (if one is around).. They'll run the diagnostic check on you car for free and try to help figure what you need to sell you the parts ofcourse. But this way you can come back to the forum with the codes for everyone to see and comment on and you don't have to fork out the cash right away.

I have a similar issue but it only happens during/after a period of rain. Then I get a stutter during acceleration and eventually a 303 code (or sometimes a 306) when the check engine light comes on. It's also a '99 with about 111k miles.

I'm thinking plug wires since I'm sure they are original. The plugs are probably the origials too but I need to check older invoices.

Works fine when all dried out.

markap wrote:

I have a similar issue but it only happens during/after a period of rain. Then I get a stutter during acceleration and eventually a 303 code (or sometimes a 306) when the check engine light comes on. It's also a '99 with about 111k miles.

I'm thinking plug wires since I'm sure they are original. The plugs are probably the origials too but I need to check older invoices.

Works fine when all dried out.

this could not hurt to get them changed. as if they are the original plugs and wires there may be some problems there. best to have it cheked out to be sure. Before you start spending money on the wrong things.

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